How Does One Do A Rollback?

[ShotgunSteven]

Not sure I am going to be able to get everything fixed that ZoneAlarm fscked up, so I am considering doing a rollback, or a reformat as a last resort. What is involved with doing a rollback?

 

[stevty2889]

Hit start, run, type MSCONFIG, and hit enter. Click on lauch system restore. Then just follow the instructions.

 

[corkyg]

Or, Start, Help and Support, and select System Restore under Pick a Task.

 

[sieistganzfett]

or even the 3rd way... start, all programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Be aware that all files will revert back to the condition they were in on the restore point date (only exception being anything in your documents folder). Some apps don't keep data in the documents folder though (like Quicken and Quickbooks) so make sure you backup any data outside the docs folder.

You can also undo the system restore so nothing is irreversible.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Excellent. Thanks for the help folks.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Another question concerning rollbacks. What happens if I delete a file from my C: drive and move some stuff from my D: drive to fill up that space. Will the files that were deleted reappear, and those that were moved in be back on their original drive?

I did read FlyingPenguin's post, I just wanted to clarify.

 

[corkyg]

The files will still be there - but links to them will probably be altered or not there. Basically a System Restore reverts to an earlier copy of your registry and drivers.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: corkyg
The files will still be there - but links to them will probably be altered or not there. Basically a System Restore reverts to an earlier copy of your registry and drivers.

Hmm... well, I want to rollback to before I installed ZoneAlarm and it fscked up my NAV and other stuff. Is that a viable option for what I need to do?

 

[corkyg]

Sure. Just do a System Restore to a date prior to your "bad" day. And, it is not locked in concrete. After trying it and you don't like it, it can be undone.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

OK, good. I am not sure of the exact day that I installed it, it may have been as much as a week now. I may have to do it a few times to find the exact day.

 

[corkyg]

The other thing you could do is fix Zone Alarm - make sure its AV is turned off - same for email in and out, spam blocking, etc. Those things are all controllable.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Keep in mind that a System Restore is NOT like making a Ghost image. Files and folders created later than the save point may or may not be deleted (rather complicated to explain why). And unlike what someone posted above it is NOT just registry and drivers that are altered (trust me - I've had plenty of clients who've used system restore and then realized their Quickbooks or Quicken data files had reverted to earlier copies).

NAV (especially the bloated P.O.S. Internet Security version) often get's trashed by a system restore (another good reason in my book not to use NAV). Re-installing it usually fixes it, but sometimes you have to remove all traces of it and re-install it then go through the hassles of re-validating you license.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: corkyg
The other thing you could do is fix Zone Alarm - make sure its AV is turned off - same for email in and out, spam blocking, etc. Those things are all controllable.

I removed it, and have no intention of installing it again.