SUMMARY
This article describes how you can use the System Restore utility to create, enumerate, and restore previously created restore points by using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).
back to the top
Requirements
To run WMI, you must have administrator privileges. You can use System Restore by means of WMI and the Srclient.dll file.
The following VBScript code excerpts are minimal examples. This code must not be implemented without prior error checking and full testing.
back to the top
To Create a System Restore Point
'use WMI moniker and SystemRestore class
set SRP = getobject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore")
CSRP = SRP.createrestorepoint ("this is a test", 0, 100)
back to the top
To Disable or Enable System Restore for a Particular Drive
onoff = inputbox ("Do you want enable or disable System Restore?", "System Restore")
Drive = inputbox ("Which Drive would you like to take action on? Must type in format 'c:\'",
"Drive to enable/disable")
set SRP = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default:SystemRestore")
If onoff = "enable" then
eSRP = SRP.enable(drive)
end if
If onoff = "disable" then
eSRP = SRP.disable(drive)
end if
back to the top
To Enumerate System Restore Points on a Computer
set SRP = getobject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default").InstancesOf ("systemrestore")
for each Point in SRP
msgbox point.creationtime & vbcrlf & point.description & vbcrlf & "Sequence Number= " & point.sequencenumber
next
The dates are returned in yyyymmddHHMMSS.mmmmmmsUUU format, where:
yyyy= a four digit year
mm= a two digit month
dd= a two digit day of the month
HH= a two digit hour of the day (00-23)
SS= seconds (00-59)
mmmmmm= microseconds
s= plus (+) or minus (-) sign to signify the positive or negative offset from coordinated universal time (UTC)
UUU= an offset in minutes that the originating time zone deviates from UTC
: You cannot filter items based on specific dates. The filter process begins at the first restore points and enumerates from that location. If you want to filter items, you need to script a filter to narrow down the dates that are based on the values that are returned.
back to the top
To Roll Back to a Specific Restore Point
NOTE: Do not use this function without also calling a computer shutdown. System Restore may not work properly if a restart of the computer is not initiated immediately.
set SRP = getobject("winmgmts:\\.\root\Default:SystemRestore")
eSRP = SRP.Restore(22) 'parameter passed is the sequence number of the restore point you want to roll back to.
back to the top
REFERENCES
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.
back to the top