System Restore corrupt

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben Stevenson
  • Start date Start date
B

Ben Stevenson

Wanted to do a SR today and found out that I had almost no SR points. There
was just one on the 3rd May. In previous months it had been OK, about one SR
point every couple of days automatically. Went to look in and found I had
3.8GB of space allocated to SR, which should be good. Maybe my SR is
corrupt. How can I clean it up or redo it?
TIA
 
In
Ben Stevenson said:
Wanted to do a SR today and found out that I had almost no SR
points.
There was just one on the 3rd May. In previous months it had
been OK,
about one SR point every couple of days automatically. Went to
look
in and found I had
3.8GB of space allocated to SR, which should be good. Maybe my
SR is
corrupt. How can I clean it up or redo it?
Click to expand...


Turn it off (which will delete all the existing restore points),
then turn it back on again.
 
Thanks for your response.
Yours would be the quick solution no doubt, but i thought of going along
with Bert's solution first to see and find out the underlying problems, and
in the process learn quite a bit more about SR.
Thanks
 
Thanks for your response.
Went ahead with your first solution:
System Restore Failures to restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

and tried the following:
a.. Use the Event Viewer to investigate System Restore service errors. To do
this, follow these steps:
a.. Go to Start - Run and type eventvwr.msc and press enter.
b.. Click the Source tab to sort by name, look for "sr" and "srservice."
Double-click each of these services, and evaluate the event description for
any indication of the cause of the problem. Make note of the Description,
EventID and Source of these Event Properties that show an Error or Warning.
I do not see any Source Tab at Event Viewer.
Under "Name" I see Antivirus, Application. Security, System. Just four of
them.
The same four headings are seen in the left pane. No "sr". Need more help.

By the way, went back to look at the restore points and found that the 3rd
May one had disappeared.

Thanks
 
Ben said:
Thanks for your response.
Went ahead with your first solution:
System Restore Failures to restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

and tried the following:
a.. Use the Event Viewer to investigate System Restore
service errors. To do this, follow these steps:
a.. Go to Start - Run and type eventvwr.msc and press
enter. b.. Click the Source tab to sort by name, look
for "sr" and "srservice." Double-click each of these
services, and evaluate the event description for any
indication of the cause of the problem. Make note of the
Description, EventID and Source of these Event Properties
that show an Error or Warning.
Click to expand...

< I do not see any Source Tab at Event Viewer.

In the right pane of Event Viewer at the top of the columns are names
in gray. One is Source. Click on it to sort the column. This makes the
event easer to find.
Under "Name" I see Antivirus, Application. Security, System.
Click to expand...

Click on each or these and use the sort methord above and look for
"sr" and "srservice".

< Just four of them. The same four headings are seen in the left pane.
No "sr". Need more help.
By the way, went back to look at the restore points and
found that the 3rd May one had disappeared.
Click to expand...

I would suggest reducing the amount of disk space used by System
Restore to just under 1gb for now.

We will also have to rule out virus/malware infection.
Here is a combination of utilities that I have found that works very
well in the removal and prevention of virus infection, spyware,
parasites, malware and the like.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/spyware.html

On the following page download the first two scripts and let me know
if they report the default settings.
 
Thanks for your continued help and patience. My replies as below:

Bert Kinney said:
< I do not see any Source Tab at Event Viewer.

In the right pane of Event Viewer at the top of the columns are names
in gray. One is Source. Click on it to sort the column. This makes the
event easer to find.
Click to expand...

Still could not find the "Source" tab, so had to play around a bit. In the
right pane, under "Name" are the four items as previously mentioned. If I
double click any of these items, the new box appears, and "Source" appears
as the fourth column. Maybe your instructions are as per XP Professional.
Mine is XP Home. I am just guessing.

"srservice" appeared as a single item under System on 5/3/2005 and under
"Name" it was not an error of any sort but Application.
Click on each or these and use the sort methord above and look for
"sr" and "srservice".

< Just four of them. The same four headings are seen in the left pane.
No "sr". Need more help.

I would suggest reducing the amount of disk space used by System
Restore to just under 1gb for now.
Click to expand...

Have done that to 1.1GB. The next stop is too low.
We will also have to rule out virus/malware infection.
Here is a combination of utilities that I have found that works very
well in the removal and prevention of virus infection, spyware,
parasites, malware and the like.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/spyware.html
Click to expand...

I am OK on Spywares and Malwares. I have and use regularly, Ad-aware,
Spybot, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard. My anti-virus is the reliable
Avast, and occassionally I also use the online scanners. No real problems
there. My Kerio firewall has served me well.
On the following page download the first two scripts and let me know
if they report the default settings.
Click to expand...

Your link above has only one page. There is no following page.

My computer is dodgy and a bit unstable. Perhaps you maybe aware of some
free diagnostics programs that I could download and use. Norton had good
ones, but I had to uninstall Norton Systemsworks as it was destabilizing my
System. XP Home only has CHKDSK which is quite insufficient.
Thanks
 
Ben said:
Thanks for your continued help and patience. My replies

Still could not find the "Source" tab, so had to play
around a bit. In the right pane, under "Name" are the
four items as previously mentioned. If I double click any
of these items, the new box appears, and "Source" appears
as the fourth column. Maybe your instructions are as per
XP Professional. Mine is XP Home. I am just guessing.

"srservice" appeared as a single item under System on
5/3/2005 and under "Name" it was not an error of any sort but
Application.
Click to expand...

I should have added clicking on System in the left pane. I have added
it to the instructions.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/source.html
Have done that to 1.1GB. The next stop is too low.
Good.


