Can't Open System Restore

[Curtis]

When trying to open system restore I get an error message
mentioning rundll. I've tried opening from the system
restore command, right clicking on "my Computer" and
through the system icon in the control panel. Error
message varies but all mention rundll. Also tried safe
mode boot with same result.

Don't know how long problem has been present. First
noticed it when trying to disable system restore prior to
running a symantec program to look for a suspected
virus. No virus found so I don't think condition is
related to suspected virus.

Any info appreciated.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Curtis,

Once System Restore goes bad, the only thing you can do is stop it and
restart it. Start/run services.msc, locate the SR service and doubleclick
it. Click the stop button, then set the startup type dropdown to disabled.
Click apply/ok, then reboot.

Then, check the "System Volume Information folder" on each drive and delete
any contents. Reverse the steps to restart it.

Be forewarned that doing this removes all existing restore points, but it
doesn't really matter as they weren't working anyways.

If this does not help, follow these steps to reinstall System Restore:

Go to the Control Panel/Folder Options/View tab, set it to "Show hidden
files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files
[recommended]". Also uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

Then, open Windows Explorer from Start/All Programs and go to the
C:\Windows\Inf folder. Locate the sr.inf file, right-click it and choose
install.

You may need to either insert your WinXP CD or know where your I386 folder
is located on the hard drive. You may also need to know where the
\ServicePackFiles folder is (usually under the Windows directory).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Curtis]

Thanks Rick. Your #1 option worked Ok. One confusion
though. When I tried to open the System Volume Info
folder I got an "access denied" message. But when
holding the cursor over the folder name a popup
said "folder empty".

Everything seems to be OK though. Thanks again.

----Original Message-----

Hi Curtis,

Once System Restore goes bad, the only thing you can do is stop it and
restart it. Start/run services.msc, locate the SR service and doubleclick
it. Click the stop button, then set the startup type dropdown to disabled.
Click apply/ok, then reboot.

Then, check the "System Volume Information folder" on each drive and delete
any contents. Reverse the steps to restart it.

Be forewarned that doing this removes all existing restore points, but it
doesn't really matter as they weren't working anyways.

If this does not help, follow these steps to reinstall System Restore:

Go to the Control Panel/Folder Options/View tab, set it to "Show hidden
files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files
[recommended]". Also uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

Then, open Windows Explorer from Start/All Programs and go to the
C:\Windows\Inf folder. Locate the sr.inf file, right- click it and choose
install.

You may need to either insert your WinXP CD or know where your I386 folder
is located on the hard drive. You may also need to know where the
\ServicePackFiles folder is (usually under the Windows directory).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

When trying to open system restore I get an error message
mentioning rundll. I've tried opening from the system
restore command, right clicking on "my Computer" and
through the system icon in the control panel. Error
message varies but all mention rundll. Also tried safe
mode boot with same result.

Don't know how long problem has been present. First
noticed it when trying to disable system restore prior to
running a symantec program to look for a suspected
virus. No virus found so I don't think condition is
related to suspected virus.

Any info appreciated.

.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

No problem, gald to have helped.

As to "access denied", it means your user profile has insufficient
priviledges to access that folder. You need to either take ownership of it,
or logon as administrator and add your user account to the read/write
priviledges for it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

Thanks Rick. Your #1 option worked Ok. One confusion
though. When I tried to open the System Volume Info
folder I got an "access denied" message. But when
holding the cursor over the folder name a popup
said "folder empty".

Everything seems to be OK though. Thanks again.

----Original Message-----

Hi Curtis,

Once System Restore goes bad, the only thing you can do is stop it and
restart it. Start/run services.msc, locate the SR service and doubleclick
it. Click the stop button, then set the startup type dropdown to disabled.
Click apply/ok, then reboot.

Then, check the "System Volume Information folder" on each drive and delete
any contents. Reverse the steps to restart it.

Be forewarned that doing this removes all existing restore points, but it
doesn't really matter as they weren't working anyways.

If this does not help, follow these steps to reinstall System Restore:

Go to the Control Panel/Folder Options/View tab, set it to "Show hidden
files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files
[recommended]". Also uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

Then, open Windows Explorer from Start/All Programs and go to the
C:\Windows\Inf folder. Locate the sr.inf file, right- click it and choose
install.

You may need to either insert your WinXP CD or know where your I386 folder
is located on the hard drive. You may also need to know where the
\ServicePackFiles folder is (usually under the Windows directory).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

When trying to open system restore I get an error message
mentioning rundll. I've tried opening from the system
restore command, right clicking on "my Computer" and
through the system icon in the control panel. Error
message varies but all mention rundll. Also tried safe
mode boot with same result.

Don't know how long problem has been present. First
noticed it when trying to disable system restore prior to
running a symantec program to look for a suspected
virus. No virus found so I don't think condition is
related to suspected virus.

Any info appreciated.

.

 

[Alex Nichol]

When trying to open system restore I get an error message
mentioning rundll. I've tried opening from the system
restore command, right clicking on "my Computer" and
through the system icon in the control panel. Error
message varies but all mention rundll. Also tried safe
mode boot with same result.

I would reinstall SR - first in Control Panel, System, System restore,
check the 'Disable' box, OK, and reboot. Now have Folder Options - View
set to show Hidden files, and *not* Hide Protected mode ones and delete
the entire contents of the 'System Volume Information' folder (on each
drive if more than one).

Now go to windows\inf\sr.inf, right click, take Install. Once
reinstalled, enable SR again - and I would check Settings for each drive
and if they are offering over 1GB reduce it. The default 12% of a drive
seems to be too much for its own good on large drives