Windows XP: Windows system restore doesn’t function
- 5/22/09 1:01 PM
Windows system restore doesn’t function
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 5/22/09 1:01 PM
Question:
My computer still creates restore points (manually and automatically) and it goes through the entire process of restoring, but at the very end (after the restart) it announces "No changes have been made to your computer. Unable to restore." I tried shutting off Restore Option, to clear restore points, but that did not help. Two Registry cleaner programs don't seem to find/fix the problem, either. I have AVG Full Edition running with Zone Alarm's firewall, and Window's Defender running in background. Everything seems to work fine, but if something shows up, I'm in trouble! What could possibly be the cause of this and how can I fix this? Running Windows XP. Thanks!
Submitted by: Jim from Cleveland
Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please read all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this question.
Too many firewalls... --Submitted by kstenbch
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3044784#3044784
I would first have to wonder... --Submitted by Steven Haninger
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3044673#3044673
Windows system restore doesn't function --Submitted by littlemom4455
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3044887#3044887
Simple, I think! --Submitted by HouBob
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3044727#3044727
System Restore failure with XP and Zone Alarm --Submitted by MikeSc2
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3044907#3044907
Not a solution, but a workaround --Submitted by helsharmar
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3045104#3045104
Read all member contributions to this topic
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?messageID=3044501
If you have any suggestion or recommendation for Jim, please click on the reply link and submit your answer. Please be as detailed as possible when submitting your answer. Thank you!
I would first have to wonder
by Steven Haninger - 5/15/09 5:32 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
what the reason was for using system restore. What are you trying to accomplish? Is something not working that was working previous to the selected restore point. It might be perfectly normal for no changes to be made during the restore process if none were actually made to the OS over that period of time.
I agree with Steven. Could be normal.
by MarkFlax - 5/16/09 3:20 AM
In reply to: I would first have to wonder by Steven Haninger
Although XP will allow you to create a System Restore point at any time, if no changes have been made to the Operating System since that date, then any attempt to restore back to that date will fail, because nothing is different.
As a separate issue, I also agree with jeriboam that if your AVG Full Edition is the one that includes a firewall, then that and your ZoneAlarm firewall may be causing conflicts. You should only have one firewall installed.
However, I would not have thought that would cause any System Restore failure.
These Newsletter question and answers are excellent, but the problem is, it is difficult to request more information, and that is what is needed here.
Mark
features
by puma - 5/24/09 5:28 PM In reply to: I agree with Steven. Could be normal. by MarkFlax
huh, no changes to the os? as soon as a driver is installed the os has changed. perhaps the message that the os has not changed is really a feature microsoft threw in to justify the cost of developing a low grade os. anyone have a better suggestion?
This is incorrect!
by waytron - 5/23/09 4:00 AM In reply to: I would first have to wonder by Steven HaningerI am sorry to say that this information is incorrect. System restore should and will restore your computer to a previous time regardless or whether or not you have actually made any changes to your computer. Even if you manually create a restore point right now and then restore to it 1 second later is should work and you should receive a “Your computer has been successfully restored to: Date and Time and name of restore point” when it reboots. It is fairly common for system restore to fail for the following reasons:
1. You tried to go back too far
2. Hard Drive is corrupted (Run error checking, check disk, chkdsk for errors)
3. Too many major changes since the last restore point
4. You have used a registry cleaner
5. Your computer is or was infected with a virus, spyware or malware
6. Disk Drive too full
You can also try:
1. Temporarily disable firewall and antivirus software
2. Run system restore from Safe mode (F8 during boot)
My recommendation is to never use a registry cleaner, check your drive for errors, Delete all temp files, run full virus and malware scans (use what you have and then download and scan with Malwarebytes), defrag your hard drive and then set a new manual restore point and then try to restore to that.
Note: Some really nasty viruses can actually delete all of your restore points or even prevent you from even running system restore altogether.
Dana
Wayland Computer
Is that you
by cardzetc - 5/24/09 1:57 PM In reply to: This is incorrect! by waytronDana is that you Rich
Good Ans.
by chemist_mshoaib - 5/25/09 1:24 AM In reply to: This is incorrect! by waytronI agree with Dana - this is most comprehensive answer.
system restore will not work
by gordon162 - 5/26/09 4:17 AM In reply to: This is incorrect! by waytronI had the same problem.the problem was my registry cleaner,once i stopped the back up option i was able to create a restore point,and restore it to that time.
hope this helps.
You are Rigth Dana
by mohsas - 6/12/09 2:38 PM In reply to: This is incorrect! by waytronThanks Dana You have giving the most comprehensive Answer the problem we are glad for having some people like you in the forum Thanks
Mohsas
Windows system restore doesn't function
by carrimak - 5/15/09 6:52 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
One cause may be that your hard drive is too full to make all the files it needs for system restore....this happened to me once and I couldn't run system restore until I made more room on the drive. Then it worked.
Or it may be something else entirely.....
carrimak
Windows system restore
by rester - 5/15/09 7:07 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same problem and found i left the "use high contrast" on in control panel,accessibility options,display.now why this screwed up system restore i have no idea but it dose..lol..
Simple short answer
by jimaz31 - 5/15/09 7:19 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Restart in Safe Mode and run system restore. Keep clicking F8 when you restart and safe mode will come up. Also you might want to disconnect your modem from your computer.
Use safe mode!
by kwmar - 5/15/09 7:28 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the exact same problem (and still do), but I can achieve a successful restore from safe mode (hit f8 constantly while rebooting to access it). When I discovered I could use that workaround, I didn't bother to try to fix the problem (it may have to do with the firewall I'm using or one of the many other programs I install periodically). I'm running XP Pro with SP3.
Restore Point Doesn't Work/Use Safe Mode
by wasnot - 5/22/09 5:34 PM In reply to: Use safe mode! by kwmarRestarting in Safe Mode worked for me as well. It's frustrating, I know. Yesterday I installed a program that caused my DSL modem to not connect to the internet. Even after removing the program, it wouldn't connect. Restore points wouldn't work. It merely said that it was unable to complete the restore. Only after restarting in safe mode was I able to successfully complete a System Restore point.
Windows system restore doesn’t function
by dustygirl - 5/15/09 7:42 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Think back before your concern began, did you install something? or download something? Take it off your system and try again. or go way BACK beyond the date of your consern I mean way back a week or so before your consern and try to restore to that date.
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