What are the differences between recovery points and Windows restore points?

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Applies To: System Center Data Protection Manager 2007

Recovery points are similar to Windows XP restore points, but DPM System Recovery Tool provides these additional capabilities:

  • Restore points are only available for systems running Windows XP. With DPM System Recovery Tool, you can create recovery points for systems running Windows Server 2003, as well as Windows XP.

  • You can create and manage recovery points for all the systems on your network from a single console.

  • Recovery points use a central data repository for more efficient and secure storage of critical system data.

  • Recovery points can be used to recover computers that are locked out or have become unbootable. Restore points cannot be used unless you can boot the system.

  • DPM System Recovery Tool can roll back multiple systems simultaneously from a central location. Restore points can only be applied to one system at a time, from that system using a manual interface.

  • Unlike the all-or-nothing recovery capability of a Windows XP restore point, parts of a recovery point can be applied selectively, with the option to perform precision repairs using the extensive custom repair capability.

  • Restore points do not provide the ability to view and document changes that may have caused the undesirable system behavior.

  • You can extract files directly from recovery points to copy to another location.Using recovery sets, recovery points are extensible to cover as much or as little system, data, or setting information that is appropriate for your needs. Restore points consist solely of Microsoft-defined files and registry information.

  • Recovery points make efficient use of network and storage resources by capturing only a single instance of each unique system file, regardless of the number of computers that may be using the file.

  • Recovery points can be locked indefinitely so you can roll a system back to a specified recovery point at any time.  

  • Recovery points can back up disk information such as the master boot record, partition table information, and volume information allowing you to restore a system to a physically different disk if necessary.