Prob #4 - Theme keep reverting to default

[Valorie *~]

W-7 64-bit will not keep a theme. The cursor keeps reverting to the white
default every time the PC is shut off or reboots. Anyone find a cure for
this rather than wasting time changing the theme every time the PC
reboots/restarts? Clicking or unclicking "Allow themes to change mouse
pointers" makes no difference.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Did you see the word Apply on the bottom of the page where you made the changes? Try
hitting Apply before closing the box
--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Valorie *~]

Did you see the word Apply on the bottom of the page where you made the
changes? Try hitting Apply before closing the box

Yes. First I click Apply, then I click OK. On the next shutdown it goes
back to the default setting. Vista was doing the same thing (among other
bugs and glitches) until I did the System Recovery on it. System Restore
only made the problems worse. It took many hours to get this W-7 set up,
all the files loaded, software installed, Email client moved etc. To have
to do a System Recovery on it already already makes me actually feel ill.

 

[John Aldred]

Valorie *~ wrote:
[Snip]

Yes. First I click Apply, then I click OK. On the next shutdown it goes
back to the default setting. Vista was doing the same thing (among other
bugs and glitches) until I did the System Recovery on it. System Restore
only made the problems worse. It took many hours to get this W-7 set up,
all the files loaded, software installed, Email client moved etc. To have
to do a System Recovery on it already already makes me actually feel ill.

I really think that you have reached the stage now that a fresh installation
of Win 7 is the best solution. Yes I know that it is a pain!

However if you do this and get things working properly, you can then make a
disk image of your C: drive. If things go wrong in the future you can
restore the complete OS together with your software and settings in less
than 1 hour (15 minutes in my case).

You will need an external storage device such as a USB hard drive to save
the image to.

I use Acronis True Image for this, but I believe there is a built in disk
imaging utility in Win 7 which you could use. It is located in
Control Panel > Backup and Restore. The left hand pane of the Backup and
Restore window contains the option to create a system image.

Once you have created an image of your C: drive you can then experiment with
customizing and modifying you system without getting that sinking feel in
the stomach when something goes horribly wrong.

 

[Miles]

* John Aldred wrote, On 20-Oct-10 05:17:

Valorie *~ wrote:
[Snip]

Yes. First I click Apply, then I click OK. On the next shutdown it goes
back to the default setting. Vista was doing the same thing (among other
bugs and glitches) until I did the System Recovery on it. System Restore
only made the problems worse. It took many hours to get this W-7 set up,
all the files loaded, software installed, Email client moved etc. To have
to do a System Recovery on it already already makes me actually feel ill.

I really think that you have reached the stage now that a fresh installation
of Win 7 is the best solution. Yes I know that it is a pain!

However if you do this and get things working properly, you can then make a
disk image of your C: drive. If things go wrong in the future you can
restore the complete OS together with your software and settings in less
than 1 hour (15 minutes in my case).

You will need an external storage device such as a USB hard drive to save
the image to.

I use Acronis True Image for this, but I believe there is a built in disk
imaging utility in Win 7 which you could use. It is located in
Control Panel> Backup and Restore. The left hand pane of the Backup and
Restore window contains the option to create a system image.

Once you have created an image of your C: drive you can then experiment with
customizing and modifying you system without getting that sinking feel in
the stomach when something goes horribly wrong.

I've had similar in that several settings have reverted to default
even though they were properly saved.

Regarding Windows imaging: My computer is an HP and in addition to C
it has System and Restore partitions. Win imaging includes those by
default (OK for System), but Restore is huge and it is not wanted, but
cannot be excluded. So installed Macrium Reflect which works properly
whereby one can select the folders to be included -- however it will
not work if you have a dynamic drive, only basic. (And FYI, I've
since deleted the Restore partition now that I have an image of Win7
after multitudes of Win updates were installed and wanted changes were
made to windows -- that will save countless hours of work should I
need to return to the "original" windows.
Miles

 

[Valorie *~]

Valorie *~ wrote:
[Snip]

Yes. First I click Apply, then I click OK. On the next shutdown it goes
back to the default setting. Vista was doing the same thing (among other
bugs and glitches) until I did the System Recovery on it. System Restore
only made the problems worse. It took many hours to get this W-7 set up,
all the files loaded, software installed, Email client moved etc. To
have
to do a System Recovery on it already already makes me actually feel ill.

