A better way of restoring your system

A better way of restoring your system

If you have questions or comments related to the use of information and communications technology, please send an email to zatni@cbn.net.id and we shall endeavor to provide a solution via this, our new column.

Question: Apart from using the System Restore utility, is there any other way I can fix my PC after I have installed some harmful software? What if Windows does not boot at all? --JR, Jakarta

Answer: Commenting on my reply to your question last week, a reader, Daniel Symmes, sent me an email and reminded me that Symantec has a product called GoBack. Daniel, a computer specialist since 1980, was of the opinion that the System Restore utility had only very basic functions and "should not be relied on." This is why he strongly recommended GoBack.

One of the reasons he prefers this commercial product is the fact that System Restore would be useless if Windows refuses to boot at all.

So, if you frequently install trial versions of new software, it would be a good idea to acquire a copy of Symantec GoBack. This software runs before Windows actually loads, so it is far more bulletproof than System Restore. GoBack is now up to version 4.0, and the web address is www.symantec.com/goback/.

What GoBack can do and System Restore cannot is restore the files or the folders that you choose, or even the entire hard disk. It also allows you to create a new restore point at regular intervals. In short, it will give you better protection against harmful software.

Daniel's email also reminds me of the problems that Internet cafes and computer rental shops may face on a daily basis. Their customers may make changes to the system without the knowledge of the system administrators. Restoring the system back to its original state is easy with a utility such as GoBack.

Incidentally, I had a chat with one of my students last week, and he said that he had lost a file after using GoBack on his computer. Just remember that, each time you do a roll-back, there is a chance that you will lose some of your latest data.

Therefore, unless you want to use this as an excuse not to submit your class assignment on time, do what all seasoned computer users advise you to do: Back up your data!

If you do not think you need to invest in GoBack and decide on just using System Restore and Uninstall, do not forget to defragment your hard disk to restore its performance.

A special thanks to Daniel for bring up this point.