Home » Questions » Computers [ Ask a new question ]

Is there a good Windows application that logs all or most important changes to settings/files?

Is there a good Windows application that logs all or most important changes to settings/files?

I would like a way to track changes to the settings or folders on my computer, initiated by the user. I am asking because I come in to work some mornings and find that a new program has been installed, or that my toolbars or notifications have been altered without my doing.

Asked by: Guest | Views: 231
Total answers/comments: 1
Guest [Entry]

"Windows has a couple of built-in facilities to track changes. I assume you already know about System Restore, which unfortunately is something of a black box, but at least some installer programs create a restore point before installing their software.

The other one is auditing. See How to audit user access of files, folders, and printers in Windows XP.

There are also many third-party programs. Two I have used are Regshot (which can also snapshot the filesystem, and compare snapshots) and Sysinternals' Autoruns, which has a more narrow focus, but this means that snapshots are much smaller :)"