How to restore Windows 2003 in back date

[moinuddin_sh]

Recently I installed System Restore on my Windows 2003 server. When I want to run system restore, it gives only today's date for restore point. Is there any way to resotre a previous date(s) e.g. February 20, 2007.

Regards

[nitroshift]

Have you *ever* created a restore point?

[moinuddin_sh]

As I mentioned, I recently installed System restore on Windows 2003 server. So the answer is no, I did not ever created a restore point.

Regards

[cluberti]

If you created a restore point on said date, then yes, you would be able to do a system restore to that point using the utility (assuming it had not been deleted due to low disk space or age). However, system restore cannot restore to any point if you don't have a saved point to restore to - it's not a "smart" utility, and it can't magically go back in time. If you have a restore point you created, you can restore to it. If you don't have any restore points created, you can't restore the server to a previous time and date.

[moinuddin_sh]

Dear Cluberti,

Thanks for your valuable reply. Is there any way other then system restore to get the old data?

Regards

[cluberti]

You could always use the backup utility (start > programs > accessories > system tools) to back up vital files and system state data - however, again, this will only be able to restore data backed up with this tool. If you have a server that has gone south and you need to repair it, your only options are repair install (there are special steps if it's a domain controller) or rebuild completely if repair install doesn't work.

It is almost always better to have a backup (either to tape or to another disk-based location) than to rely on system restore or a repair install - you should always back up your servers.