Beginning with Windows ME & XP, Windows started a process of creating "Restore Points". These restore points are contained in numbered folders in the folder: \System Volume Information\-restore{GUID}\RP## (where ## are sequential numbers as restore points are created) Notes:
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The user can't access folders and files below "\System Volume Information" using the explorer interface using the default ACL permissions |
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This is true even if using administrator rights and with hidden / system files set to be visible |
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This condition makes it very difficult for the average user to access, manipulate, or delete these files! |
The purpose of these restore points is to allow the user to recover to a specific point in time on which a restore point was created. The typical user interface is located at Start > Program Files > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. From this interface (shown below), the user may create restore points or recover to specific dates and times. System Restore Point settings are found in the following registry key:
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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore |
Restore points are created, by default, every 24 hrs (XP) as set in the following value:
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Value Name: RPGlobalInterval Dword Data = 86400 (seconds - 24 hrs = 86,400 seconds) |
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Note: ME is every 10 hours of computer use or 24 hours of calendar time! |
Restore points are retained, by default, for 90 days, as set in the following value:
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Value Name: RPLifeInterval Dword Data = 7776000 (seconds - 90 days = 7,776,000 seconds) |
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Note: As System Restore is limited to 12% of your system hard drive, this can be more limiting than 90 day limit |
System Restore points may be disabled, as set in the following value:
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Value Name: DisableSR Dword Data = 0 ( default & means System Restore enabled - if 1 user has disabled System Restore) |
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Note: If system drive has less than 200 MB of free space, System Restore will automatically disable |
As restore points are deleted, it is done by a "first in first out" basis. This deletion process is tracked by a file in the root of folder \System Volume Information\-restore{GUID}\ named fifo.log. This file is a plain text file, listing:
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Dates / times of deletions |
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Restore Points deleted |
Regarding restore point names:
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When restore points are created on schedule (default = 24 hours), they are named "System CheckPoint". This name appears in the user interface. |
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The restore point "name" is stored and pulled from the file "rp.log" found in the root of its "RP##" folder. |
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The restore point name is stored starting at byte offset 16 of the "rp.log" file. |
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If software is installed, a restore point is often created. |
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The name of the software installed is the name of the restore point and can be see in the user interface above. |
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A user can manually create restore points and the user provided name is stored in this same location. |
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The last 8 bytes of the rp.log file is a Windows 64 bit timestamp indicating when the restore point was created. |
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Note: Restore points are also created prior to the installation of any Windows Automatic Updates. |
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Note: Restore points are also created prior to the installation of software or unsigned device drivers and will be so named. |
Restore point files are created as "snapshots" of the files necessary to restore a system to a given point. Regarding those files:
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Files other than registry files are stored in root of folder "RP##" and renamed. They appear as A#######.ext |
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The "#######" are numerics and the "ext" represents the original extension, which remains unchanged. |
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These renamed files are tracked in the "change.log" files. Search for the file name of interest and original path precedes file. |
Restore point snapshots capture the registry hive files. The following apply:
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They are stored in a subfolder under the "RP##" folder, named "Snapshot" |
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The file MAC times indicate time RP created / last written |
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Original hive file names have been modified using prefixes:
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_REGISTRY_MACHINE_ for machine level registry hive files |
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_REGISTRY_USER_ for user level registry hive files and suffixed with the user's SID |
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In EnCase, mount any of these hive files by right clicking on them and choosing "View File Structure" |
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Use EnCase 5 conditions and queries to quickly locate registry hive files, both regular and restore point versions
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Import this condition into EnCase 5 conditions to find restore point registry files |
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Import this query into EnCase 5 queries to find both regular and restore point hive files (depends on prior condition to work!) |
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Those of you using Access Data's Registry Viewer will be pleased to know that it opens restore point registries as they are named. |
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