Re: System Restore Points in Windows 2000 Pro?

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 01/30/05 

Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 09:22:41 -0700

Duane wrote:
> I have nuked and paved my Windows 2000 Pro system and everything is going
> great. Is there a feature (as in XP) like a system restore point or???? I
> need something I can revert back to!!
>

        
        No, Win2K does not have the System Restore feature (which only
preserves some systems files and settings, anyway, so it's can't do what
you want). Use standard backup procedures or a disk imaging/cloning
application such as Ghost, Drive Image, Partition Magic, or BootItNG.

> Also, what about Norton Systemworks 2005 Premier.

>
> Key Features•One Button Checkup allows you to quickly identify and fix
> common PC problems.

        Snake Oil.

> •LiveUpdate™ automatically downloads protection updates to
> defend your PC against new threats.
>

        Updates for the Symantec product only, though. Don't get mislead into
thinking that LiveUpdate also keeps your OS and other applications
up-to-date on patches.

> Norton AntiVirus™•NEW! Norton™ Internet Worm Protection blocks worms at
> their attempted point of entry.•NEW! QuickScan detects and removes viruses
> after new protection updates are installed.•Automatically removes viruses,
> worms, and Trojan horses.•Scans and cleans instant message attachments,
> incoming and outgoing email messages, and other files.•Detects spyware and
> certain non-virus threats such as adware and keystroke logging programs.
>

        Once a reputable antivirus product, but I've not used it for a couple
years, now. It does consume at lot more system resources that do
several equally effective free antivirus solutions, such as Grisoft's AVG.

> Norton Utilities™•Optimizes and defragments files for faster hard drive
> performance.•Detects and fixes many Windows® and disk problems automatically.
>

        Once a useful utility suite, back in the days of MS-DOS, when Peter
Norton was more than a picture on the box, Norton Utilities have been
becoming increasingly useless and redundant over the years. There's
little offered by NU that Win2k cannot already do natively. And some of
its features, like CrashGuard and CleanSweep (if they're still included)
cause far more problems then they prevent.

> Norton GoBack™•NEW! SafeTry Mode creates a temporary environment that allows
> you to test new programs and accept or reject changes to your system. •NEW!
> Familiar, intuitive search bar makes it easy to find the files or folders you
> want to restore.•Restores your disk drive to a previous healthy state after a
> system crash, failed software installation, user error, virus attack, or
> other problem.•Allows you to restore just the files or folders you need, or
> an entire drive.

        This might be a useful feature for you. Naturally, it can only recover
from those changes made after it's installation.

>
> Norton Ghost™•NEW! “Hot imaging” lets you create backup images without
> restarting Windows. (Available only on Windows® XP/2000 Pro.)•NEW!
> Incremental backup updates save time and disk space. (Available only on
> Windows® XP/2000 Pro.)•NEW! Scheduled backups keep the backup image up to
> date. (Available only on Windows® XP/2000 Pro.)•NEW! Reboot a non-responsive
> system in a Windows-based environment. Repair and rescue data on a damaged
> NTFS volume.•Backs up everything on a hard drive or partition.•Works with a
> wide range of hard drives and removable media.†
>

        This is probably the single most useful component of the suite. Used
properly, it will enable you to restore your computer's OS and software
from almost any disaster.

> CheckIt® Diagnostics•NEW! Gives you a fast, thorough evaluation of your PC’s
> hardware.
>

        More Snake Oil.

> System Optimizer•NEW! Makes it easy to manage and customize Windows XP
> settings from one simple interface.
>

        Still more Snake Oil.

> Additional problem-solving tools•NEW! Norton Cleanup now deletes temporary
> files and recently viewed Web pages in addition to other unneeded files left
> over from Internet sessions.•Process Viewer displays detailed information
> about Windows processes.•PerformanceTest(TM) benchmarks your computer’s
> performance against similar machines.
>

        All redundant. There's nothing here that you can't already do using
native Win2K tools.
        

>
> I am using Norton Internet Security 2005, Spybot S&D and Adaware currently.
>

     I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet
Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without
any significant problems. However, when my subscription to Symantec's
updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost
substantially higher than the preceding year's subscription), I decided
to try less expensive solutions. I downloaded and installed the free
version of GriSoft's AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php )
and the free version of Sygate's Personal Firewall
(http://smb.sygate.com/free/default.php ). Both have proven to be
easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective. Additionally, I was
pleasantly surprised to see a small but very noticeable improvement in
my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the Symantec product. 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
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