I really think that you have reached the stage now that a fresh
installation
of Win 7 is the best solution. Yes I know that it is a pain!

However if you do this and get things working properly, you can then make
a
disk image of your C: drive. If things go wrong in the future you can
restore the complete OS together with your software and settings in less
than 1 hour (15 minutes in my case).

I would have to spend more hours, many hours learning how to make a disk
image that worked and how to install it. I'm close to a raw nerve end now
with days and days of this PC stuff going on. I had a disk image of Vista
on an external HD and no clue how to use it.

You will need an external storage device such as a USB hard drive to save
the image to.

I had mine on a Seagate.

I use Acronis True Image for this, but I believe there is a built in disk
imaging utility in Win 7 which you could use. It is located in
Control Panel > Backup and Restore. The left hand pane of the Backup and
Restore window contains the option to create a system image.

But it doesn't explain how to install the image once on the external HD.

Once you have created an image of your C: drive you can then experiment
with
customizing and modifying you system without getting that sinking feel in
the stomach when something goes horribly wrong.

You're right - if you or someone you know knows how to get the image from
the external drive back onto the PC. I was clueless so had nothing left but
"system recovery." Those of us not technologically inclined are at a real
disadvantage when working on PCs.

 

[Char Jackson]

Those of us not technologically inclined are at a real
disadvantage when working on PCs.

Truer words were never spoken, but there's nothing stopping a person
from trying. Who knows, they might learn a few things.

 

[John Aldred]

Valorie *~ wrote:
[Snip]

Yes. First I click Apply, then I click OK. On the next shutdown it
goes
back to the default setting. Vista was doing the same thing (among
other bugs and glitches) until I did the System Recovery on it. System
Restore
only made the problems worse. It took many hours to get this W-7 set
up,
all the files loaded, software installed, Email client moved etc. To
have
to do a System Recovery on it already already makes me actually feel
ill.

I really think that you have reached the stage now that a fresh
installation
of Win 7 is the best solution. Yes I know that it is a pain!

However if you do this and get things working properly, you can then make
a
disk image of your C: drive. If things go wrong in the future you can
restore the complete OS together with your software and settings in less
than 1 hour (15 minutes in my case).

I would have to spend more hours, many hours learning how to make a disk
image that worked and how to install it. I'm close to a raw nerve end now
with days and days of this PC stuff going on. I had a disk image of Vista
on an external HD and no clue how to use it.

You will need an external storage device such as a USB hard drive to save
the image to.

I had mine on a Seagate.

I use Acronis True Image for this, but I believe there is a built in disk
imaging utility in Win 7 which you could use. It is located in
Control Panel > Backup and Restore. The left hand pane of the Backup and
Restore window contains the option to create a system image.

But it doesn't explain how to install the image once on the external HD.

Once you have created an image of your C: drive you can then experiment
with
customizing and modifying you system without getting that sinking feel in
the stomach when something goes horribly wrong.

You're right - if you or someone you know knows how to get the image from
the external drive back onto the PC. I was clueless so had nothing left
but
"system recovery." Those of us not technologically inclined are at a real
disadvantage when working on PCs.

There are some excelent step-by-step tutorials here.

http://www.shivaranjan.com/index.php?s=restore+windows+7+partition

 

[John Aldred]

Miles wrote:

[Snip]

I've had similar in that several settings have reverted to default
even though they were properly saved.

Regarding Windows imaging: My computer is an HP and in addition to C
it has System and Restore partitions. Win imaging includes those by
default (OK for System), but Restore is huge and it is not wanted, but
cannot be excluded. So installed Macrium Reflect which works properly
whereby one can select the folders to be included -- however it will
not work if you have a dynamic drive, only basic. (And FYI, I've
since deleted the Restore partition now that I have an image of Win7
after multitudes of Win updates were installed and wanted changes were
made to windows -- that will save countless hours of work should I
need to return to the "original" windows.

Yes, The imaging utility provided in Win 7 is a bit basic with few options,
which is why I use Acronis True Image 2010. I have created a rescue disc
from Acronis; a bootable CD from which Acronis can be run. I use this to
both create and restore images. This way I could, for instance, replace a
faulty hard drive with a new one and have Windows up and running in less
than 1 hour.

I purchased a Dell laptop for my wife last year. From what I remember the
Restore partition was relatively small. Like you I deleted it, set up
Windows 7 and created an image.

