System Restore

[Dudley]

In recent posts the knowledeable techies on AnswerBank have all advised only to use System Restore as a last resort as it can cause problems. Could anyone please expand on this? I've used it from time to time when my printer goes AWOL and it has solved the problem without any other problems emerging but I would welcome advice.

[Old_Geezer]

Can only imagine that it can undo stuff you have changed and want remain changed since the last backup. New installs and the like.

[AlBags]

http://www.5starsuppo...xp-system-restore.htm

[rojash]

The other problem is that many people are under the impression that a system restore does the lot more than it actually does, so they recommend it inappropriately.
This section of AlBags' link tells you exactly what is and what is not restored:
http://www.5starsuppo...ystem-restore.htm#1-6

[Buenchico]

That link from Albags has a well-balanced answer to the question: "Can it hurt your system to use System Restore too much?"

You can theoretically use it repeatedly, every few minutes of your computer's life, without ever causing any problems. However anything that affects your computer's registry (such as simply installing some new, and well-trusted, software) involves a very small risk of something going wrong. Think of using it as akin to a very minor hospital operation under general anaesthetic. Millions of people will have such an operation without any problems whatsoever but just once in a blue moon someone dies through unforeseen complications. So it would be ridiculous not to have the operation if it would be genuinely beneficial but it would still be better to avoid it if at all possible.

If your printer goes AWOL try reinstalling the driver first. If that doesn't work, use System Restore.

Chris

[Dudley]

Thanks Guys, usual quick response and excellent advice. Much appreciated! With regard to my printer problems, it is an Hp all-in-one which cost around £200 about five years ago since when I have upgraded my laptop first to Vista(disaster that) and then to Windows7 which I find very good. As a consequence, the installation disc is obsolete and when I download the software from the Hp website when I lose the prinetr, it isn't always effective and I get problems later with my Dell laptop saying the printer can't be found. Despite re-installing the printer software, the problem still persists and that's when I use System Restore, following which all is well for several months. Why do I always get mysteries I wonder?