What precisely is backed up during a system restore point?

Question

I can't find any documentation on this. I noticed that when I do a system restore, as I have been doing a lot lately since my new system seems to be unstable, all my programming AS files in C:/Work are restored too, meaning that I lose any work that hasn't been checked in to a remote server. 

TXT files in the same directory are not affected, so how exactly does it decide what to back up and what to leave alone?

If I move my AS files to C:/User/Me/Work, would they be left alone? What about C:/User/Documents/Work? Is there some way to tell system restore what to back up and what to ignore?

Answer 1

Hello Sarah,

System Restore does not cause you to lose your personal files or password. Items like documents, e-mail messages, browsing history, and the last specified password are saved when you revert to an earlier state with System Restore.

System Restore protects your personal files by not restoring any files in the My Documents folder.

It also does not restore any files that use common data file name extensions, such as .doc or .xls.

If you're not sure whether your personal files use common data file name extensions, and you do not want the data files to be affected by System Restore, save them in the My Documents folder.

A program was installed after the restore point that you are restoring to was created, the program might be uninstalled as part of the restoration process. Data files that are created with the program are not lost. However, in order to open the files again, you must reinstall the associated program.

Stores one to three weeks of past restore points The actual number of saved restore points depends on how much activity there has been on your computer, the size of your hard disk (or the partition

that contains your Windows XP Professional folder), and how much disk space has been allocated on your computer to store System Restore information

for more information refer this :

https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/app_system_restore_hss_understand.mspx?mfr=true

About System Restore

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa378724(v=vs.85).aspx

Hope this information helps, please reply for any further assistance on Windows.

Answer 2

System Restore protects your personal files by not restoring any files in the My Documents folder.

"My Documents" doesn't really exist in Windows 8. C:\Users\USERNAME\My Documents is a hidden shortcut that gives me Access Denied when I try to open it.

I'm guessing you mean C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents?

What about C:\Users\USERNAME\Pictures and C:\Users\USERNAME\Videos, Music, Saved Games, Downloads, Desktop. These commonly have personal files in them. Are they protected too or will those files be nuked if they aren't on the list of "common file extensions"?

Can I see a full list of the common file extensions which are protected? Can I edit it?

Answer 3

Hello Sarah,

Thank you for replying with the status of the issue, correction in my previous response Yes it is: "\Users\USERNAME\Documents" in Windows 8.

System Restore can make changes to Windows system files, registry settings, and programs installed on your computer. It also can make changes to scripts, batch files, and other types of executable files on your computer. Personal files, such as documents, e‑mail, photos, and music files, are not changed.

For example, if you download a personal file, such as a photo from a digital camera, on a Friday and then restore your computer to the state it was in two days earlier on Wednesday, the photo will still be on your computer.

However, if you install a photo viewing program on a Friday and then restore your computer to the state it was in two days earlier on Wednesday, System Restore will uninstall the program, and you won't be able to use that program to view photos.

Hope this information helps, please reply for any further assistance on Windows.