Is there a utility that will simulate Win ME/XP System Restore?

[jeffgson]

I'm running into a brick wall in the process of planning a computer upgrade.

I wanted a new motherboard, processor, and 780 MB of DDR RAM. The problem is the memory management of various versions of Windows. I've been told that Windows 9x and ME have terrible memory management and won't use all of 780 MB of RAM. Win NT, Win 2K, and Win XP can use all this RAM and much more.

But I hate Win XP. And Win NT and Win 2K don't have the System Restore function which is something I hate to sacrifice. I seem to remember reading about an app that does system restore, but you have to launch it before installing new software. Does anyone know what app I'm referring to by name (and perhaps vendor).

 

[HappyPuppy]

Gateway used to install a system restore software I believe was from Roxio on their pre XP systems. It's called GoBack.

Looking at Google, it appears Roxio sold it to Symantec who then sold it to someone else. It appears it is bundled with Norton Systemworks 2003.

Good luck.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you have multiple drives / partitions it doesn't take long to boot to DOS and Ghost or Drive Image your OS partition to another one. The image file then acts as a restore point. You either need to stick with Fat32 or use very recent versions of G/DI for NTFS support in DOS.

Image backups are one reason why I use multiple partitions and put all games on D: instead of C:, the imaging takes very little space since I'm really only imaging the registry entries for a game instead of its GBs of data.

 

[rainypickles]

just curious, why dont you like xp? its just like win98 except better (stable and just cleaner). i hate the default windows xp theme, i like the classic windows.

 

[Softballslug]

Originally posted by: jeffgson
I'm running into a brick wall in the process of planning a computer upgrade. I wanted a new motherboard, processor, and 780 MB of DDR RAM. The problem is the memory management of various versions of Windows. I've been told that Windows 9x and ME have terrible memory management and won't use all of 780 MB of RAM. Win NT, Win 2K, and Win XP can use all this RAM and much more. But I hate Win XP. And Win NT and Win 2K don't have the System Restore function which is something I hate to sacrifice. I seem to remember reading about an app that does system restore, but you have to launch it before installing new software. Does anyone know what app I'm referring to by name (and perhaps vendor).

The app is: Roxio GoBack by Symantec

 

[jeffgson]

I tried XP for about a month, and I hate the appearance more than anything else.

For anyone who wants the "rollback" software, Its available from Krex Computers. The link to the software is Software link . This is Symantec Systemworks 2003, and contains antivirus, system monitor, cleanup utilities, and Roxio "Go Back", which enables you to return your system to the same state it was in before your last software installation "Provides recovery from system crashes, failed software installations, and other serious PC problems. " The price is $18.95 plus shipping.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: jeffgson
I tried XP for about a month, and I hate the appearance more than anything else.

For anyone who wants the "rollback" software, Its available from Krex Computers. The link to the software is Software link . This is Symantec Systemworks 2003, and contains antivirus, system monitor, cleanup utilities, and Roxio "Go Back", which enables you to return your system to the same state it was in before your last software installation "Provides recovery from system crashes, failed software installations, and other serious PC problems. " The price is $18.95 plus shipping.

There are ways to make WinXP look just like Win9x, as someone mentioned above. Once I tried XP, I stayed with it. I was a 98SE user before then. XP is MUCH more stable, and it does have far better memory and crash management. The task manager, which shows actual processes, lets you forcefully terminate crashed programs. Win9x seems to just kindly "ask" the crashed program to close, but it doesn't force it to close. And I love the process priority control. I just wish I could have programs open with a certain priority all the time, like High for Windows Media Player.
But anyway, getting the "old" look - in the Display properties, under Appearance, there is an option for Windows Classic. You can also disable menu fade effects, and make other interfaces look and feel like Win9x.

 

[gflores]

One of the reasons I love XP is because I can change almost anything about it using various apps from Stardocka and the like. I'm using windowblinds with the Ferix skin and it rocks!