What files does system restore actually restore on Windows 7?
Hi, All: Few days ago, I encountered one weird case, one downloaded execution file is deleted after system restore, After investigation, Understanding how System Restore in Windows Vista treats executable files can explain it. It leads another question What does system restore do for my PC actually? There is one vague explanation from System Restore Beta Chat Transcript (May 19, 2006) "When you restore from this image SR will restore all the registry settings from the image and then it will look at files that have changed. Files that are considered to be user documents will not be copied from the image, but system files and application files will be." Conceptually, It means "System restores a specific files set on volume to achieve system restore". My questions are Question 1 : Does anyone know what is the specific files set on Windows 7? Question 2 : During investigation, I also found there are several APIs about "System Restore Functions". Why does Windows only provide two APIs about system restore? SRRemoveRestorePoint, SRSetRestorePoint But not provide restore point management and system restore function? Any help will be really appreciated. Thanks.
December 21st, 2009 7:35am

Hello,1. The following is a list of system restore monitored file name extensions. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa378870(VS.85).aspx2. In respect to the system restore APIs, as far as I know, we can manage system restore function via modifying the regsitry keys which related to system restore.Thomas77
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December 21st, 2009 12:36pm

Dear Thomas_77: Many thanks for your quick reply. Question 1. - Yes, system restore will restore the files with the specific extension file name extensions. However, according to Understanding how System Restore in Windows Vista treats executable files "we restore a specific set of files on all volumes where system protection is enabled. On Windows Vista, this set of files is defined by monitored extensions outside of the Windows folder, and everything under the Windows folder." If system restore actually restores all monitored extension outside the Windows folder, and everything under Windows folder. The restoration may take lot of time. But from my observation, normal system restoration only takes 3~5 mins. Does anyone know what's exactly the specific files set on Windows 7? Question 2. - I can't find related online documentation, could you help to provide link? Really appreciate your help. ---------------------------------------------------------- Karamazvo
December 21st, 2009 4:58pm

Hi Karamazvo, I think you want to know something about Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). System Restore depends on VSS. VSS allows taking manual or automatic backup copies or snapshots of data, even if it has a lock, on a specific volume at a specific point in time over regular intervals. For more information about VSS, you may refer to the following links: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758899(WS.10).aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb968832(VS.85).aspx Good luck!Arthur Li - MSFT
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December 25th, 2009 9:25am

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