Re: Registry - this can't be good

From	Arlen Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com>
Newsgroups	alt.comp.os.windows-10, alt.comp.microsoft.windows
Subject	Re: Registry - this can't be good
Date	2020-09-20 21:08 +0000
Organization	Mixmin
Message-ID	<rk8gcf$hvm$1@news.mixmin.net> (permalink)
References	<hspaumFe0faU1@mid.individual.net> <hspbmhFe51uU1@mid.individual.net> <hsppjfFgv9eU1@mid.individual.net> <hspqhlFh5ntU1@mid.individual.net> <rk8g9a$ho5$1@news.mixmin.net>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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> Please see my next post which is a copy of what I sent to Mike separately.

This is a copy of what I sent to Mike on this separately.

 On Sun, 20 Sep 2020 13:19:48 -0700, Mike Easter wrote:

 > Except s|b doesn't use restore point/s. 

Hi Mike,

Yeah. As always, you're way ahead of me on the facts.

Three reasons that answer doesn't really affect this thread though:
1. The question is still valid, even outside of s|b's purview
2. Less importantly, it's s|b sister's PC - so maybe "she" does them
3. Even less importantly, he posted that after I had posted this.

In summary, even as the concept arose from that thread, the solution won't 
work for that thread; but the question is still valid, don't you think?

 > This article is one which tries to address backup strategy:
 > https://www.groovypost.com/howto/guide-backup-strategy-windows-10-pc/ 
 > Complete Backup Strategy for Your Windows 10 PC

Yes. But. Two key points:
1. Backup means different things to people (extremely different things).
2. All he needs, AFAICT, is a system restore point

Yes. I know, He hates system restore point (which I hadn't known).

o In fact, he hates restore points like I hate going to the dentist.
But all he really needs is a system restore point (IMHO).

His registry is messed up.
o That's what system restore points are for.

 > While the article isn't all that great, it turns out to have useful 
 > comments, which supports my opinion, "Always skim the comments section 
 > of an article; there might be something useful i there."

Yes. I have my own personal backup strategy which works fine for me.
o Data is all that matters - nothing else.

So I back up data, and I'm done. 
o That's it for the active part of the backup strategy.

All the data I care about is in one hierarchy.
o C:\data\{lots of stuff}

If I have a copy of C:\data, I'm good to set up on _any_ Microsoft Windows 
PC on the planet.

There's a reason I wrote these tutorials:
o Philosophy on a tutorial for setting up Windows in a well organized 
  KISS philosopy such that search is never needed & reinstall is trivial
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.comp.freeware/i9Cz3POZFCo>

Note I keep an EXTERNAL usb drive with all the software (including paid 
software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Exchange) & keys.

Also note that EXTERNAL usb drive contains the system log for each PC:
o What solution do you use to figure out what USB drive letter in a Windows
scripted command? 
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.msdos.batch/fjxhOsMvJkY>

The system log is no big deal, but, it's nice to set up a new PC because it 
contains, in sequence, the hundred or two hundred 'things' you do to set up 
a PC from scratch (much of which is turning off Microsoft bullshit stuff).

I repeat, even the hierarchical menus transfer over perfectly from one 
machine to another (even if the one machine is Windows XP and the another 
machine is Windows 10 Pro). It doesn't matter what Windows operating 
system; the menus work out of the box on _any_ machine I set up.

Of course, I set things up consistently, which is "where they belong".
o And yes, I get to define where they belong.

Not 1,000 different developers each of which has a different concept of 
where things belong.

Note that any "data" that isn't in C:\data is garbage.

If the 'data' for any app is 'important' data, then I learn how to set up 
the app so that it puts its data where it belongs (which, for each app, is 
one of the hundreds of tweaks I make to a Windows operating system).

Which is why the syslog comes in handily:
o Win+R > syslog

> One of them starts w/:
>> My belief is that Microsoft backup facilities provided within Windows 
>> should NOT be considered reliable as a backup

In s|b's case, what he _needs_ (IMHO) is a good "registry".
o If he had system restore points he would have _had_ them. 

Nonetheless, when I back up a system, I don't back up the registry.
o I only use the registry to "repair" an existing system; not back it up.

> ... but then he goes into overdrive at the end of his comment w/ an 
> 'excessive' b/u plan IMO.

The simplest plan is:
a. Plan for your backup the instant you start the machine for the 1st time
b. Decide where YOU want things to belong, and put them there
c. Back up _only_ the data (do not back up the programs or settings)

For the programs, maintain an EXTERNAL drive of installers.
o For teh settings, keep a log file with each software.

You'll note that I've often posted portions of my install logs, where every 
step I do with software is logged, if it's related to setup.

