Large System File created in Restore Point Folder At Bootup

[James]

I am running Windows XP and Norton Systemworks Pro 2004. Lately, at most
bootups, a large system file is created in the Restore Point folder. It is
labeled a system file and always has the same size of 589,104 kb. It does
not appear to be a restore point which are typically much smaller (about .04
gigs). If I reboot multiple times, I get several of these large files and,
after a time, disc space dwindles. I am not running GoBack.

Does anyone know what programs could be writing to the Restore Point folder?
I have tried turning everything off at startup with msconfig but that had no
effect.

Thanks for any help.

James

 

[Guest]

Were the services turned off with msconfig? No idea, but if it does it in Safe Mode boot, it's most likely part of XP.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am running Windows XP and Norton Systemworks Pro 2004. Lately, at most
bootups, a large system file is created in the Restore Point folder. It is
labeled a system file and always has the same size of 589,104 kb. It does
not appear to be a restore point which are typically much smaller (about .04
gigs). If I reboot multiple times, I get several of these large files and,
after a time, disc space dwindles. I am not running GoBack.

Does anyone know what programs could be writing to the Restore Point folder?
I have tried turning everything off at startup with msconfig but that had no
effect.

A thought - if you are using Nortons Protected recycle bin, it *might*
be dumping that into restore points. I would disable Norton, and see if
it is associated. These days I am seeing altogether too many troubles
with their software and will have nothing to do with it

 

[PCEngWork]

I believe that "System Volume Information" is in the excluded table
for Norton Protected Recycle Bin. If there ever was a redundant
utility that would be it. Norton's product line needs trimming badly.
Only the Internet Security package is worthwhile. Nav(Pro) gives
you the redundant bin and at the other end of the scale you get the
infamous System Works with Disk Doctor & other obsolete carry
overs from Windows 9x/ME. Now they offer two Windows type
utilities (Anti-Spam & Password Protection), that aren't very well
thought out or effective. Pretty soon Best Buy will need an entire
shelf for just the Symantec product line. (Add PQ Magic & DI 7
and you might need a second shelf). I wouldn't go as far as leaving
Symantec as a software choice, but they need some grown ups to
help weed things out a little.

 

[James]

System Volume Info files do seem to be excluded from the Norton Protected
Recycle Bin; nevertheless, I disabled the Norton Protected Recycle Bin and
rebooted and the file of 589,104 kb was again created in the RP folder
within the System Volume Info. folder. I happened to notice, however, that
the time on the file is about the time of my previous reboot (not the most
recent).

Does this give anyone an idea what could be causing the problem?

Thanks again for the comments.

James

I believe that "System Volume Information" is in the excluded table
for Norton Protected Recycle Bin. If there ever was a redundant
utility that would be it. Norton's product line needs trimming badly.
Only the Internet Security package is worthwhile. Nav(Pro) gives
you the redundant bin and at the other end of the scale you get the
infamous System Works with Disk Doctor & other obsolete carry
overs from Windows 9x/ME. Now they offer two Windows type
utilities (Anti-Spam & Password Protection), that aren't very well
thought out or effective. Pretty soon Best Buy will need an entire
shelf for just the Symantec product line. (Add PQ Magic & DI 7
and you might need a second shelf). I wouldn't go as far as leaving
Symantec as a software choice, but they need some grown ups to
help weed things out a little.

It

is

(about

.04

had

 

[James]

I've been able to figure out two additional pieces of information.

1. The large file (589,104 kb) created either at computer showdown or bootup
carries the time of the previous shutdown/bootup, not the most recent.

2. When I uninstall Norton Antivirus (component of NortonSystemworks Pro
2004), the large file is no longer created at bootup/shutdown.

I have another computer with both Windows XP and NortonSystemworks Pro 2004
installed and am not having this problem there.

I hope this triggers some ideas in folks reading this message.

Thanks for any help.

James

System Volume Info files do seem to be excluded from the Norton Protected
Recycle Bin; nevertheless, I disabled the Norton Protected Recycle Bin and
rebooted and the file of 589,104 kb was again created in the RP folder
within the System Volume Info. folder. I happened to notice, however, that
the time on the file is about the time of my previous reboot (not the most
recent).

Does this give anyone an idea what could be causing the problem?

Thanks again for the comments.

James

 

[James]

I have identified what the mystery large file is--it's equal to the page
file which seems to always equal 589,104 kb.

I am running Windows XP with 384 MB of Ram. The computer has one hard disk
partitioned into drives C, D and E. The page file had been present only on
drive C.

