Restoring Win95 over top of itself usually works, and will always work if it
REALLY is the EXACT same version.
But if there are service packs installed on the system that died, and you
are using original install media to install on the new hard drive, then you
MAY have problems because ADSM cannot update the .dll files that are in use
during the restore.  You can end up with some .dll files that are not
restored and predate the ones that were on the dead system, sometimes with
bad results.  We have had bare-metal restores fail a couple of times because
of this.

 A solution that ALWAYS works is just slightly different:

*       Start with a fresh hard drive and install Windows 95.

*       When selecting the install directory don't take the default, choose
something DIFFERENT than your original machine.  (for example, instead of
installing in the Windows directory, call it WINRECOVER.)

*       Install the ADSM client

*       Then restore the whole drive with ADSM.  ADSM will be restoring the
original Windows directory, complete with all the right .dlls.  There will
be no conflicts, because the originals won't be in use at the time of the
restore.

*       Reboot.  (The restore puts back your boot.ini files, and the win95
registry files, so when you reboot after the restore, it will boot off the
restored Windows directory.)

*       Then you can just delete your WINRECOVER directory, it won't be in
use after the reboot.


We use exactly the same procedure for WinNT servers, with one extra step.

*       Start with a clean hard drive.  Install WinNT from the install
media, but use a different install directory named WINrecover, or some such.

*       Install the ADSM client.

*       Restore the C: drive with ADSM.

*       After C: is restored, use ADSM to restore the registry.  (Pull down
Utilites, Restore Registry, all hives.)

*       Reboot immediately.

*       Delete your WINRECOVER directory


We haven't tested this on Win98 yet, I don't know if there are registry
changes or anything else that would prevent this from working.  Anybody
tried it?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Moir,Betsy [SMTP:betsy.moir AT ABBOTT DOT COM]
> Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 4:04 PM
> To:   ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Subject:      Re: Win95 bare metal restore
>
> I haven't done this myself, but the gentleman who wrote me the note below
> is
> a very competent workstation support person, and, as he says, he's done
> this
> many times.  I'm probably going to get a lot arguments with this simple
> process, but I trust the guy.  Good luck.
>
> "I have often done this with Windows 95  and it has never failed.  I would
> start with a fresh hard drive and install the exact same version of
> Windows
> 95 that will be restored.  I then install ADSM and perform a complete
> restore
> while running 95.  After rebooting, you will get an error stating that the
> registry is corrupt and will be prompted to overwrite the bad registry
> with a
> backup copy.  Rebooting once again brings up a completely stable and
> functional restoration. "
>
>
>
>
> ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU on 08/20/99 02:37:00 PM
> Please respond to ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU @ INTERNET
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU @ INTERNET
> cc:
> Subject: Win95 bare metal restore
>
> Does anyone have a well documented step by step bare metal restore
> procedure for Win95 that does not require any pre-disaster preparation?  I
> have looked at the Bare Metal redbook, but find it somewhat confusing.  I
> have also done an extensive search thru the archives and have found some
> skeleton descriptions of what appears to be a much clearer procedure
> (e.g.,
> just overwrite windows with your restore).
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> The redbook also mentions that it was to be revised, but I have not seen
> the revision.
>
> ..Paul
>
>