For example, for Office 2007... 
o SOLVED: How to download an ISO image for Office 2007 Pro in the year 2018 
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/7ru4_AyhPCY>

 > I think the b/u plan should be 'customized' to fit/suit the particular 
 > 'style' of the individual user.  For example, some people are very prone 
 > to 'junk up' their system willy-nilly with programs they are interested 
 > in 'checking out' -- but in the long or short run they lose interest in 
 > that program.  So their 'restorations' are busy restoring all kinds of 
 > crap which is completely unnecessary.

Hehhehheh... are you talkin' about me, Mike?
o I must have hundreds and hundreds of programs installed at any given time

What I do, is simple:
o On the new system, I install whatever I feel I need 

In the order I need it.
o I get all that from the syslog file maintained for each PC.

Things like:
o Disable autostart after updates:
  Win+R > %windir%\system32\taskschd.msc /s {ctrl+shft+enter}
  Win+R > cmd {ctrl+shift+enter} > %windir%\system32\taskschd.msc /s
   Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > UpdateOrchestrator
   Right click on the task named "Reboot_AC" & click "Disable" to disable.

o Disable autostart after crashes:
   Win+R > control.exe {ctrl+shift+enter}
    View by: Category
    System and Security > System > Advanced System Settings 
    Bring up Startup & Recovery settings:
    Startup and Recovery > Settings 
    Uncheck the system failure automatically-restart option:
    System failure 
    [x]Write an event to the system log
    [_]Automatically restart
    OK > OK

o Eliminate the lock screen upon startup & go right to the login prompt:
  1. Regedit [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows]
  2. Add a New Key => Personalization
  3. Add to it a New 32-bit DWORD -> NoLockScreen 
  4. Set the Value = 1
etc.
-- 
(There are miles and miles and miles of these tweaks in my syslogs.)

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Thread

Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-20 17:31 +0200
  Re: Registry - this can't be good Roger Mills <watt.tyler@gmail.com> - 2020-09-20 16:44 +0100
    Re: Registry - this can't be good Ken Blake <ken@invalidemail.com> - 2020-09-20 09:39 -0700
      Re: Registry - this can't be good Char Jackson <none@none.invalid> - 2020-09-20 12:18 -0500
        Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 17:50 +0000
          Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 18:02 +0000
          Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 18:30 +0000
        Re: Registry - this can't be good VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2020-09-20 13:30 -0500
          Re: Registry - this can't be good Ken Blake <ken@invalidemail.com> - 2020-09-20 12:21 -0700
    Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-20 21:41 +0200
      Re: Registry - this can't be good Mike Easter <MikeE@ster.invalid> - 2020-09-20 12:57 -0700
        Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 21:06 +0000
          Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 21:08 +0000
            Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 22:10 +0000
          Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-22 21:54 +0200
            Re: Registry - this can't be good Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2020-09-22 18:06 -0400
              Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-24 17:24 +0200
        Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-21 22:06 +0200
          Re: Registry - this can't be good Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2020-09-23 01:14 +0100
            Re: Registry - this can't be good Char Jackson <none@none.invalid> - 2020-09-22 19:47 -0500
              Re: Registry - this can't be good Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2020-09-23 15:27 +0000
            Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-24 17:26 +0200
  Re: Registry - this can't be good Neil <neil@myplaceofwork.com> - 2020-09-20 12:04 -0400
    Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 17:27 +0000
    Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-21 22:10 +0200
      Re: Registry - this can't be good Neil <neil@myplaceofwork.com> - 2020-09-22 07:13 -0400
        Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-22 21:57 +0200
          Re: Registry - this can't be good Neil <neil@myplaceofwork.com> - 2020-09-22 21:35 -0400
        Re: Registry - this can't be good Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2020-09-23 01:15 +0100
        Re: Registry - this can't be good "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2020-09-24 17:28 +0200
          Re: Registry - this can't be good Neil <neil@myplaceofwork.com> - 2020-09-24 15:16 -0400
            Re: Registry - this can't be good Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2020-09-24 18:46 -0400
      Re: Registry - this can't be good Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2020-09-23 01:20 +0100
  Re: Registry - this can't be good VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2020-09-20 13:28 -0500
  Re: Registry - this can't be good Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2020-09-20 16:48 -0400
    Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-20 22:10 +0000
      Re: Registry - this can't be good Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2020-09-20 21:53 -0400
        Re: Registry - this can't be good  Arlen   Holder <arlen_holder@newmachines.com> - 2020-09-21 03:20 +0000
          Re: Registry - this can't be good Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2020-09-21 01:13 -0400
  Re: Registry - this can't be good Shadow <Sh@dow.br> - 2020-09-20 18:50 -0300

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