Can System Restore in XP recover browser history?

[conceptualclarity]

I use the Maxthon browser. Recently I had a BSOD crash that wiped out the much greater part of my Maxthon history. I utilize the history a lot, so this was disconcerting.

The Maxthon history is kept in a folder under C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\. Is there any chance at all that a System Restore in XP would get this history back for me?

Computer: DELL Dimension 2400
CPU: Intel Pentium 4-2667 (Northwood, D1)
2666 MHz (20.00x133.3) @ 2658 MHz (20.00x132.9)
Motherboard: DELL 0G1548
Chipset: Intel 845GEV (Brookdale-GEV) + ICH4
Memory: 2048 MBytes @ 166 MHz, 2.5-3-3-7
- 1024 MB PC3200 DDR-SDRAM - Kingston K
- 1024 MB PC3200 DDR-SDRAM - Kingston K
Graphics: Intel 82845G/GL/GV Graphics Controller [DELL]
Intel i845G(L) Integrated, 64 MB
Drive: WL120GPA872, 117.2 GB, E-IDE (ATA-7)
Drive: WDC WD2500JB-57GVC0, 244.2 GB, E-IDE (ATA-6)
Drive: HGST HTS545050A7E380, 488.4 GB, Serial ATA 3Gb/s <-> USB
Drive: SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-252S, CD-R Writer
Sound: Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - AC'97 Audio Controller [A-1]
Sound: Creative Technology SB Live! Series Audio Processor
Network: RealTek Semiconductor RTL8139 PCI Fast Ethernet NIC [A/B/C]
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Build 2600
Antivirus: Avast Internet Security 18.5.2342
Firewall: Avast Internet Security 18.5.2342
Ad Blocker: Universal Ad Blocker
Default Browser: Maxthon 5.2.4.1200
Secondary Browsers: SeaMonkey 2.4.94, Firefox, SlimJet

 

[Digerati]

Probably not. One of the actual "features" of System Restore is that it does not affect personal data files. As it's name implies, System Restore is designed to restore the "system" back to a previous state without affecting anything else. So, for example, if you updated a system/hardware driver that was faulty, you could restore the system back to old drivers. Or if you updated system files, you could roll them back too. Imagine how upsetting it would be if you spend many hours or even days updating an important Word document or Excel spreadsheet then you ran System Restore only to discover you just lost those days worth of data. So System Restore, by purposeful design, does not affect user data files.

You could try a file recovery program like Recuva from the makers of CCleaner. Wise Data Recovery is also popular.

Of course, hindsight is, or should be 20/20. A good backup plan would have made this easy.

And I would be remiss if I did not point out XP needs to go away. Microsoft gave users well over 5 years notice support for XP was going away and it has been over 4 years since that support ended in April 2014. Nine years is plenty long for those even on the tightest budgets to migrate to a safe, secure alternative.

Please understand the problem is not that you are putting yourself at risk. The problem is when this computer connects to a network with Internet access, it becomes a threat to the rest of us! And that is just not cool, or being a responsible netizen. Bad guys are actively seeking out and targeting XP systems to compromise and infect. They then use those systems to distribute malware and spam, and/or to draft into their bot-armies as zombies in DDoS attacks on others - all without the user being aware their computer has been infected.

I note refurbished or off-lease system with modern operating systems can be had for a song. Check out Walmart refurbished computers. If replacing this computer is still not in the budget, I would urge you to install and use one of the many free Linux versions instead. At the very least, disconnect this computer from Internet access and use it as a stand-alone system. Bottom line, XP needs to go away!

Last, it should be understood BSODs are often signs of impending hardware failure. Considering that computer came out in 2003, a 15 year run has already beaten the odds. Its had a remarkable run!