What is the scope of Time Machine?

Relatively new Mac user here. I need to do a full restore from Time Machine, but my first few attempts haven't gone well.

I had been led to believe that Time Machine would basically produce the exact state your computer was in at the time of backup. However, my Dock is back to the default state, iTunes no longer seems to contain my library, my Spaces settings are gone, etc., etc.

My applications and data seem to be there, but a lot of settings are gone - has this been others' experience as well?

 

The first time, I booted from my Snow Leopard install disk, created a single-partition drive, and erased it. I then chose the "Restore from TM backup" option on the DL disk.

The restore process said it completed successfully, but upon my first reboot, it hung up on a light blue screen with a spinning "working" icon that flashed slowly on and off. Left it go for hours, came home from work - still hung up.

I tried the above process again, with the same results.

Next, I tried installing Snow Leopard to the drive first. This worked fine, reboots no problem. I then used the Migration Assistant and my Time Machine backup. It completed, but my desktop and Dock were still the install defaults, my Spaces settings were gone, iTunes contained no library, etc.

This morning, I booted from the SL install disk and initiated a Restore from Time Machine over top of the existing new SL install. We'll see how that went when I get home...

 

I'll also explain why I'm doing the Time Machine rescue, in case that's relevant.

I had tried to install Windows XP via Boot Camp, but my XP install disc was only Service Pack 1. Don't do this, people. Boot Camp installs of XP require SP2 or higher on the install disk!! Boot Camp installs of XP SP1 will fail, and also hose up your OSX partition.

 

No, didn't use any custom settings or anything for Time machine. Just turned it on and told it to do its thing.

I'm doing a new Restore from a week-older backup to see if that makes a difference.

I'd been using a backup from the morning before my Boot Camp screwup. Every time, just hangs up on the light blue screen with the spinning "working" icon that flashes on and off.

Getting kind of frustrated. I switched to Apple to avoid just this kind of BS...

 

I have about the same ~100 Gb and it estimated to 3-4 hours I think. (Usually started it before bed or leaving for work...)

 

I fixed my problem by Restoring my Boot Camp backup from the install disk, and then re-installing Snow Leopard over top of it. Whatever the boot hitch was, the SL install fixes it. My iMac is now exactly as it was Monday morning!

BTW, Repair (from Disk Utility) on the broken Restored HD did not work.