System Restore quit working :-(

[Guest]

Hello

My laptop has WinXP Pro. After a computer expert friend of mine said that
having Automatic Updates set on Automatic is not a good idea because one's
comp doesn't necessarily need all updates that are put out, on Monday
evening, I switched Automatic Updates to "Notify me, but don't automatically
download or install them" and went to "Add or Remove Programs" to remove the
updates that have installed.

On restarting after removing one of the updates, which one I can't remember,
my laptop acted like my USB devices (mouse, keyboard, external HD) weren't
plugged in and my wireless commection wasn't working. I ended up having to
run System Restore from Safe Mode to get everything working again. On my
second try, I decided that every 5 removals, I would make sure that
everything is working and create a restore point.

I also accidentally discovered that a 3.5 floppy in the drive would halt a
post removal shutdown because Symantec Virus would kick in and say for me to
remove the disk to eliminate the possility of getting a boot sector virus
from the disk. The disk has several files on it, but is clean. I noticed
that after removing the disk, clicking "cancel" on the box saying "program is
not responding to the system because it is waiting for a response from you"
and clicking OK on Symantec's warning box, the shutdown that Symantec stopped
did not continue and I was able to select something else in Add or Remove
Programs and tell it to be removed.

So because of the larger amount of time that would be consumed by restarting
after each removal, I started using the disk to halt shutdowns, only allowing
it to restart after 5 removals. Everything went fine. Until I tried to
create the 7th restore point and got "System Restore is not able to create a
restore point. Please restart the computer and then run System Restore
again." So I did. And got the same message when I tried to create a restore
point.

When I tried to run the 6th restore point, clicking the Next button got no
response. The 5th restore point worked, but when the normral restart was
almost complete, I got a error mssage saying that System Restore was unable
to restore my system to the point I selected. I tried starting in safe mode
and running System Restore from there and got the same result.

I made several more attempts, each one starting in safe mode and running
System Restore from there and found that half the restore points I'd just
manually created got no response when I clicked Next. The ones that did work
got the System Restore was unable to restore message. Even one that was auto
created by my system just after noon on Sunday, when I hadn't even thought of
trying to remove the updates.

What do I have to do to get System Restore to work again?

Thanx in advance

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

1. Your friend said not to use automatic updates, but did they say to remove
the existing ones? To do so is quite foolish, unless you happen to be a
security expert and know what each one does and have a sensible reason for
removal. As far as updates go, you should generally install any identified
as critical, and consider those identified as recommended (as to whether or
not you want that functionality). Unless you are having an issue with a
device, you should avoid updating device drivers (and actually if you are
you should obtain them from the manufacturer, not Windows Update).

2. System Restore is limited in the repair function when it "goes bad". All
you can do is stop and restart the service. Doing this results in the loss
of all existing restore points, but you aren't going to be able to use them
at this point anyways. Click start/run, type services.msc and click ok.
Scroll down to the system restore service and double click it. Click the
stop button. Wait a few moments, then click the start button.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Cloudchaser the Red Wolf furry"

 

[Guest]

As an update, I just discovered that though my laptop's speakers work, the
headphone output doesn't work

 

[Guest]

1. Your friend said not to use automatic updates, but did they say to remove
the existing ones? To do so is quite foolish, unless you happen to be a
security expert and know what each one does and have a sensible reason for
removal.

True, he didn't say to remove the existing ones.

Though I do have to admit I do wonder why WinXp Pro allows the removal of
things that are required for the system to operate properly.

2. System Restore is limited in the repair function when it "goes bad". All
you can do is stop and restart the service. Doing this results in the loss
of all existing restore points, but you aren't going to be able to use them
at this point anyways. Click start/run, type services.msc and click ok.
Scroll down to the system restore service and double click it. Click the
stop button. Wait a few moments, then click the start button.

I tried that, restarting in safe mods and selecting the system restore point
created on the 18th by Registry Toolkit and still got the same results of
"coule not restore Thanx anyway for your advice

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Updates are uninstallable in case they cause a system issue, otherwise they
should be left alone.

Disable the System Restore service as before, then delete the System Volume
Information folder on the root of each monitored drive, then reboot. Once
restarted, restart the System Restore service (if it did not automatically
restart).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Cloudchaser the Red Wolf furry"