System Restore Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter dv
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dv

I recently installed a Western Digital external hard drive. For some reason
my computer is storing the system restore files there. And when I try and
do a system restore it tells me it is unable to restore my system. Could it
be that windows is still looking on the C; drive (my main drive) but the
restore files are on the D; drive. This problem didn't start until I
installed the 2nd drive.
 
System Restore files are stored in a folder called, "System Volume
Information." Open Windows Explorer, go to Tools, select folder options, go
to the View tab, be sure "Show hidden files and folders" is selected and
make sure "Hide protected operating system files" is not selected. Then,
make sure System Volume information is listed on the C drive, if you have
more than one drive, it will be on all drives, not just physical hard drives
but all partitions as well as System Restore is turned on for all drives by
default.

If you see System Volume Information on all drives, then the source of the
issue is not what you think.

It's possible the SR file store is corrupted. This can be corrected as
follows, go to Control Panel, open System, go to the System Restore tab,
select, "Turn off System Restore on all drives and click apply and ok.
NOTE: this will wipe out all restore points but if none of the current
restore points are working, they are useless to you anyway.

Reboot the system as directed, return to the System Restore tab as outlined
above, remove the check from "Turn off System Restore on all drives," click
apply and ok and reboot. Then try System Restore again.

If that fails to resolve it, try the following link:
Troubleshooting System Restore in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q302796
 
Open Control Panel, open System, go to the System Restore tab, select the C
drive, click settings and be sure space is allocated for System Restore. If
yes, open Explorer, select the C drive and be sure you have enough free
space. If you have too little free space there may not be enough room on
the C drive.

If you have enough free space, return to the System Restore tab, select
"Turn off System Restore on all drives," click apply and ok and reboot. Now
return to the System Restore tab, remove the check and reboot. This will
delete all current restore points but should reset the system so all drives
are protected and should certainly get the C drive protected again. Once
you've completed this operation, you might want to create a manual restore
point and then restore to it to be sure it is now functioning properly.
 
Meant to tell you even though d: drive lists "system volume information" the
folder is empty.
 
First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

If this is a relatively recent issue, you might try using System Restore to
take you back to a time when this worked properly. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't resolve
it, try the information below.

The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.
 
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