Restore and Backup

[Merle]

The problem is: When I make a change to my system i.e. new driver, etc I
would like to create a system restore point just in case of a malfunction.
When I try to create a restore point I get this message on my Systems
Property Window under the tab system protection Automatic Restore Point
"Configuration is disabled by group policy" and "Restore Point creation
disabled by group policy." What kind of system protection is that? Is it
protecting my system from my protection? Yes I think so. Is there anyway
to change the group policy on windows Vista Premium since it is unavailable
in the premium version? Wow. This PC belongs to ME not Microsoft.

I have tried to repair my installation. I have lost the ability to create a
restore point and I cannot make a back up. I have tried every solution
offered to me on the NG but nothing works. A re-install seems to be the
only way to me. I'm no expert on this subject but I thought it might be
worth a try.

My back up is supposed to be backed up on My second drive (New
Volume L) and has 91 gb free. Drive L is the only drive enabled for back up
and is far from being full. I have gone to the registry and deleted the
DisableConfig value and I have tried unchecking Hide hidden files and
folders Cleared the Hide protected operating system files, and still cannot
make a backup. I thought Vista Basic was the only system with Group Policy
control. I am using vista Premium. I just don't know what else to do.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Merle

Group Policy Editor (GPEdit.msc) and Security Policy Editor (SecPol.msc) are
not included in the Home versions of Vista.

You can configure most of the same settings in the Home versions, but they
have to ber done using direct registry edits.

The only way I have been able to re-create the "Restore Point creation
disabled by group policy" error message you are seeing is if one or more of
the following registry entries are present.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsNT\SystemRestore
DisableSR REG_DWORD 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsNT\SystemRestore\
DisableConfig REG_DWORD 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Settin­gs
DisableSystemRestore REG_DWORD 1

Check the registry for these keys and if they are present, change the Value
to 0 (Zero).

Another comment. Many people, in an effort to try and speed up the system,
will start tweaking the Services or Registry settings. They may even use a
third party "tweaking tool" or other type of utility to accomplish this. I
always try to discourage this practice since many times it can lead to
unexpected behavior and other times completely destroy the installed OS.

If this is something that you may have done, try reverting back to the
default values that may have been changed.

 

[Merle]

I have tried everything. Vista Home will not allow me to make a restore
point or backup. I thought maybe a file was corrupt so I reinstalled Vista
as an Upgrade but it gave me the error (after 1-1/2 hours of running) The
upgrade was not sucessful. Your previous version of windows is being
restored. But It just looped and looped for 2 more hours. I'm patient...
So then I reformatted the drive C and did a clean install. Eureka. Backups
are back working and restore points work. What a pain. I'm not touching
another thing. If it aint broke "Don't fix it" Thanks for trying. I
appreciate it.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Merle

Glad you got everything working again, but sorry you had to do that clean
install.

<If it aint broke "Don't fix it">

Words to live by! <g>

 

[Guest]

Hi Ronnie,

I was in the same spot as Merle. About to reinstall but I chose to
experiment and was successful.

I deleted the key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsNT\SystemRestore\
DisableConfig REG_DWORD 1

I had tried resetting it to 0 but I read elsewhere that "not configured" was
the solution. With Vista Home Premium not having a GPOL editor, not
configured is not an option. Removing the key worked. Back to situation
normal. Your answer clearly helped!!!

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Infoaddict

Great! I'm glad this helped.