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Re: Registry - this can't be good

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  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

#348 — Re: Registry - this can't be good

On Sun, 20 Sep 2020 12:57:41 -0700, Mike Easter wrote:

> So, you must have an alternate backup/restore strategy.

I think we're all mixing words, which is fine, as long as we agree we're
using the terms completely differently than each other.

IMHO, "backup" is extremely _different_ from "repair", in _my_ vocabulary.

What s-or-b needs, in my humblest of opinions, is "repair".
o Not "backup".

Two different beasts altogether, IMHO.

The system restore points are _not_ "backups" (in my humblest of opinions).
o They're "repair".

What s|b needs, IMHO, is "repair" (not "backup and restore").
-- 
Please see my next post which is a copy of what I sent to Mike separately.

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#349

> 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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#352

On Sun, 20 Sep 2020 14:03:31 -0700, Mike Easter wrote:

> I jump around between systems and machines a lot.

Yup. 
o I think it's sheer folly to try to do a "dd" type "backup".

Same on Android.
o Back up the data; everything else is easily replaced.

The trick, on both Android & Windows, is knowing how to tell a program to
put the important data where it belongs, but, in practice, it's not all
that hard as most well-written software has an option for that.

For an example on Android, a good camera app allows you to set the location
of the DCIM directory, and a good message app automatically stores all
incoming MMS graphics/videos/audios into that same data location on the
external sdcard.

Likewise with good Windows software, where, for example, browsers allow you
to specificy where to put bookmarks (although I don't use 'em), and editing
tools allow you to specify the default directory.

One thing I never use is the "downloads" directory, as that is simply
polluted with all kinds of unnecessary crap (e.g., Opera automatic updates
and the like).

Basically, I create a "data" hierarchy completely _outside_ the default
Windows folders, and two _magical_ things happen as a result:
1. Any program that pollutes, pollutes the default Windows hierarchy
2. Anything in the default Windows hierarchy, is garbage
-- 
Works for me, and yes, I only set up, oh, maybe ten systems a year (or so).

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#368

On Sun, 20 Sep 2020 21:06:50 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:

> What s|b needs, IMHO, is "repair" (not "backup and restore").

I consider the restore of the 2018 image a repair. That is, if the same
entries aren't found in that registry as well. If that is the case, then
I have the backup image that I created Sunday. I would copy individual
user folders (Firefox, Thunderbird), so I wouldn't loose that data.

As mentioned, there /is/ the possibility that she installed some
(harmless?) Chinese software. That would explain why Defender,
Malwarebytes, CCleaner, SUPERAntiSpyware and Avast don't find anything.

-- 
s|b

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#369

s|b wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Sep 2020 21:06:50 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:
> 
>> What s|b needs, IMHO, is "repair" (not "backup and restore").
> 
> I consider the restore of the 2018 image a repair. That is, if the same
> entries aren't found in that registry as well. If that is the case, then
> I have the backup image that I created Sunday. I would copy individual
> user folders (Firefox, Thunderbird), so I wouldn't loose that data.
> 
> As mentioned, there /is/ the possibility that she installed some
> (harmless?) Chinese software. That would explain why Defender,
> Malwarebytes, CCleaner, SUPERAntiSpyware and Avast don't find anything.
> 

OK, drop the "Chinese" into translate.google.com and see what it says.

    Paul

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#374

On Tue, 22 Sep 2020 18:06:11 -0400, Paul wrote:

> OK, drop the "Chinese" into translate.google.com and see what it says.

Tnx, I'll try that first.

-- 
s|b

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