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Windows XP: Windows system restore doesn’t function
- 5/22/09 1:01 PM
Happened to me on XP
by walsh50 - 5/22/09 5:52 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This happened to me once before on my old XP machine. It was right after I uninstalled the Weatherbug program. It almost crashed and when System Restore did not work, I needed to bring up the Windows recovery management console (title?). I don't remember exactly what I did, but using the console it went through some diagnostics and brought back my PC without having to completely recover back to factory. Then System Restore functioned normally after that. It was very strange and I think it had some sort of hidden virus from the Weatherbug.
Windows restore
by desertsurfergirl - 5/22/09 5:53 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There is a lot of talk going on but none of it very helpful. Often this occurs because of a problem with windows itself. Yes go figure imagine that windows has a problem?
I've run into this problem before and it is fixable, it has nothing to do with spyware, or antivirus programs. I will post again when I find my notes as to how to fix this problem, because I'm not a computer and I forgot!
Sorry
Objective Should be to Make It Work,
by mail1 - 5/22/09 6:57 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When I worked as a system administrator, I had little time for academic investigations. With OS problems, if there wasn't a fix that took less than 2 hours, I backed up data files and did a clean reinstall of the OS. I didn't find out the cause of the problem, but I didn't care.
Objective Should be to Make It Work
by vattan2005 - 5/22/09 7:35 PM In reply to: Objective Should be to Make It Work, by mail1LOL. Well-said! You took the words out of my mouth.
I have a colleague who, in contrast to me, has sworn off SR as he thinks it is better to poke around to find the problem. Most times, I have neither the time nor the inclination to play Sherlock Holmes. Being in I.T., when I come home, there are enough non-computer issues in this world for me to have to waste more precious time piddling around with this idiot box! SR is actually the tool I use to quickly get up and running. Ironically, if SR itself doesn't work for me after several tries, format it is!
I always tell him exactly what you said: "I didn't find out the cause of the problem, but I didn't care."
Windows system restore doesn’t function
by vattan2005 - 5/22/09 7:28 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
After hearing your tale of woe, I believe there is no need to belabor the point - the solution is very simple. Slash and burn...format and reinstall your OS! That worked for me. Teach your PC who is the boss! I love System Restore, which has saved my neck numerous times.
Do you have Norton A/V?
by jeff leites - 5/22/09 7:49 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't think this was mentioned, but there were a lot of answers to look over.
If you have Norton A/V (maybe this applies to other Norton products too), you have to turn off "Product Protection". If you don't, you'll get a message something like, "Windows was unable to restore you're system".
This will slightly vary with the version of Norton, but it is a Misc. Setting. In Norton A/V 2009, Click on "Computer Settings",click on the Miscellaneous Settings at the bottom. Under Product Security, Set Norton Product Tamper Protection to OFF. Click OK. Run the System Restore. When done turn the Norton Product Tamper Protection ON again (the 2009 version lets you set the duration of the Protection being turned off).
Hope this helps.
very easy: back-up every thing on external hard drive
by dog daddy - 5/22/09 8:03 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
One must back-up everything on at least one external hard drive.On your external hard drive make a copy of all your programs on your main computer's hard drive-normally 'C' under 'Programs' [not from your desktop screen]for your external HD. Then on 'my documents' make a complete back-up to the external HD. Add to your external HD 'My Documents' any new documents etc, as needed, and to your 'Programs' any new programs you have installed recently. I even do a complete 'copy' of my internet email and date the folder with today's date-doing it almost every day, -after- I have done a complete anti-virus/anti-adaware scan so as not to infect my external HD. *This way,
if your computer fails, you have a complete recent back-up of everything that can be transfer back to your old/new computer!-Dog Daddy
Safe Mode
by potterman6293 - 5/22/09 8:09 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have run into this problem time and time again....a failed system restore. I ended getting the solution from a tech support person from Microsoft! Try hitting F8 multiple times while your computer's BOIS is booting, then selecting "Safe Mode" in the boot options menu. Log on to any Windows account that has administrative rights and try to use system restore again.
You Shouldn't rely on System Restore By Itself
by Shannon_VanWagner - 5/22/09 8:45 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
System Restore can be a great tool for reverting your machine to a previous state, when it works.
However, when System Restore doesn't work.. you're up a (certain kind of) creek, without a paddle.
So here's the point: You Should not Rely on System Restore alone to be a viable means of restoring your computer to a working state. What you really need is a.)the installation media(e.g., cdrom disks) for your OS and software and b.) an external drive with a backup copy of your important files and data.
System restore does not really help at all if your machine becomes infected with a virus or malware - in fact, when cleaning your machine of virus, you usually have temporarily turn off System Restore to delete all "Restore Points" that hold copies of the virus infection.
So to fix your current problem, if your machine is currently in a perfectly usable state, I suggest that you verify that you have your installation media and backed up data available, and then simply switch off System Restore, reboot, then re-enable System Restore to get it working again. See this Microsoft KB Article for instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405 Turning off System Restore deletes all your "System Restore" points, but this is a necessary evil to get it working again.
If you don't have your original Windows installation media(e.g., you may have a "restore partition" instead), you'll need to contact your computer manufacturer and tell them you want to get the recovery disks shipped to you. In the case of HP, you will have to purchase the installation media for about $30.
