MS System Restore stopped allowing me to set a restore point.

[crazej]

Running XP Pro with service pack 2, and all MS updates are installed.
My MS System Restore stopped allowing me to set a restore point a week
ago just after I installed a second hard drive and changed that new
drive to be my boot and OS system drive after dividing it into two
partitions. The old drive is now installed in the "slave" position. I
have used System Properties window to ensure that the box is not
checked that turns off the System Restore to "all drives"; one clue
to solving this problem is that the old hard drive (F) is identified as
the System Drive when in fact it is in the "Slave" position. The new
hard drive (C) shows up as the System drive when looking at the
Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management window.

Have also verified that System Restore services are running by using
the command prompt, Start, Run, type CMD in the control box, Enter,
then type Net Start at the command prompt; it says that System Restore
has started. And while it is running it does not allow me to set a
restore point.
Any suggestions on how to get my MS System Restore to work again?
Thanks, JC

 

[Rock]

Running XP Pro with service pack 2, and all MS updates are installed.
My MS System Restore stopped allowing me to set a restore point a week
ago just after I installed a second hard drive and changed that new
drive to be my boot and OS system drive after dividing it into two
partitions. The old drive is now installed in the "slave" position. I
have used System Properties window to ensure that the box is not
checked that turns off the System Restore to "all drives"; one clue
to solving this problem is that the old hard drive (F) is identified as
the System Drive when in fact it is in the "Slave" position. The new
hard drive (C) shows up as the System drive when looking at the
Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management window.

Have also verified that System Restore services are running by using
the command prompt, Start, Run, type CMD in the control box, Enter,
then type Net Start at the command prompt; it says that System Restore
has started. And while it is running it does not allow me to set a
restore point.
Any suggestions on how to get my MS System Restore to work again?
Thanks, JC

See this excellent guide to troubleshooting system restore by MVP Bert
Kinney.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

This was previously posted by MS-MVP Ramesh Srinivasan, and we are both
interested in seeing if it work.

Another way to fix this problem is to rename the System Restore
configuration file, which holds the hard drive / partition listings. Try
this:

Open Windows Explorer and select C:\ drive. Select the "System Volume
Information" (SVI) folder. Note that this folder is a super-hidden
folder by
default, and you need to configure the Folder Options dialog to show all
hidden and protected files.

Before proceeding, if you have NTFS file system, you need to allow
yourself
access to the SVI folder.

Right-click "System Volume Information" folder and choose Properties.
Select
the Security tab. Add your user account to the list and assign Full
Control
to this folder. Then look in for a file named drivetable.txt in one of
the
sub-folders. Rename the file "drivetable.txt" to "old_drivetable.txt".

Revert back the Permissions for this folder. By default, SYSTEM has Full
Control to this folder. Restart Windows and the drivetable.txt should be
re-created automatically, and the missing drive-letters should be
restored
to the list.

Note: I've tested this method in my system prior to posting, and none of
the
Restore points were erased. However, your mileage may vary.

Reinstalling System Restore is sure to work, if this does not.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/tips.html#ReinstallSR