System Restore

[Dapper Dan]

Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.

In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted remnants
(there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then downloaded and
installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I immediately ran into resource
problems. I think the problem is related to either me deleting the remnant
files after uninstalling V1.4 or the fact that the new version is running in
the background. In any event, not finding a way to disable that feature, I
elected to run a restore point to yesterday. Upon reboot, I was surprised to
see Spybot version 1.5.

I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that it
definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[Mike M]

System Restore or rather the state manager monitors all files whose
extension is in the <EXTENSIONS> <Include> list at the end if the file
filelist.xml (located in the windows\system\restore folder) and archives a
copy of the original file when either deleted or amended unless it is/was
located in one of the unprotected areas such as My Documents, and the Temp
and TIF objects, for a full list of such areas again see the file
filelist.xml and check the section <DIRECTORIES><Exclude>.

System restore does not archive and has no interest in data files wherever
located unless one happens to have a file extension in the Extension
Include list which is unusual if not extremely rare.

Did you perhaps mistakenly restore to a checkpoint that whilst created
yesterday was created after you had installed SpyBot 1.5?

The State Manager is also responsible for Win Me's System File Protection
which prevents some 800 system files from being either deleted or changed
unless accompanied with the necessary certificate. SFP has no interest in
files in C:\Program Files with the exception of some system files stored
in %CommonFiles% which by default is usually C:\Program Files\Common
Files. A list of files protected by SFP and their locations can be found
in filelist.xml in the section <FILES> <SFP>
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Dapper Dan <dapperdan@home.com> wrote:

> Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.
>
> In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted
> remnants (there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then
> downloaded and installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I immediately
> ran into resource problems. I think the problem is related to either
> me deleting the remnant files after uninstalling V1.4 or the fact
> that the new version is running in the background. In any event, not
> finding a way to disable that feature, I elected to run a restore
> point to yesterday. Upon reboot, I was surprised to see Spybot
> version 1.5.
> I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that
> it definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.
>
> Thanks in advance.

 

[Heather]

Not sure if I am having a *blonde moment*, but if you removed all traces
of Version 1.4, then when using System Restore, it is still NOT there to
take the place of the new one. Comprendez??

Heather

"Dapper Dan" <dapperdan@home.com> wrote in message
news:%23WzW$Ty7HHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.
>
> In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted
> remnants (there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then
> downloaded and installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I immediately
> ran into resource problems. I think the problem is related to either
> me deleting the remnant files after uninstalling V1.4 or the fact that
> the new version is running in the background. In any event, not
> finding a way to disable that feature, I elected to run a restore
> point to yesterday. Upon reboot, I was surprised to see Spybot version
> 1.5.
>
> I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that
> it definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Dan
>

 

[Dapper Dan]

Thanks for responding, Mike. I've read and reread your response but it's not
registering in my pea size brain. You have indicated what SR monitors,
however I have no idea of what file extensions Spybot uses. Nevertheless, if
I comprehend it correctly, SR should have restored Spybot because it was
stored in C:\Program Files.

I've obviously done something wrong, however since I only downloaded Spybot
version 1.5 today, it makes no sense to me how restoring to yesterday's date
allows version 1.5 to remain on the computer, unless it's as Heather
suggests, caused by me deleting everything associated with V1.4.

At this moment, I have in ADD/REMOVE, Spybot version 1.4 but when I click
on uninstall, I get a message saying C:|Program Files\Spybot- Search &
Destroy\Unins000.dat file is corrupted. Cannot uninstall. In C:\Program
Files, although I uninstalled Version 1.5 using it's Uninstaller, I still
have version 1.5 but I no longer have the ability to uninstall it.

Seems to me that what I ought to do is download V1.4 and hope that it fixes
the corrupt file. Make sense ??

Dan

"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:uZscuoy7HHA.3716@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> System Restore or rather the state manager monitors all files whose
> extension is in the <EXTENSIONS> <Include> list at the end if the file
> filelist.xml (located in the windows\system\restore folder) and archives a
> copy of the original file when either deleted or amended unless it is/was
> located in one of the unprotected areas such as My Documents, and the Temp
> and TIF objects, for a full list of such areas again see the file
> filelist.xml and check the section <DIRECTORIES><Exclude>.
>
> System restore does not archive and has no interest in data files wherever
> located unless one happens to have a file extension in the Extension
> Include list which is unusual if not extremely rare.
>
> Did you perhaps mistakenly restore to a checkpoint that whilst created
> yesterday was created after you had installed SpyBot 1.5?
>
> The State Manager is also responsible for Win Me's System File Protection
> which prevents some 800 system files from being either deleted or changed
> unless accompanied with the necessary certificate. SFP has no interest in
> files in C:\Program Files with the exception of some system files stored
> in %CommonFiles% which by default is usually C:\Program Files\Common
> Files. A list of files protected by SFP and their locations can be found
> in filelist.xml in the section <FILES> <SFP>
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> Dapper Dan <dapperdan@home.com> wrote:
>
>> Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.
>>
>> In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted
>> remnants (there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then
>> downloaded and installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I immediately
>> ran into resource problems. I think the problem is related to either
>> me deleting the remnant files after uninstalling V1.4 or the fact
>> that the new version is running in the background. In any event, not
>> finding a way to disable that feature, I elected to run a restore
>> point to yesterday. Upon reboot, I was surprised to see Spybot
>> version 1.5.
>> I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that
>> it definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>

 

[Dapper Dan]

Not sure Heather but I guess it makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion,
blond or otherwise.

