Windows XP restore fails

[å]

I've got an XP system containing many restore points. Over the years I
have needed to do a System Restore and it always worked as expected.
However recently when I tried to do a restore it went through the
motions but, after the reboot, it said it was unable to do the restore
and the system was left unchanged. I tried different restore points
but they all failed.

I repeated the restore attempt by booting in Safe Mode and starting
the restore again, but with the same result.

I then assumed my restore points were corrupted, so I turned off
System Restore on all drives and rebooted. After reboot this cleared
all my restore points. I then re-enabled System Restore on all drives
and created a restore ;point. After a short while I then tested System
Restore to check it was working and all worked fine.

Now several weeks later I want to do a System Restore again and I am
back to it failing.

Is there some solution.to get System Restore working?

 

[Paul]

I've got an XP system containing many restore points. Over the years I
have needed to do a System Restore and it always worked as expected.
However recently when I tried to do a restore it went through the
motions but, after the reboot, it said it was unable to do the restore
and the system was left unchanged. I tried different restore points
but they all failed.

I repeated the restore attempt by booting in Safe Mode and starting
the restore again, but with the same result.

I then assumed my restore points were corrupted, so I turned off
System Restore on all drives and rebooted. After reboot this cleared
all my restore points. I then re-enabled System Restore on all drives
and created a restore ;point. After a short while I then tested System
Restore to check it was working and all worked fine.

Now several weeks later I want to do a System Restore again and I am
back to it failing.

Is there some solution.to get System Restore working?

See the bottom of this page. What to look for in "Event Viewer".

http://www.stevebunting.org/udpd4n6/forensics/restorepoints.htm

What is your malware status ? Did you have an infection
at some point ? Has the system been damaged ?

It could be, that the restore point itself is healthy, but
the file system it is being restored to is damaged in some
way.

Paul

 

[Stef]

I've got an XP system containing many restore points. Over the years I
have needed to do a System Restore and it always worked as expected.
However recently when I tried to do a restore it went through the
motions but, after the reboot, it said it was unable to do the restore
and the system was left unchanged. I tried different restore points
but they all failed.

I repeated the restore attempt by booting in Safe Mode and starting
the restore again, but with the same result.

I then assumed my restore points were corrupted, so I turned off
System Restore on all drives and rebooted. After reboot this cleared
all my restore points. I then re-enabled System Restore on all drives
and created a restore ;point. After a short while I then tested System
Restore to check it was working and all worked fine.

Now several weeks later I want to do a System Restore again and I am
back to it failing.

Is there some solution.to get System Restore working?

If you're running a virus checker or other "Securityware" try turning it
(them) off before doing the restore.

Stef

 

[BillW50]

In Paul typed:

See the bottom of this page. What to look for in "Event Viewer".

http://www.stevebunting.org/udpd4n6/forensics/restorepoints.htm

What is your malware status ? Did you have an infection
at some point ? Has the system been damaged ?

It could be, that the restore point itself is healthy, but
the file system it is being restored to is damaged in some
way.

If SP3 was recently installed, it has been known to wipeout all of your
restores.

 

[å]

If you're running a virus checker or other "Securityware" try turning it
(them) off before doing the restore.

I'm experiencing the restore problem on two separate PCs. One is
running XP Home and the other XP Media Center. I do run various
anti-virus and anti malware products on both systems. They are not
reporting any problems on either PC.

Since I have tried running the restore operation from Safe Mode(on
both PCs) is it not correct that the various security-related
products will not be turned on during my restore attempt?

 

[å]

If SP3 was recently installed, it has been known to wipeout all of your
restores.

SP3 was installed on both my affected PCs many years ago.

 

[Paul]

I'm experiencing the restore problem on two separate PCs. One is
running XP Home and the other XP Media Center. I do run various
anti-virus and anti malware products on both systems. They are not
reporting any problems on either PC.

Since I have tried running the restore operation from Safe Mode(on
both PCs) is it not correct that the various security-related
products will not be turned on during my restore attempt?

You can work through the list here.

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

Paul

 

[Stef]

I'm experiencing the restore problem on two separate PCs. One is
running XP Home and the other XP Media Center. I do run various
anti-virus and anti malware products on both systems. They are not
reporting any problems on either PC.

With some securityware, the problem preventing the restore is the
securityware itself. I've had this occur several times on client's
systems with no problems. Try it. The worse that can happen is it
won't work, then you'll know the problem lies elsewhere.

Since I have tried running the restore operation from Safe Mode(on
both PCs) is it not correct that the various security-related
products will not be turned on during my restore attempt?

Suppose to be. But that doesn't mean the virus checker or part of it is
not running. Check to be sure.

FWIW: Have you done a malware scan using the free versions of
AntiMalware and SuperAntispyware? Your system could be infected with a
trojan that's preventing the restore.

Stef