I am OK on Spywares and Malwares. I have and use
regularly, Ad-aware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster and
SpywareGuard. My anti-virus is the reliable Avast, and
occassionally I also use the online scanners. No real
problems there. My Kerio firewall has served me well.


Your link above has only one page. There is no following page.
Click to expand...

On the following page download and run the following:
XPSystemRestorePointFrequency.vbs
XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/body_srscripts.html
My computer is dodgy and a bit unstable. Perhaps you
maybe aware of some free diagnostics programs that I
could download and use. Norton had good ones, but I had
to uninstall Norton Systemsworks as it was destabilizing
my System. XP Home only has CHKDSK which is quite
insufficient.
Click to expand...

Download and run Process Explorer. Look for a process that may taking
up CPU recourses. Sysinternals Freeware - Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
 
Just reading all your helpful hints and just checked my restore points.

I noticed that my system is monitoring Presario_RP (D)...

Should I turn this off?

Thanks.
Helen
 
Thanks. After reading all your posts, that's what I figured. I'll disable
it now. If I knew then what I know now about buying computers, I sure would
make sure I got the cd's. Live and learn...

Helen
 
You're welcome Helen.

If I didn't learn something new every day, I would be disappointed!
<g>
 
Sorry for the delayed reply. Just came back today from an urgent trip.
On the following page download and run the following:
XPSystemRestorePointFrequency.vbs
XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/body_srscripts.html
Click to expand...

Have done that.
On "XPSystemRestorePointFrequency.vbs"
SR points will be every 24 hours. Do I keep it that way or change it later?
On "XPSystemRestoreLife.vbs", same question. The SR points will be done for
90 days. What happens after 90 days? No more SR points? Shall I change it?

Download and run Process Explorer. Look for a process that may taking
up CPU recourses. Sysinternals Freeware - Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
Click to expand...

All my processes are OK. No problems. I used windows Task Manager too.

Thanks
 
Change the Restore Point Frequency to 18 hours and see if that has any
affect.

Do you by change have Real Player One installed? If so update to the
latest version.

Is Norton System Works installed?
 
Bert Kinney said:
Change the Restore Point Frequency to 18 hours and see if that has any
affect.
Click to expand...

Will do that. But first: Went to take a look at System Restore, and all the
previous points were gone. There were zero points. Is something wrong? So
set up a manual point just now, just in case if needed.
Do you by change have Real Player One installed? If so update to the
latest version.
Click to expand...

No, I don't have it. I did think of it, but friends told me it gives
problems. What do you think? If you recommend it, I'll install it.
Is Norton System Works installed?
Click to expand...

No. I had uninstalled it about two years ago for all the problems it gave.
 
Hi Bert

Checked today. There are no Restore points except for the one manually made
on June 1st.

Would it be OK if I went ahead and did Ken Blake's suggestion of May 21st?
I would like to try that.
Thanks.
 
Ben said:
Will do that. But first: Went to take a look at System
Restore, and all the previous points were gone. There
were zero points. Is something wrong?
Click to expand...

Yes, there should be at least a couple of weeks stored up.
So set up a manual point just now, just in case if needed.


No, I don't have it. I did think of it, but friends told
me it gives problems. What do you think? If you recommend
it, I'll install it.
Click to expand...

If you find a need for it, it's OK to install. You will want to go
into Tools - Preferences and uncheck everything under Automatic
Services. Do the same for Connection - Internet / Privacy. And don't
let RP run at startup.
 
Hi Ben,

See my reply to your previous post also.

Well this indicates that the restore points are not be deleted. Just
not automatically created. Is this correct?

Remember that automatic restore points are only created during idle
time; for example, when there is no mouse, keyboard, or disk i/o
activity. If the system is in use the entire time it is turned on,
then turned off, an automatic restore point will NOT be created.

When you run Process Explorer, how much idle time is there?

I don't think turning SR off then on again will help this problem. You
may want to reinstall SR instead. Either one of these process will
purge all existing restore points.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/tips.html#ReinstallSR
 
Bert Kinney said:
Hi Ben,

See my reply to your previous post also.

Well this indicates that the restore points are not be deleted. Just
not automatically created. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

The previous ones that I had, had been deleted by the system somehow. And no
new ones were created. I had manually created one point on the 1st June, and
it is still the only one there/
Remember that automatic restore points are only created during idle
time; for example, when there is no mouse, keyboard, or disk i/o
activity. If the system is in use the entire time it is turned on,
then turned off, an automatic restore point will NOT be created.
Click to expand...

Yes I know that. The manual one I created, I left the computer for 10 mins
for it to be created. Moreover, I hardly ever switch off my computer. I just
walk away when finished, and it is configured to go into Standby in 20 mins
if not used, and restore points were always created before this problem came
up.
When you run Process Explorer, how much idle time is there?
Click to expand...

Its about 98% when I stop using applications for a while.
I don't think turning SR off then on again will help this problem. You
may want to reinstall SR instead. Either one of these process will
purge all existing restore points.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/tips.html#ReinstallSR
Click to expand...

Went thru it all. There's so much there and I don't really know what to do.
Could you please put it in a nutshell what I have to do?
Thanks
 
Hi Ben,

Here are the instructions on how to reinstall System Restore.

1. Open Control Panel - Folder Options - View tab, select "Show hidden
files and folders" and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types",
click OK.

2. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the C:\Windows\inf folder.

3. Find the sr.inf file, right click on it and select Install.

If you run into difficulty, let me know at what step.
 
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