Vista - "System Restore" NEVER "Restores"

Well, I've been having this problem for quite a while now, although I never really the true extent of it until just now, but I get the following message from Windows ANY TIME I try to make use of System Restore and would like to know what might be causing it and how to address it.

===========================================
System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer's system files and settings were not changed.

Details:
An unspecified error occurred during System Restore.

You might want to try System Restore again and choose a different restore point.
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Frankly I'm sick to death of it --I don't think it's ever worked one time on this machine now that I think about it, or if it did, it was quite some time ago. But this has been an issue for me in months past, and I never tried to address it until now. Where to start and what can I do to get it to function properly? And please note that I have tried using other earlier restore points, but it always comes back with the very same message you see above.

Thanks in avance.

Hello ccantare,
Have you tried to run it in safe mode ?. Give it a go and post your results. Good luck.

Hi,

You might first try turning it of completely.

Then turn it back on , create a restore pt. , and see if it works.

Otherwise, you could try :

http://www.vistax64.com/software-too...heck-tool.html

and :

Repair Install For Vista


Hope it helps

Also take a read through this, it may help. post your results, thank's.

System Restore Problem

One problem with restore is that so many Malware programs can turn it off or interfere with it. To circumvent this,I suggest you try using an Imaging program to create an image of your C drive. I use Acronis, IMHO,one of the best. Hope this is some help.

Now this caused something interesting to happen.

When I restarted the machine in Safe Mode and ran System Restore, the only option I was given was to Undo my last restore point (after I had shut off System Restore earlier, did a cold boot, and then created a new restore point, it gave me the same Error Message when I tried to restore it to that point). So Safe Mode was now telling me that I could only Undo a Restore point that it previously said was not implemented because of an unspecified error. I Undid the previous restoration that I was initially told wasn't implemented (I think --maybe I closed the Error Message Window too quickly in disgust after that prior restoration, but it looked to me like exactly the same message once I started reading it), and when the machine restarted following the Safe Mode Restoration, Norton 360 popped up telling me that I had an Error, that my Security protocols weren't in place, and that I had to download a Fix-it Tool.

Could Norton be the reason System Restore is not working properly on this machine? That's the thought that originally crossed my mind to tell you the truth, BUT, you would think that there would be safeguards in place that would take the Security Firewall into account.

Oh, and get this --once Norton was knocked out, the Windows message behind it indicated that the Safe Mode System Restore (meaning the Undo) "completed successfully" following that reboot.

Okay, I did that --shut it off, did a cold boot, then activated System Restore and tried restoring it to the point I had just created --same damn Error Message exactly popped up once it was done.

I don't think it's ever worked on this machine to be honest. As I said in my first post, I don't think there's been one time that I've ever been able to resort to it and rely on it.

I can't open the first Link --apparently my privileges aren't highly rated enough here currently.

I already have a built in Factory Image drive installed on this machine, but if I ever have to go that route and have to resort to actually using it, I take it I'll lose everything else on my drive.

But thanks for the Tip about the Malware --that doesn't surprise me one darn bit. However, it always worked great for me back when I used XP.

Here it is :

SFCTool.exe

Click "Start System Repair" at bottom left of SFCTool window.


Your factory image will take you back to factory state. Far from ideal.

In future, you might prefer to make your own images every now and again - that will take you back to the exact state at the time you made the image.

Make one every so often so it's reasonably up to date and it's no big deal to restore back to that.

It's quick and it's free - it's the best thing you can possibly do.

The free version of this is excellent:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Thanks for the Tips --I'll check that out as well.