 

[John Aldred]

John Aldred wrote:

There are some excelent step-by-step tutorials here.

So who forgot to turn on spell checking?

 

[Valorie *~]

(Brevity snips)

Yes, The imaging utility provided in Win 7 is a bit basic with few
options,
which is why I use Acronis True Image 2010. I have created a rescue disc
from Acronis; a bootable CD from which Acronis can be run. I use this to
both create and restore images. This way I could, for instance, replace a
faulty hard drive with a new one and have Windows up and running in less
than 1 hour.

I purchased a Dell laptop for my wife last year. From what I remember the
Restore partition was relatively small. Like you I deleted it, set up
Windows 7 and created an image.

But how is it done from an external HD - when there's no disk to insert? I
have Vista on an external Seagate but if Vista crashed I have no idea how to
reinstall it from the external HD.

 

[Valorie *~]

Truer words were never spoken, but there's nothing stopping a person
from trying. Who knows, they might learn a few things.

That's why I'm here learning and trying and Googling..........

 

[Valorie *~]

Valorie *~ wrote:
[Snip]

Yes. First I click Apply, then I click OK. On the next shutdown it
goes
back to the default setting. Vista was doing the same thing (among
other bugs and glitches) until I did the System Recovery on it. System
Restore
only made the problems worse. It took many hours to get this W-7 set
up,
all the files loaded, software installed, Email client moved etc. To
have
to do a System Recovery on it already already makes me actually feel
ill.

I really think that you have reached the stage now that a fresh
installation
of Win 7 is the best solution. Yes I know that it is a pain!

However if you do this and get things working properly, you can then
make
a
disk image of your C: drive. If things go wrong in the future you can
restore the complete OS together with your software and settings in less
than 1 hour (15 minutes in my case).

I would have to spend more hours, many hours learning how to make a disk
image that worked and how to install it. I'm close to a raw nerve end
now
with days and days of this PC stuff going on. I had a disk image of
Vista
on an external HD and no clue how to use it.

You will need an external storage device such as a USB hard drive to
save
the image to.

I had mine on a Seagate.

I use Acronis True Image for this, but I believe there is a built in
disk
imaging utility in Win 7 which you could use. It is located in
Control Panel > Backup and Restore. The left hand pane of the Backup and
Restore window contains the option to create a system image.

But it doesn't explain how to install the image once on the external HD.

Once you have created an image of your C: drive you can then experiment
with
customizing and modifying you system without getting that sinking feel
in
the stomach when something goes horribly wrong.

You're right - if you or someone you know knows how to get the image from
the external drive back onto the PC. I was clueless so had nothing left
but
"system recovery." Those of us not technologically inclined are at a
real
disadvantage when working on PCs.

There are some excelent step-by-step tutorials here.

http://www.shivaranjan.com/index.php?s=restore+windows+7+partition

Thank you. I book-marked this site. Next trip to town I'm buying another
external drive, probably another Seagate, for this PC. Before making an
Image of it it would be nice if it could see the modem when trying to get
online w/dial-up. So far neither of us have found the solution. All three
techs were wonderful but they couldn't get the PC to see the modem either
(it can only see it when queried). We're setting up the Vista PC in a
corner of the office so I can get online when the weather is bad. This
really stinks but I have no alternative. I should have brought this PC back
before the 14 days were up.

 

[John Aldred]

(Brevity snips)


But how is it done from an external HD - when there's no disk to insert?
I have Vista on an external Seagate but if Vista crashed I have no idea
how to reinstall it from the external HD.

Windows 7, which we are talking about here, provides a utility to make a
complete disk image of your system and a rescue disk to boot with if all
else fails.

Vista Home Premium does not,as far as I am aware, have a utility to make a
disk image or a bootable start-up disk. It does have a backup utility for
your files but not for the OS.

The Ultimate and Business versions of Vista have disk imaging capability I
believe.

Have a look at this. It gives a detailed review of the various options under
Vista, but you may find it a little heavy going if you are non-technical.

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/3069.aspx

 

[John Aldred]

(Brevity snips)


But how is it done from an external HD - when there's no disk to insert?
I have Vista on an external Seagate but if Vista crashed I have no idea
how to reinstall it from the external HD.