Once I discovered that there is a page file relationship, I tried moving the
page file to drive E and changing its size to range from 2 to 384 MB.
However, Windows insists on putting the page file into the System Volume
folder in drive C, continues to make it 589,104 kb in size and duplicate
files equal to the previous page file (date/time) are put in the restore
point folder each time I reboot (two reboots produce two 589,104 kb files in
the restore folder).

Norton Systemworks is installed on Drive D. As I have previously indicated,
turning off Norton Antivirus Auto Protect solves the problem in that these
large files are no longer created within the restore point folder at bootup.

I'd very much appreciate some additional input on what to do next.

Thanks.

James

 

[Sharon F]

Norton Systemworks is installed on Drive D. As I have previously indicated,
turning off Norton Antivirus Auto Protect solves the problem in that these
large files are no longer created within the restore point folder at bootup.

I'd very much appreciate some additional input on what to do next.

Sounds like you need to talk to Symantec and/or the computer manufacturer.
If this was a common problem with Symantec only, I would think that we
would see it mentioned more often in the newsgroups. Am thinking there is
something else that is a constant... perhaps some tweak the OEM did to the
system that interacts oddly with Norton?

Are you using Go Back now owned by Symantec? If yes, maybe try disabling
that for a bit to see what the results are?

 

[James]

Sharon--

Go Back is not installed--only the utility and antivirus components of
Norton SystemWorks Pro 2004 are installed.

I will call Symantec soon if no one has a solution but was trying to avoid
the $30 fee although I assume it is not payable if they can't solve the
problem.

I also am a little surprised that I can't control the size of the page file
to a size below 589,104 kb. Windows XP seems to be putting that in by
default no matter what I set the page file to.

Thanks for your help.

James

 

[Sharon F]

Sharon--

Go Back is not installed--only the utility and antivirus components of
Norton SystemWorks Pro 2004 are installed.

I will call Symantec soon if no one has a solution but was trying to avoid
the $30 fee although I assume it is not payable if they can't solve the
problem.

I also am a little surprised that I can't control the size of the page file
to a size below 589,104 kb. Windows XP seems to be putting that in by
default no matter what I set the page file to.

Thanks for your help.

James

James, the size isn't so disconcerting to me as the location it wants to
default to. It should not be located within the System Volume Information
folders. Instead the page file should be in the root of your boot drive,
usually C: or whatever drive you redirect it to. The strange location is
why I thought there is something else going on and that a call to Symantec
would be worth your while.

How are you determining that this is the page file that is causing the
increase in size of SysVol? Is it possible that this is instead the
creation of a new restore point? Have you tried turning off System Restore
and restarting to see if there is any difference in the behavior?

Does Symantec have any user forums at their site where you may be able to
toss out this question and avoid the tech fee?

 

[James]

Sharon--

The page file is in the root of the boot drive. However, there appears to
be a duplicate of it (at least it is the same size of 589,104 kb.) in the
restore folder of the System Volume folder on every bootup/shutdown (and
duplicated again for every boot/shutdown).

I spent the $30 to talk to Symantec today--after about an hour wait, I
explained the problem to the rep--he told me that if I could se which files
were in the System Volume folder and Restore folder, there was a problem
with Windows and I should talk to Microsoft. He said that normal behaviour
of Windows is that an error message is given when one tries to see what is
in those folders. I said I thought that it was possible to see what was in
those folders by changing settings within Windows XP folders--he said
"absolutely not" and there was a problem with Windows--I don't think this is
correct, is it? The conversation with him was fairly unpleasant.

James

 

[Sharon F]

Sharon--

The page file is in the root of the boot drive. However, there appears to
be a duplicate of it (at least it is the same size of 589,104 kb.) in the
restore folder of the System Volume folder on every bootup/shutdown (and
duplicated again for every boot/shutdown).

I spent the $30 to talk to Symantec today--after about an hour wait, I
explained the problem to the rep--he told me that if I could se which files
were in the System Volume folder and Restore folder, there was a problem
with Windows and I should talk to Microsoft. He said that normal behaviour
of Windows is that an error message is given when one tries to see what is
in those folders. I said I thought that it was possible to see what was in
those folders by changing settings within Windows XP folders--he said
"absolutely not" and there was a problem with Windows--I don't think this is
correct, is it? The conversation with him was fairly unpleasant.

So sorry that Symantec was so unpleasant with you. At least your working
pagefile is in the right place.

The SVI folder is protected but can you gain access to it. If you have XP
Pro and simple file sharing disabled, right click on the folder (do not
select it first, just right click on it) and select Properties. On the next
screen, click Security. Click Add to add the Administrators group or just
your account. Click Apply and you should now be able to get into this
folder and look around.

If you have XP Home, boot to safe mode. Then right click on SVI and select
Properties, etc.

Let us know what you find.