System restore problem

[Guest]

Every time I have used 'system restore' on my desktop PC it has caused me
great problems which eventually require a 'C' drive format and rebuild of my
data.
I'm running XP Home on a 3.2gh Intel. Each time the result has been the same
- ie I've had a problem with new software and decided to use 'system restore'
to go back to a restore point where upon Windows fails to load with the
message ' WINDOWS CANNOT LOAD AS SYSTEM FILES ARE MISSING or Corrupt'
The system advises running the 'Repair' procedure from the XP installation
disk - which I did but it ran to 70% then reversed back to 50% slowing all
the time and it never completed. I gave up after 2 hours.
I'm not an expert so any advice/help will be much appreciated.
Thank you in anticipation. Eric Woolley

 

[Will Denny]

You could try running the following command from Start>Run before trying the
'Repair' install:

sfc /scannow

That replace any corrupt/missing System files. You may have to have your XP
CD to hand.


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Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Eric,

System Restore does not cause these problem, but is effected by an
underlying problem. You may want to start by checking the hard drive for
errors. Most hard drive manufactures have diagnostic utilities for the
download to perform these testes.

 

[Guest]

Hello Bert many thanks for your reply. It is a new hard drive and I had the
same problem before I changed it - there are no erroe on the drive. Any ideas

 

[Guest]

Hi Will thanks for your prompt reply - to be honest I have no faith in the
restore facility and would be loath to try it again unless I could be sure of
recovering quickly from any disaster that it provoked.
Best Wishes
Eric

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Have you run the 'Repair' install using the info. in Michael Steven's
article:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Bert Kinney]

Seeing that the problem pops up on two different hard drives, installing
software in general and performing a repair install, I would start
looking at a hardware problem. Can you switch out the RAM with known
good RAM?