As for a backup external drive, if you're an adventurous type - you can buy a "hard drive enclosure" and an "OEM hard drive" to go with it(for around $60) and put it together yourself - get it at some place like pricewatch.com. Otherwise, just go to your local technology provider (i.e., Fry's, Best Buy, Office Depot, newegg.com, etc.) and purchase an external usb drive for around $100 or less. The best thing about an external drive is that you unplug it and put it away after you backup your files to it, this way when the lightning strikes your house and fries anything plugged into your power outlets, phone lines, and cable - your USB external drive remains safely put away and untouched.
Here's the final tip that I have for you...
Why don't you ditch the System Restore, the antivirus, the yadda yadda "Security Software" all together and consider using Ubuntu GNU/Linux operating system instead? You will be amazed at how much faster your computer runs and the freedom you experience. Here's how to do it(you can even install Ubuntu inside Windows as a program): go to ubuntu.com, download the Ubuntu *.iso file, go to http://infrarecorder.com, download the Free Open Source IfraRecorder CD/DVD burning util, install it, burn your new Ubuntu *.iso file to a disk and insert it into your cdrom while Windows is running. You should then reboot using the "Try Ubuntu without making changes to my computer" option to see that Ubuntu will work well with your machine (doing so also gives you a way to externally access your Windows file system- without booting into it- for maintenance purposes - such as to back files or delete virus files).. then after you have verified Ubuntu works well, reboot into Windows, reinsert the Ubuntu cd, then install Ubuntu inside Windows (the wubi method). You can then use a Universe of free software that comes with Ubuntu and not have to worry about viruses/malware on your PC.
If you need more information, feel free to contact me directly via:
http://shannonvanwagner.com/email-me.php
Good luck and have fun!
Shannon VanWagner
http://humans-enabled.com
http://digg.com/users/bicep
One more thing.. checkout http://getgnulinux.org for more
by Shannon_VanWagner - 5/22/09 8:50 PM In reply to: You Shouldn't rely on System Restore By Itself by Shannon_VanWagnerOne more thing.. checkout http://getgnulinux.org for more information on what you're missing by not trying GNU/Linux.
windows system restore doesn't work
by leapline - 5/22/09 9:13 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
To all the people who replied with reinstall your os I commend you!! I have had all kinds of problems arise and that was one of them. For some reason (It doesn't take much) windows gets cluttered. I redo my computer once a year if it starts acting weird. I'm not going to sit there for hours trying to solve a problem that in the end seams to never resolve itself. Do not put anything back on until you have done all the updates and put your anti virus back on.
It is not supposed to
by yasinghMD - 5/22/09 10:05 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Windows restore is for dummies. It does not restore everything, it does not work if the disk is too fragmented, if it is too full or if you made a major change and then try to run restore. It does not remove clutter created by the windows. I have seen that if you install a large program, uninstall it, delete the folder and then run restore, not only you get the “No changes were made” message, all the restore points turn into garbage.
Hopefully you have learned your lesson now. Reinstall windows and then create an image. This was discussed earlier. An image is the only way to restore your system completely.
Here is one link:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7813_102-0.html?messageID=2565875&tag=commProfileMain;profileBot#2565875
Jim from Cleveland
by Mardigra1 - 5/22/09 11:15 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well, Jim
I've learned it's best to get online asap to CNET and post your problem for help before you mess around trying to 'fix' your computer. Your registry is fine and it doesn't need to be cleaned.
Best to not download things, it makes it worse. Don't fool with the registry.
When I had XP I was always system restoring to get my music program to work again. Sometimes it restored and sometimes I got that message nothing was restored.
When you get things working nicely (which you probably have by now)
Consider doing these things.
1. Get off line
2. Close your Anti Virus/Firewall/Spyware
3. Go to System Restore and Create a Restore Point.
4. I type additional notes like 'This Date Windows Player OK' (or something like that). Doesn't mean it will again but at least you'll remember all things were good that day.
5. Also, my 6 or 7 restore dates would be missing after a few months.
So, check once in a while to see if you have a date in restore.
Don't forget to schedule auto defrags and delete cookies and old temp files now and then.
Good Luck To You
Go-oo-ooh Indians!
get a mac
by JamesIvy - 5/22/09 11:33 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Another reason to get a Mac. With Time Machine it does it all for you. And anyway, in a dozen years of using a Mac I've never ever had to restore anything. So stable.
CloneZilla makes my HTPC possible
by smprather - 5/22/09 11:34 PM In reply to: Windows system restore doesn’t function by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I swear by this tool. As an owner of an extremely fragile BluRay capable HTPC, I've had to flash-back my system to known-working states on about 20 different occasions. I'm not exaggerating.
It allows you to create a raw image of an entire hard-drive and save it to a file on another drive (internal or usb). When something goes wrong (HTPC sound is practically impossible to keep functional for any length of time, especially when BluRay's involved), I roll my entire C: drive back to the last known working state. You can also save partitions instead of entire drives. It's completely configurable and (relatively) easy to use.
Learn it, use it, period. It's free!
http://www.clonezilla.org/
--Myles
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