Question

Win Me System Restore

Asked by: danfoo

Greetings,

I see there is a _restore folder in the root directory of my C drive and it take up a significant size of 2 GB from my 20 GB Win Me HD. Is this huge 2 GB size solely used for system restore purpose?

Anyone has successfully restore to an earlier date with the Win Me system restore utility? I have tried this tool on several occasions before but none of the attempts has enabled me to restore to an earlier point in time.

Does system restore only restore the registry settings to an earlier point in time only, i.e its only and sole purpose?

There is a PCHEALTH folder in the Windows directory, anyone know whether this is installed by Win Me OS or other 3rd party program, if so what is the program that generated this folder?

TIA

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Asked On
2003-08-23 at 08:56:38ID20718080
Tags

restore

,

system

,

me

Topic

Windows ME Operating System

Participating Experts
4
Points
50
Comments
14

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Answers

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2003-08-23 at 15:09:40ID: 9210079

The _Restore folder is where the backups for System Restore are kept.  PcHealth folder holds routines having to do with Help, System Restore, etc.  The System Restore feature does not just restore registry settings; there are also certain system files that are crucial for good system operation that are backed up there too.  Here's an MSKB article about how System Restore works:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;267951
Description of the System Restore Utility in Windows Millennium Edition

I have used the System Restore utility successfully.  If you are having problems, you need to communicate further details about how it didn't work (exact error message, etc.) in order for me to help you further.

 

by: danfooPosted on 2003-08-23 at 22:52:25ID: 9211099

When I tried it, there was no error msg when I tried to go back to certain restore points on some earlier dates. None of the restore points was successful. Msg just showed that it is not able to restore to that particular point in time.

Since those unsuccessful attempts I have doubt the functionality of the system restore utility on my PII 266 Mhz, 128 MB 20 GB Win Me system.

From your feedback, I deduced that the PCHealth folder in the Windows directory was created at the time I installed the Win Me OS.

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2003-08-24 at 09:27:12ID: 9212237

Yes, the PcHealth folder is created at the installation of WinME.  Take a look at this article on troubleshooting System Restore:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306768
Troubleshooting System Restore in Windows Millennium Edition

 

by: rschafer3Posted on 2003-08-24 at 21:04:11ID: 9213997

Did you apply the Micro$oft update for System Restore?  This update resolves an issue with the System Restore date-stamping functionality that may cause System Restore to date-stamp snapshots that are taken after September 8, 2001 incorrectly. This can prevent System Restore from locating these snapshots and can cause the system restore process to fail.  You can download here:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/winme/update/16372/winme/en-us/290700usam.exe

Many Windows Me users have had unsatisfactory experiences with System Restore and have disabled the utility and deleted the _RESTORE folder. If you wish to disable, right click the My Computer icon and select Properties. Click the Performance tab and then File System under the Advanced settings. Now select the Troubleshooting tab and place a check mark of Disable System Restore. Restart the system. Now check the size of the _RESTORE folder--it should be much smaller because all of the restore information has been deleted. There may still be several Megabytes there.

Regards,
Ron

 

by: rschafer3Posted on 2003-08-24 at 21:20:13ID: 9214032

It is possible to accomplish a system restore checkpoint in DOS. Here's how:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;279736

Regards,
Ron

 

by: irishbob2006Posted on 2003-08-25 at 04:30:20ID: 9215354

never mind the update. U have 2 goto run, type in msconfig goto then goto startup click *statemgr, apply then restart. try that, if it doesn't work email me on sgtpsycho2006@yahoo.com.

 

by: danfooPosted on 2003-08-25 at 07:10:23ID: 9216272

irishbob2006, you mean uncheck the statemgr to unable it? What is the rationality behind this troubleshooting step? What do I do after restart?

I see that http://download.microsoft.com/download/winme/update/16372/winme/en-us/290700usam.exe
has a write-up in http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290700 - Checkpoints That You Create After September 8, 2001 Do Not Restore Your Computer
LeeTutor have you applied this fix that enable your Win Me system restore to work?

Have you guys tried the below hotfixes for Win Me?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;295413
General Information About Windows Millennium Edition Hotfixes

What are your takes on these hotfixes?

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2003-08-25 at 15:28:29ID: 9219869

I have applied all the fixes.  As a matter of fact, I was next going to mention the article about checkpoints created after Sept 8 2001, for that was the solution to one of the questions I've answered in this topic area.

 

by: Huseyin1Posted on 2003-08-26 at 01:32:49ID: 9222156

the first time I used system restore it did not work, so I set a point and the secound time it did work, I've used it a few times now and all is well.

I think that sys restore is all about the registry saving and changing that, I did read somewhere that it takes up about 10% of HDD space, so two gigs out of 20 is ok.

H

 

by: danfooPosted on 2003-08-26 at 04:42:26ID: 9222992

I just installed the 290700usam.exe hotfix. I think this patch should rectify the "unsuccessful restore" problem the next time the need arises for me to use the system restore tool.

What are the URLs for all the hotfixes to Win Me and what do they fix? This is troublesome. I wonder why Microsoft did not come up with a Service Pack release for Win Me.

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2003-08-26 at 08:40:00ID: 9224897

This is a very good article containing a lot of info on WinME hotfixes:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;295413
General Information About Windows Millennium Edition Hotfixes

 

by: danfooPosted on 2003-08-26 at 19:46:55ID: 9229362

That was the same link I have posted earlier.

I find that the font size is very small on MS KBs, I can make them bigger on screen in IE 6  by using view -> text size but the text defaulted to the orginal font size when printed. The same small font size is true when I save the KBs to Acrobat 5.05.

How do I change to a bigger printed font size in IE 6? Likewise how do I change to a bigger printed font size in Acrobat 5.05?

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2003-08-27 at 15:48:58ID: 9236328

>How do I change to a bigger printed font size in IE 6? Likewise how do I change to a bigger printed font size in Acrobat 5.05?

This sounds to me like it should be at least one new question, and not in this topic area, either.

Isn't your original question now answered?

 

by: danfooPosted on 2003-08-27 at 19:53:44ID: 9237344

That's correct, LeeTutor. Anyway, if you know the answer, feel free to share it here.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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