Just so we're clear here on terms. Windows (from XP on) has at least three major recovery options, they are (in order from least to greatest impact):
+) System Restore This is essentually change control for the OS. Either automatically or on demand Windows will store configuration information, the registry, system files, etc. You can then easily revert the system back to that state at any time. So if you're about to try a potentially flakey driver, set a restore point first (Vista is much better at this that XP and sets automated restore points much more frequently and intelligently). If the driver hoses something, revert to the restore point to get your old config back. To my knowledge there is no equivilent of this on Mac OS. +) System Repair This is a more drastic measure that reverts windows components back to their original versions but attempts to maintain all your settings and programs. Since it uses the original files (from the installation disc) you would then have to reinstall any patches. It's slow and scary but can often bring a completely hosed system back from the dead. Again, in Vista, this process is both more intelligent and safer than in XP - but it's still much more drastic than system restore. This is similar to the "Archive and Install" option available to Mac OS users. +) System Reinstall This is, by far, the most drastic option. This consists of wiping your disk and starting from scratch with a brand new install. You need to apply all patches, install all software and so forth: you're starting fresh. This is the same as the "Software Restore" available to Mac OS users. In the case presented (a network driver munging up the works) system restore is clearly the best choice: you just regress the system to a point before the driver was installed. The process is very simple: just run the restore tool and choose "Restore my computer to an earlier time". You'll be presented with a calendar listing of all available restore points (since this is a driver there should be one right before the driver was installed since Vista creates an automatic restore point for any system-level installs). Choose the one you like, wait a bit (about 3-10 minutes depending on the changes being made) and reboot. Viola. You've gone back in time. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Create Web Applications With ColdFusion MX7 & Flex 2. Build powerful, scalable RIAs. Free Trial http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/flex2/?sdid=RVJS Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:235799 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