Dan
"Heather" <figgyd@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:OW2zPqy7HHA.1184@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Not sure if I am having a *blonde moment*, but if you removed all traces
> of Version 1.4, then when using System Restore, it is still NOT there to
> take the place of the new one. Comprendez??
>
> Heather
>
> "Dapper Dan" <dapperdan@home.com> wrote in message
> news:%23WzW$Ty7HHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.
>>
>> In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted
>> remnants (there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then
>> downloaded and installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I immediately ran
>> into resource problems. I think the problem is related to either me
>> deleting the remnant files after uninstalling V1.4 or the fact that the
>> new version is running in the background. In any event, not finding a way
>> to disable that feature, I elected to run a restore point to yesterday.
>> Upon reboot, I was surprised to see Spybot version 1.5.
>>
>> I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that it
>> definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Dan
>>
>
>

 

[Mike M]

> however I have no idea of what file extensions Spybot uses.

Not wishing to be sarcastic but I've always found Windows Explorer an
excellent tool for looking at files. As for file extensions, if you have
these hidden, I would strongly urge you to unhide them. Explorer | Tools
| Folder Options | View and UNcheck the box "Hide extensions for known
file types". I would expect SpyBot like most programs to use one or more
files with an exe extension and several with a dll extension as well as
one or more with an ini extension. Help is likely to include files with a
chm extension perhaps the odd txt file. I think that SpyBot also uses
files with sbs and sbi extensions which are specific to SpyBot. The
easiest way to check is to install SpyBot and then look in the various
SpyBot folders using Windows Explorer.

> although I uninstalled Version 1.5 using it's
> Uninstaller, I still have version 1.5 but I no longer have the
> ability to uninstall it

You may think you uninstalled SpyBot however from your original post and
this it is clear that SpyBot did not uninstall in the way that you
intended when you clicked "Uninstall". The easiest way to fix uninstall
problems is to reinstall the application you wish to uninstall and then
try running uninstall again.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com



Dapper Dan <dapperdan@home.com> wrote:

> Thanks for responding, Mike. I've read and reread your response but
> it's not registering in my pea size brain. You have indicated what SR
> monitors, however I have no idea of what file extensions Spybot uses.
> Nevertheless, if I comprehend it correctly, SR should have restored
> Spybot because it was stored in C:\Program Files.
>
> I've obviously done something wrong, however since I only downloaded
> Spybot version 1.5 today, it makes no sense to me how restoring to
> yesterday's date allows version 1.5 to remain on the computer, unless
> it's as Heather suggests, caused by me deleting everything associated
> with V1.4.
> At this moment, I have in ADD/REMOVE, Spybot version 1.4 but when I
> click on uninstall, I get a message saying C:|Program Files\Spybot-
> Search & Destroy\Unins000.dat file is corrupted. Cannot uninstall. In
> C:\Program Files, although I uninstalled Version 1.5 using it's
> Uninstaller, I still have version 1.5 but I no longer have the
> ability to uninstall it.
> Seems to me that what I ought to do is download V1.4 and hope that it
> fixes the corrupt file. Make sense ??

 

[Dapper Dan]

Thanks Mike. I shall try to reinstall and then use the Windows Uninstaller
in Add/Remove.

