Vista - System Restore problem

In a topic I raised on the Update forum, it was suggested that I always set a System Restore Point, but this would be no use to me (if I could do it even) because I cannot run System Restore on my system. The application simply doesn't launch, though something seems to be happening in the background. I cannot use Safe Mode to do it either as pressing F8 repeatedly on boot has no effect.
I have Vista Home Premium SP1.
I am the only user on this computer and use the default account (I think - I've never set up any specific accounts and only my name and Public are listed).
Can anyone advise why System Restore doesn't work? I've read that the window should open immediately.

If you really can't run system in Safe Mode it is due to probably some viruses,rootkits for example very popular rootkit Bagle which remove SafeBoot key which is responsible for Safe Mode

Question:
Do you have this key?

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot

with subkeys Minimal and Network and deeply subkeys?

Yes, got those.
I have Kaspersky AV updating automatically so doubt any viruses have crept in.

Hello foxyxat...


have you checked your System Properties to see if System Restore is enabled?

Anyway, it seems you can't even trigger the menu selection at startup, not that you can't just enter safemode...

I don't know if a rootkit could be related with that, as flavius said, but in worst case you can't even get a startup menu, why don't we just force it to appear?

You could try this:
(It's a silly solution, but you will get your menu)

Download and install EasyBCD (Scroll to the bottom of the linked page for download link)

Run EasyBCD, and where it says "Add/Remove Entries", go to the field "Add entry" and select e.g. Mac, Type=Generic X86 PC and press "add entry", then press the save button on top. Exit EasyBCD.

Restart your computer. You will get a menu to select which operating system to start, You will get 2 options:

1.Windows Vista
2.NTS Mac OS X

Select Windows vista with the arrow keys (besides, nts mac os x does not work, we just put it there to force the menu to appear, you can remove this entry from EasyBCD later), and then press F8. This will bring you the safemode selections menu. Select safe mode and press Enter. You will get into safemode where you can try your thing.

As for not being able to press F8 at startup , this might be happening for the following reason:

• You are using a usb keyboard, and your BIOS is not set to support Legacy USB and/or USB Keyboard, letting you unable to use your keyboard until you enter Windows. You will have to enter bios (Press F1/F2/F10/DEL key at startup, depending on the manufacturer ) and change this setting under USB menu.

If this is the case, my suggestion for forcing menus manually won't work either cause you won't have a keyboard there too. You will need to enter bios to enable USB KEYBOARD support or use a PS/2 keyboard.

I don't know where to check System Properties to see if System Restore is enabled, but I think it is as I get messages telling me that restore points are being created when I install software and updates.

Thanks for your suggestion, but I really don't want to install anything else right now.

I have a USB keyboard connected using a PS/2 adaptor.

I'm sure I have accessed the start up menu using F8 on this keyboard before. I know it didn't work with the wireless keyboard that came with the PC.

It's not about the keyboard, it's about the BIOS settings. Try using it without the adaptor then, and see if you can press F8. btw, if you follow the isntructions, EasyBCD is harmless and, after you're done, you can get rid of it. That's because, my suggestion above will bring up the Safe Mode menu no matter what.

To check if Automatic System Restore is running, go to Start -> right click "MY COMPUTER" , select Properties. Then on the left Pane, select "System Protection".

Now check the list to see if you have a checkbox ticked next to your hard drive. If so, you have Automatic System Restore enabled. If not, it's disabled.

Because you have these keys this trouble don't cause by viruses only as said @limenos:
@foxycat
Exaclty it concern about USB Legacy Support - find this option in your BIOS and turn it.

Yes, I have it. Last restore point 22:00 last night (I guess that was an automatic one).

Ok then, all it's left is to try in safe mode. Enter BIOS and enable USB KEYBOARD support, then F8 will work and you won't need to install anything else, like EasyBCD