System Restore Doesn't Work

[Bob Smiley]

Hello all.

I'm having a problem with windows vista's system restore. It was working
fine until I did a restore from a backup, completely restoring on top of the
system OS.

System Protection reports two different C: drives (one 'missing', and one
'system'), and if I manually create a restore point, it reports success (on
either entry), but when clicking on the "System Restore" button to view the
list of restore points, I get a message "filename, directory name, or volume
label syntax is incorrect".

I've used the "Troubleshooting steps for issues when you try to use the
System Restore tool in Windows XP" article
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q302796/) and found that when I do a NET
START, the service is not listed; however, if I perform NET START "SYSTEM
RESTORE SERVICE", I get "invalid service name". I suspect this is related to
the message above, or it could be that the service name changed between XP
and Vista.

I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium with Norton Antivirus. I've read the
threads related to NAV's interference with system restore, but I'm getting
different error messages, so it doesn't seem to apply. Also, that article
implies getting to a point in the restore process much further than I'm able
to get to.

It's highly likely that this is a PICNIC, and if that's the diagnosis
(assuming related to the need to do a full system restore) any help educating
me on why would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Bob Smiley

 

[Bob Smiley]

By the way: some additional information.

The full system restore method I used was Paragon's system restore, in which
I booted from a restore CD and restored from a backup taken about a week ago.
All other aspects of the system appear to be working OK other than vista's
system restore. (Yes, this is a lame attempt at keeing this from being
classified as a PICNIC.)

Also, I found the following entry in the windows application event log:

Log Name: Application
Source: System Restore
Date: 12/16/2007 8:51:07 PM
Event ID: 8193
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: BOB-ASUS
Description:
Failed to create restore point on volume (Process =
C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe /d srrstr.dll,ExecuteScheduledSPPCreation;
Descripton = Scheduled Checkpoint; Hr = 0x80070422).
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="System Restore" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">8193</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-12-17T04:51:07.000Z" />
<EventRecordID>1765</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>BOB-ASUS</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe /d
srrstr.dll,ExecuteScheduledSPPCreation</Data>
<Data>Scheduled Checkpoint</Data>
<Data>0x80070422</Data>

<Binary>2204078002020000D60100000000000032CA19E58CAF4DCB010000000000000000000000</Binary>
</EventData>
</Event>