ArsTechnica has the scoop on a new feature Microsoft recently added into builds of Windows Vista. The new feature, called Previous Versions, is enabled for users with the System Protection setting enabled. Previous Versions is similar to System Restore points but on a per file and per folder scale. It shadows copies of files whenever they’re edited, allowing the user to revert to several previous versions via the right-click properties menu. In addition, users with this feature enabled can completely restore deleted files.
Now for the other side of the new feature – it gives Big Brother another way to check on you. Most likely people will want to have Previous Versions enabled for those “oh shit!” moments, but they will still be vulnerable to snooping.
As a result, it will essentially be possible to browse through archived filesystem states. For example, “Previous Versions” will allow you to open a historical backup of a folder to see all of its contents at that time.
ArsTechnica
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Eh, I’ll hold off from using Vista anytime soon. If Apple implements this kind of crap in Leopard, I’m switching to Linux.
This looks risky. But I’m a Apple guy, so I’m waiting for Leopard. Paul do you like this feature?
It definitely sounds cool but I personally don’t have too many “oh shit!” moments as I keep many backups on all different types of media. =)
This features has been used on Windows’ server OS since Windows Server 2003 was released. It’s saved my butt numerous times.
I’m not sure what the “big brother” concern’s all about. If this is implemented at an office, for one thing you have no expectation of privacy on a company owned computer. Secondly, the first time you have to recover a file – you’ll be thanking your lucky stars.
If you’re talking about a home computer, then what’s the big deal? Turn the feature off if you don’t want it.
Scoop? This has been part of Vista (and reported) since mid September…
They recently updated the specs on the Vista page and it’s now an official part. Before it was just kinda there and undocumented.
I think Microsoft was smart in offering this option. Although most technophiles will probably disable the feature, this will be great for the “average Windows user” like my mom, for example. She does a lot of photo editing/printing. She deletes them off her camera as soon as they are on the PC. If she screws it up, editing, now she will have a way to fall back.
How is it a “Big Brother” concern? If someone has access to all of your files anyway, what’s the difference if they have the last 2 or 3 versions of your files?
Good job, Microsoft! Way to think about your mass of users, rather than the few techies out there!
I kind of like this feature, as I’ve found myself looking for backups of files that apparently only existed in my mind… more than once, too.
As a side note, I don’t think of Microsoft as ever having thought about the “techies out there,” but that’s probably just my IE7 angst.
This feature is catestropic for me. i’m a driver develooper. It creates version problems. Its not using latest varion. suppose i have installed a driver under-development. Then i found there is some problem with it. I modified and built. But whenever i try to install this updated version. System takes the prevoius (1st verion installed for the day). I have no way to install latest one( with respect to build time-stamp). Can anyone help me???
Even disabling the “system protection” does not help any way. Only it does not show the “prevoius version” tab in property window of the file.
I recently came across a nifty util that seems to do what the Vista previous versions feature does. It’s called Versomatic and its available for Windows XP and Mac OS X. I tried the Windows XP version and liked it. I know I won’t be upgrading to Vista any time soon so its good to know utils like this are out there.