It occurred to me after I had posted my reply last night, that you may have
been referring to an Acronis image. When I suggested earlier that you used
Acronis to image your drive you replied:-

I would have to spend more hours, many hours learning how to make a disk
image that worked and how to install it. I'm close to a raw nerve end now
with days and days of this PC stuff going on. I had a disk image of Vista
on an external HD and no clue how to use it.

I took that to mean that you were not interested in using something like
Acronis True Image because it would be too complicated.

Have you in fact used Acronis, and is this what created the image of Vista
that you referred to?

 

[Valorie *~]

Windows 7, which we are talking about here, provides a utility to make a
complete disk image of your system and a rescue disk to boot with if all
else fails.

Humm... haven't seen anything on this PC about a boot disk. We made a DVD
before we used this PC. Ghosting it as it is wouldn't be a good idea. W-7
still can't detect the modem. We did Norton Ghost a PC some years ago but
it didn't work when we tried to install the ghost image. So we never tried
that again.

Vista Home Premium does not,as far as I am aware, have a utility to make a
disk image or a bootable start-up disk. It does have a backup utility for
your files but not for the OS.

We have Recovery DVDs for both Vista and W-7. We had to supply our own
DVDs to make them. There's a copy of the OS on the HDs that come with these
PCs. These DVDs are bootable as far as I know because that's how I did a
System Recovery on Vista. As for a ghosted image. No, we don't have that.

The Ultimate and Business versions of Vista have disk imaging capability I
believe.

Have a look at this. It gives a detailed review of the various options
under
Vista, but you may find it a little heavy going if you are non-technical.

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/3069.aspx

It's understandable. Thank you. We're really into backing up our
files and folders.... and have Recovery Disks for all our PCs in a safe
place. To ghost a PC that's working well would be ideal and worth looking
into now with better technology.

 

[Valorie *~]

It occurred to me after I had posted my reply last night, that you may
have
been referring to an Acronis image. When I suggested earlier that you used
Acronis to image your drive you replied:-


I took that to mean that you were not interested in using something like
Acronis True Image because it would be too complicated.

No, sorry. As long as help files are not overly technical I can usually
figure out how to get something done. Before I would think of imaging one
of the newer PCs they would have to be working correctly like the old XPs.
I can live with Vista and W-7 not keeping Themes, but not with W-7 not
detecting the modem. This is causing a real inconvenience but we are stuck
with the PC now.

Have you in fact used Acronis, and is this what created the image of Vista
that you referred to?

Never used Acornis. I just asked him. He has a "Windows Image Backup" of
Vista on the external drive. Some time back we had Norton Ghosted an XP PC
but when we went to install the image, it didn't work. The PC wouldn't boot
to the CD. We didn't try to image any more PCs.

 

[John Aldred]

Valorie *~ wrote:

[Snip]

Humm... haven't seen anything on this PC about a boot disk.

Control Panel > Backup and Restore
On the left hand side of the Backup and Restore window there is the option
to "Create a system repair disk" . If you click on that a small window pops
up, and the information on that tells you that the disk can be used for
booting the computer, recovering Windows from a serious error and restoring
the computer from a system image.

We made a DVD
before we used this PC. Ghosting it as it is wouldn't be a good idea.
W-7
still can't detect the modem. We did Norton Ghost a PC some years ago
but it didn't work when we tried to install the ghost image. So we never
tried that again.

Yes I purchased Norton Ghost version 12 a few years ago. It was supposed to
work with Vista, but it produced errors when restoring the image.

 

[Valorie *~]

Valorie *~ wrote:

[Snip]

Humm... haven't seen anything on this PC about a boot disk.

Control Panel > Backup and Restore
On the left hand side of the Backup and Restore window there is the option
to "Create a system repair disk" . If you click on that a small window
pops
up, and the information on that tells you that the disk can be used for
booting the computer, recovering Windows from a serious error and
restoring
the computer from a system image.

Ahhh.... there it is. I'm wondering if I should make one considering it
still can't detect the external modem.

Yes I purchased Norton Ghost version 12 a few years ago. It was supposed
to
work with Vista, but it produced errors when restoring the image.

Our Norton Ghost CD wouldn't even boot the PC. As I recall we took it to the
shop in town and it was around $250 for the tech to get it booted and
reinstall the OS. I was shocked at what he charged us. Those were the days
when a disk came with a PC. All the data on the PC of course, was lost.