Why does Vista delete all Restore Points

R

Randem

A customer has been hit with the "Startup Repair" loop issue. The Startup
Repair cannot repair the problem and shuts dow the computer, no restore
points are available and "Last known good configuration" are useless. The
computer needed to be recovered from the recovery partition. OK, fine...

After recovery and purposely setting several restore points manually I
thought I was finished with all updates and such so I set my final restore
point. I uninstalled an application that was not needed any more and on the
next reboot I got a BSOD. Startup Repair was the option so it ran thru its
paces and gave the message that it could not repair the issue and so I
attempted to do a system restore to the last restore point I created before
this happened. Vista reported again that I had no restore points (I know I
manually create 5 of them). So this time "Last Known Configuration" did
work. I went to chech the restore points and sure enough ther were none.

Why did Vista delete my restore points???

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938
 
R

Randem

The blue screen was from the software that was uninstalled.

Now, that's funny. The service pack deletes all the restore points so that
you can't recover from the corruption of the service pack...LOL

That is a very good design that has people reinstalling after automatically
installing SP1 which fails leaving no restore points...

BTW: They all were deleted and SP1 was the last thing I installed...

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938
 
B

botox

I have no answer but have had the same experience: system restore points are
often non-existent when you most need them.
It is clear that a wide range of common conditions will destroy system
restore points.
Microsoft deliberately destroys Vista System Restore points if you dual boot
Vista and XP for no good technical reason but simply to discourage use of XP
once Vista is installed.
The fragility of System Restore points, the difficulty for users to manually
store them wherever they choose, is an example of the Microsoft's hostile
attitude toward individual users.
The only reason Macs are less subject to these problems is that there are
only about three shrink wrapped programs from two vendors you can install
on a Mac anyway.
Sadly, even if you image your hard drive, the image will often not restore
properly when you need it most.
 
J

JohnJ

Randem said:
The blue screen was from the software that was uninstalled.

Now, that's funny. The service pack deletes all the restore points so that
you can't recover from the corruption of the service pack...LOL

That is a very good design that has people reinstalling after
automatically installing SP1 which fails leaving no restore points...

BTW: They all were deleted and SP1 was the last thing I installed...

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938
Click to expand...

I don't think the SP2 upgrade deletes Restore Points because it makes one of
its own prior to install. Unless its an aberration in the installation.

I had a fairly similar experience a month or 2 back when Vista (Home Prem)
wouldn't boot, wouldn't recognize any restore points when working through
the normal Restore Options, that like you, I knew were there. After sweaty
chills working for an hour or two trying anything and everything (I didn't
have Acronis then), I resigned myself to use the restore disc to return to
factory settings. Upon booting from that CD I saw the option to fix/restore
the system (I forget the exact terminology), and just as a last resort
thought I'd try it before launching into the return to factory condition.
Low and behold it showed me all the restore points! So I selected a last
good restore section and it worked just fine, and I got my system back, as
if nothing had ever happened!

I don't know why none of the restore points were visible under the boot menu
Restore System options before using the Restore CDs I made. Go figure!

John
 
R

Raymond Shaw

JohnJ said:
I don't think the SP2 upgrade deletes Restore Points because it makes one of
its own prior to install. Unless its an aberration in the installation.
Click to expand...

You "don't think" wrong. It deletes all old points and then creates
its own.
 
M

Manny Weisbord

botox said:
Microsoft deliberately destroys Vista System Restore points if you dual boot
Vista and XP for no good technical reason but simply to discourage use of XP
once Vista is installed.
Click to expand...

I think "deliberately" is definitely arguable.

Besides, there is a known workaround for that.

Google a little, you'll find it.
 
R

RalfG

Manny Weisbord said:
I think "deliberately" is definitely arguable.

Besides, there is a known workaround for that.

Google a little, you'll find it.
Click to expand...

Second that. This SR issue is just a side effect of how XP system restore
works. Vista and Windows 7 happily ignore each others and XP's system
restore points. A minor registry edit in XP solves the problem of it
deleting other OS restore points.
 
R

Rick Rogers

The blue screen was from the software that was uninstalled.

Not possible unless the removal was incomplete or interrupted, ie:
incomplete removal of a service or dependency. Otherwise, something that no
longer exists on a system cannot possibly cause a crash.
Now, that's funny. The service pack deletes all the restore points so that
you can't recover from the corruption of the service pack...LOL
Click to expand...

You didn't fully read what I wrote. It deletes all but the most recent one
(which setup of the service pack actually creates prior to installing). It
does this because you cannot do a system restore to a point prior to its
installation as system file changes have taken place. If you were to try to
(and we did during the beta), you would wind up with an unusuable system.
The point it does create is used solely to restore the system to the
preinstall state should setup fail or the service pack be uninstalled
shortly after installing it. A service pack installation does not corrupt a
system. It may bring to light corruption that already exists, or fail due to
the presence of malware, incompatible software, or forced unsigned drivers.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
M

Manny Weisbord

Randem said:
Quote "I think "deliberately" is definitely arguable."

Then you think the restore points are deleted accidentally??? And it wasn't
a dual boot system and the work-a-round it to re-install...
Click to expand...

You call yourself a computer "expert", huh?

I say it wasn't by design, thus it doesn't happen "deliberately".

If you were the "expert" your sig claims, you would have known about
that, and would know the workaround.
 
R

Randem

A service pack does not corrupt the system???? HA!!! Even Microsoft states
this is the case. A service pack is an update correct

Ref: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

It happens and it happens a lot. You are mis-informed or just being a spin
doctor. And besides ALL the restore points were gone even on a recovery
installation.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938
 

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