Software:Reboot to Restore Software

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‘Reboot to Restore’ is a system restore technology that enables restoring the user-defined system configuration of a computing device after every restart[1]. The technology helps to maintain systems in their optimum working conditions and is useful especially for multi-user computing environments[2]. Deploying solutions based on Reboot to Restore technology enables users to define a particular system configuration as the desired state. The baseline is the point that would be restored on reboot. Once the baseline is set, the Reboot to Restore software continues to restore that particular configuration every time the device is restarted or switched on after a shutdown.[3]

How it Works

A Reboot to Restore software helps in maintaining optimal system configuration which is quite effective in a multi-user computing environment. The technology prevents all types of alterations to the baseline configuration whether user inflicted or automatic.[2] When the Reboot to Restore software is deployed, it locks-in the pristine system configuration and prevents unwanted changes on top of that from getting permanently written onto the hard disk.

Solutions Built on Reboot to Restore Technology

Windows SteadyState

Windows SteadyState [4] is a freeware Reboot to Restore solution offered by Microsoft and is compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. Windows SteadyState was discontinued[5] in December 2010. The software is primarily used in educational institutes and public libraries.

SteadyState features a Windows Disk Protection (WDP) functionality. When it is enabled, it redirects the user-generated changes to a cache. The software had three modes - Discard, Persist, and Commit. The Discard mode clears the cache on reboot and restores the original configuration. The Persist mode retains the cache for a specific time during which the IT admins could opt to discard or commit the changes. In the Commit mode, all changes are permanently written on the hard disk as usual.

Deep Freeze

Deep Freeze by Faronics was one of the first rollback software solutions to leverage the Reboot to Restore technology, releasing its first Windows solution in 1999, followed by a Mac OS[6] solution in 2005.  

Deep Freeze uses patented technology (Patent numbers: US7539828[7], US7917717[8], US9152824[9], and US9785370[10]) and redirects information being written to the hard drive or partition to an allocation table, leaving the original data intact.

Other System Restoration Software

Both Microsoft and Apple Inc. offer restoration tools (though not based on Reboot to Restore technology) embedded with their respective operating systems.

Windows System Restore

System Restore is an inbuilt feature of Windows[11] and is available in all the latest versions of the OS[12]. It reverts system files and settings to a previous point in time without affecting personal files. When enabled, the software automatically creates Restore Points[13] at regular intervals and before every major instance of configuration alteration like driver update or new application installation. When a device malfunctions, running System Restore rolls back the configuration to a Restore Point where the particular issue did not exist.

Reset [Windows 8]

The Reset option was introduced with Windows 8 and is used for restoring[14] systems to factory defaults. It re-installs the Windows OS and permanently discards all files and system settings other than the pre-installed applications.

Time Machine

Time Machine (macOS) functions more as a backup utility than a restoration program[15]. It creates incremental snapshots of the system configuration periodically and requires an external storage device for backing up the MacOS. This backup can later be used to restore a previous configuration as and when required[16]. The software can also be used to restore specific items like deleted emails or older versions of files rather than the entire configuration.

References

  1. ↑ Hand, Carl. "Minimize IT helpdesk overload with Reboot to Restore technology" (in en). https://www.whatech.com/help-desk/blog/463423-minimise-it-helpdesk-overload-with-reboot-to-restore-technology. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Simplify managing classroom computers with Reboot to Restore Software" (in en). IT Pro Portal. https://www.itproportal.com/features/simplify-managing-classroom-computers-with-reboot-to-restore-software/. 
  3. ↑ Faronics. "Deep Freeze 8.5 Version Launched to Restore Windows 10 With Single Reboot" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deep-freeze-85-version-launched-to-restore-windows-10-with-single-reboot-300568489.html. 
  4. ↑ "Windows SteadyState". https://download.cnet.com/Windows-SteadyState/3000-18512_4-10977409.html. 
  5. ↑ "Windows SteadyState will be phased out". https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2390706/windows-steadystate-will-be-phased-out. 
  6. ↑ Blum, By Jonathan. "Macworld's best debut: Design tool that Flows - Jan. 17, 2008". https://money.cnn.com/2008/01/17/smbusiness/macworld_flow.fsb/index.htm. 
  7. ↑ US patent 7539828B2
  8. ↑ Lomnes, Randy Keith & CA, "United States Patent: 7917717 - Method and system for automatically preserving persistent storage", {{{country-code}}} patent 7917717, issued March 29, 2011
  9. ↑ Lomnes, Randy Keith, "United States Patent: 9152824 - Method and system for automatically preserving persistent storage", {{{country-code}}} patent 9152824, issued October 6, 2015
  10. ↑ Lomnes, Randy Keith & CA, "United States Patent: 9785370 - Method and system for automatically preserving persistent storage", {{{country-code}}} patent 9785370, issued October 10, 2017
  11. ↑ Binder, Matt. "Microsoft says it can recover missing files following botched Windows 10 update" (in en). Mashable. https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-10-update-missing-files-recovery/#e1EV2YQDAmqA. 
  12. ↑ "Microsoft Says They Can Recover Files Deleted by Windows 10 October 2018 Update" (in en-us). BleepingComputer. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-says-they-can-recover-files-deleted-by-windows-10-october-2018-update/. 
  13. ↑ "Windows 10: How to create a System Restore" (in en-US). Softonic. https://en.softonic.com/articles/windows-10-how-to-create-a-system-restore. 
  14. ↑ "How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC". https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/17085/windows-8-restore-refresh-reset-pc. 
  15. ↑ "Apple releases macOS Mojave- Business News". https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/launch/apple-releases-macos-mojave/story/282817.html. 
  16. ↑ "Time Machine - Apple Support" (in en-IN). https://www.apple.com/in/support/timemachine/. 




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