Dan


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:%230jZ$g07HHA.464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> however I have no idea of what file extensions Spybot uses.
>
> Not wishing to be sarcastic but I've always found Windows Explorer an
> excellent tool for looking at files. As for file extensions, if you have
> these hidden, I would strongly urge you to unhide them. Explorer | Tools
> | Folder Options | View and UNcheck the box "Hide extensions for known
> file types". I would expect SpyBot like most programs to use one or more
> files with an exe extension and several with a dll extension as well as
> one or more with an ini extension. Help is likely to include files with a
> chm extension perhaps the odd txt file. I think that SpyBot also uses
> files with sbs and sbi extensions which are specific to SpyBot. The
> easiest way to check is to install SpyBot and then look in the various
> SpyBot folders using Windows Explorer.
>
>> although I uninstalled Version 1.5 using it's
>> Uninstaller, I still have version 1.5 but I no longer have the
>> ability to uninstall it
>
> You may think you uninstalled SpyBot however from your original post and
> this it is clear that SpyBot did not uninstall in the way that you
> intended when you clicked "Uninstall". The easiest way to fix uninstall
> problems is to reinstall the application you wish to uninstall and then
> try running uninstall again.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
>
> Dapper Dan <dapperdan@home.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for responding, Mike. I've read and reread your response but
>> it's not registering in my pea size brain. You have indicated what SR
>> monitors, however I have no idea of what file extensions Spybot uses.
>> Nevertheless, if I comprehend it correctly, SR should have restored
>> Spybot because it was stored in C:\Program Files.
>>
>> I've obviously done something wrong, however since I only downloaded
>> Spybot version 1.5 today, it makes no sense to me how restoring to
>> yesterday's date allows version 1.5 to remain on the computer, unless
>> it's as Heather suggests, caused by me deleting everything associated
>> with V1.4.
>> At this moment, I have in ADD/REMOVE, Spybot version 1.4 but when I
>> click on uninstall, I get a message saying C:|Program Files\Spybot-
>> Search & Destroy\Unins000.dat file is corrupted. Cannot uninstall. In
>> C:\Program Files, although I uninstalled Version 1.5 using it's
>> Uninstaller, I still have version 1.5 but I no longer have the
>> ability to uninstall it.
>> Seems to me that what I ought to do is download V1.4 and hope that it
>> fixes the corrupt file. Make sense ??
>

 

[Heather]

You are welcome, but I still can't get my *blonde idea* straight, lol.
I know what I mean, but Mikey will have to tell me if I am right or
wrong. (cringing in corner, grin)

Heather

"Dapper Dan" <dapperdan@home.com> wrote in message
news:uJRJPO07HHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Not sure Heather but I guess it makes sense. Thanks for the
> suggestion, blond or otherwise.
>
> Dan
> "Heather" <figgyd@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
> news:OW2zPqy7HHA.1184@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Not sure if I am having a *blonde moment*, but if you removed all
>> traces of Version 1.4, then when using System Restore, it is still
>> NOT there to take the place of the new one. Comprendez??
>>
>> Heather
>>
>> "Dapper Dan" <dapperdan@home.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23WzW$Ty7HHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.
>>>
>>> In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted
>>> remnants (there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then
>>> downloaded and installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I
>>> immediately ran into resource problems. I think the problem is
>>> related to either me deleting the remnant files after uninstalling
>>> V1.4 or the fact that the new version is running in the background.
>>> In any event, not finding a way to disable that feature, I elected
>>> to run a restore point to yesterday. Upon reboot, I was surprised to
>>> see Spybot version 1.5.
>>>
>>> I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that
>>> it definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>> Dan
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

 

[Dapper Dan]

I think it would make sense if I, in fact, deleted the SR files associated
with Spybot, but I don't believe I did.

I don't quite understand what happened. I know one thing for sure I only
downloaded the new version after reading your post on Tuesday morning. The
SR date I used is the previous day, so...................

I would like to experiment with SR but it's dearly beloved's computer and
she's a bit annoyed right now that I messed it up yesterday. So I'll await a
more convenient time or I'll try it on my XP desktop. I'm assuming I can
download and install a new program and if I then use SR to restore to a
earlier date, the newly downloaded program will no longer be installed. I'm
not blond but that's how my thought process works <VBG>.

Dan
"Heather" <figgyd@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:O7Su1927HHA.5096@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> You are welcome, but I still can't get my *blonde idea* straight, lol. I
> know what I mean, but Mikey will have to tell me if I am right or wrong.
> (cringing in corner, grin)
>
> Heather
>
> "Dapper Dan" <dapperdan@home.com> wrote in message
> news:uJRJPO07HHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Not sure Heather but I guess it makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion,
>> blond or otherwise.
>>
>> Dan
>> "Heather" <figgyd@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:OW2zPqy7HHA.1184@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Not sure if I am having a *blonde moment*, but if you removed all traces
>>> of Version 1.4, then when using System Restore, it is still NOT there to
>>> take the place of the new one. Comprendez??
>>>
>>> Heather
>>>
>>> "Dapper Dan" <dapperdan@home.com> wrote in message
>>> news:%23WzW$Ty7HHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> Can anyone enlighten me with respect to how System Restore works.
>>>>
>>>> In a Clean Boot environment, I uninstalled Spybot 1.4 and deleted
>>>> remnants (there were quite a few files and folders remaining). Then
>>>> downloaded and installed Spybot 1.5 and upon rebooting, I immediately
>>>> ran into resource problems. I think the problem is related to either me
>>>> deleting the remnant files after uninstalling V1.4 or the fact that the
>>>> new version is running in the background. In any event, not finding a
>>>> way to disable that feature, I elected to run a restore point to
>>>> yesterday. Upon reboot, I was surprised to see Spybot version 1.5.
>>>>
>>>> I had understood that SR does not affect data files but thought that it
>>>> definitely affected programs. Would appreciate any feedback.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>>
>>>> Dan
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>