Revert To Restore Point And Then Back To The Present?

N_E · May 2, 2015

I need to recover my bookmarks in Google Chrome. Unfortunately I've deleted my "user" which is located in Chrome's SETTINGS under PEOPLE. What that did was remove all my bookmarks, which I really need. (There are too many to just replace manually). I have backed them up to a file in the past but I have not done it recently so even if I use the back up that I have, I would still be missing some. When the "user" was deleted, Chrome warned that this 'could not be undone'.

I really need to recover those bookmarks.

I thought to just do a system restore, which I'm assuming would get the old 'user' back and therefore allow me to back up the bookmarks. My question is this: Could I then put the machine back to present time?

Also, am I correct about my assumption that I will indeed get back my old 'user' in Chrome?

If anyone could help, it would be appreciated.

talleymj · May 2, 2015

You shouldn't need to restore your system. If Windows has a copy of them, it's accessible without taking that step. This will only work if Windows is set to retain previous versions of files.

Navigate to the User Data folder in explorer and right click on it and go to properties. Go to the Previous Versions tab and, if you're lucky, there will be a list of available backups you can restore.

If not, you can try the system restore option. I don't believe it's designed to be reversible. I think the only way to be sure you'll be be able to get back to your current system state is to create a backup image of your system. Then you can run restore, hopefully find the bookmarks, copy them to another drive, and then restore your system from the image.

USAFRet · May 2, 2015

I thought to just do a system restore, which I'm assuming would get the old 'user' back and therefore allow me to back up the bookmarks. My question is this: Could I then put the machine back to present time?

No, that will not work.
If you restore to 'last Thursday'...'last Thursday' knows nothing about 'today'.

When the "user" was deleted, Chrome warned that this 'could not be undone'.

It warned you for a reason.

redgarl · May 2, 2015

A system restore could do the trick. I would just do it and reconfigure your system to your taste after that.

N_E · May 2, 2015

talleymj :

You shouldn't need to restore your system. If Windows has a copy of them, it's accessible without taking that step. This will only work if Windows is set to retain previous versions of files.

Navigate to the User Data folder in explorer and right click on it and go to properties. Go to the Previous Versions tab and, if you're lucky, there will be a list of available backups you can restore.

If not, you can try the system restore option. I don't believe it's designed to be reversible. I think the only way to be sure you'll be be able to get back to your current system state is to create a backup image of your system. Then you can run restore, hopefully find the bookmarks, copy them to another drive, and then restore your system from the image.

N_E · May 2, 2015

Thanks for the reply Talleymj,

The User Data folder is located at C:\Users\<USERNAME> ?

I looked and there is no "previous versions" tab. How would I check if Windows is set to retain previous versions of files?

N_E · May 2, 2015

redgarl :

N_E · May 2, 2015

Thanks for the reply bu that's not what I was looking to do. I need to bring the computer back to the state it is in now.

N_E · May 2, 2015

USAFRet :

I thought to just do a system restore, which I'm assuming would get the old 'user' back and therefore allow me to back up the bookmarks. My question is this: Could I then put the machine back to present time?

No, that will not work.
If you restore to 'last Thursday'...'last Thursday' knows nothing about 'today'.

When the "user" was deleted, Chrome warned that this 'could not be undone'.

It warned you for a reason.

talleymj · May 2, 2015

N_E :

In Explorer (or elsewhere) right click on Computer and click Properties. On the left side of the that window, click "System Protection" and then click the Configure button. That will show you your current settings.

What version of Windows are you using? I thought that Windows 7 and newer showed the Previous Versions tab regardless of settings. If you're in something prior to Windows 7, I don't think there's any way it was saved automatically.

But you can always try restoring. The method I provided above will allow you to use System Restore and then get your computer back to its current condition.

N_E · May 2, 2015

"No, that will not work.
If you restore to 'last Thursday'...'last Thursday' knows nothing about 'today'."

I thought that there might be some option to cancel the restore. You're saying there isn't any?

"It warned you for a reason."

It would be nice if, instead of some ambiguous warning, the warning also included the reason. That way, users can take advantage of the warning and make an informed decision. Right?
Who knew the implications of deleting the 'user'?

USAFRet · May 2, 2015

OK....theoretically, if you have a whole other drive to save stuff to....

1. Using one of the current various cloning/imaging tools, create an image of your drive as it is now. Save that image somewhere.
2. System Restore back to when these Bookmarks still existed. (if that System Restore point actually exists)
3. Find and save those Bookmarks somewhere else
4. Using the image you created in Step 1, bring your system back to 'today'
5. Copy those Bookmarks back into the system as it is 'today'.

Lot of work just to save some bookmarks, but that sequence might work.

USAFRet · May 2, 2015

N_E :

Delete means...Delete. Bye, thrown in the trash, blown up, bye bye, erase,
I'm thinking there was a "Cancel" button on that window?

As for the Restore....If a Restore Point of 'last Thursday' exists, and you do that....'last Thursday' knows nothing about events after that. Data created the following day or later does not exist.

N_E · May 2, 2015

I followed your instructions. Clicking on 'System Protection' on the left opens a window: 'System Properties' to the 'System Protection' tab.
I see a 'System Restore' button and a 'Create' button but no 'Configure' button. I have another machine here and it's Win7. It's exactly as you described.

The machine I'm having trouble with is running Windows Vista.

"But you can always try restoring. The method I provided above will allow you to use System Restore and then get your computer back to its current condition."

Yeah I guess that's pretty much all I can do at this point. I have a drive copier (hardware not software) so I can do it.

Thanks for your help.

talleymj · May 2, 2015

N_E :

Yeah, previous versions was new to Windows 7. Windows Vista is the devil.

N_E · May 2, 2015

Oh I get it, you're tying to teach me a LIFE LESSON. Oh no I don't need that now. I need help with my computer.

USAFRet · May 2, 2015

N_E :

From your original statement:
"Revert To Restore Point And Then Back To The Present?"
"I thought to just do a system restore, which I'm assuming would get the old 'user' back and therefore allow me to back up the bookmarks. My question is this: Could I then put the machine back to present time?'

No, you cannot do that. If you revert back to 'whenever'....that system knows nothing about events and data that occur later.

Well, you can, but not in the way you have chosen. You need to do what I commented on above. Make an image of the system as it is today.....then proceed.

Revert To Restore Point And Then Back To The Present?

Reputable

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Reputable

Reputable

Reputable

Reputable

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Titan

Titan

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Titan

Share this page