"System Restore" NEVER "Restores"

ccantare · Jun 24, 2009

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.
===========================================

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.

stoneys-nutz · Jun 24, 2009

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

SIW2 · Jun 24, 2009

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/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

and :

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Hope it helps

stoneys-nutz · Jun 24, 2009

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

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/163407-system-restore-problem.html

tasaholic · Jun 24, 2009

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.

ccantare · Jun 24, 2009

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

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.

ccantare · Jun 24, 2009

SIW2 said:
Hi,
You might first try turning it of completely.
Then turn it back on , create a restore pt. , and see if it works.

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.

SIW2 said:
Otherwise, you could try :
http://www.vistax64.com/software-tools/183170-system-file-check-tool.html

and :
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html
Hope it helps

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

ccantare · Jun 24, 2009

tasaholic said:
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.

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.

SIW2 · Jun 24, 2009

Here it is :

View attachment 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

ccantare · Jun 25, 2009

SIW2 said:
Here it is :
View attachment 13761

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.

ccantare · Jun 25, 2009

stoneys-nutz said:
Also take a read through this, it may help. post your results, thank's.

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/163407-system-restore-problem.html

Yep --missed your message earlier, but Uh huh ...the culprit becomes clearer and clearer.

Thanks much!

Bare Foot Kid · Jun 25, 2009

Hello ccantare.

I don't know if this will play into your situation but, system restore points are only viable for "rather" short periods of time; have a thorough look at this entire article, at the link below.

A restore point reaches an age of 90 days. The restore point is then deleted because 90 days is the default time to live.

System Restore "restore points" are missing or deleted

Later :shock:

Ted

stoneys-nutz · Jun 25, 2009

Run msconfig, go to startup tab and disable all and any norton bits, reboot and try to set a restore point, it sounds like this "could" be the culprit, (setting everything back to the factory settings seems a bit drastic, although it could well come to that), that will eliminate norton one way or the other.

Graham Musician · Jun 25, 2009

ccantare said:
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.
===========================================

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.

Try System Restore in SAFE Mode (keep pressing F8 on Booting the pc). Then choose Start in Safe Mode. I found this to work

stoneys-nutz · Jun 25, 2009

Hello Graham Musician,
Read post two, but dont worry, everybody doe's it, just check some of mine.

ccantare · Jun 25, 2009

Bare Foot Kid said:
Hello ccantare.
I don't know if this will play into your situation but, system restore points are only viable for "rather" short periods of time; have a thorough look at this entire article, at the link below.

A restore point reaches an age of 90 days. The restore point is then deleted because 90 days is the default time to live.

Click to expand...

System Restore "restore points" are missing or deleted
Later Ted

I've only used the most recent, or very recent Restore points, so that wasn't the issue here, but thanks.

ccantare · Jun 25, 2009

stoneys-nutz said:
Run msconfig, go to startup tab and disable all and any norton bits, reboot and try to set a restore point, it sounds like this "could" be the culprit, (setting everything back to the factory settings seems a bit drastic, although it could well come to that), that will eliminate norton one way or the other.

What about simply disabling Norton any time I want or need to run System Restore?

ccantare · Jun 25, 2009

Graham Musician said:
ccantare said:

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.
===========================================

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.

Click to expand...

Try System Restore in SAFE Mode (keep pressing F8 on Booting the pc). Then choose Start in Safe Mode. I found this to work

Yeah, I posted a message about this already, and it's looking as though my Security App is the culprit. I ran System Restore in Safe Mode, and my Firewall crapped out once it was done, but it ran successfully (even though it was an "Undo" System Restore.)

Thanks.

stoneys-nutz · Jun 25, 2009

Well we got there in the end. Good job. :party:

SIW2 · Jun 25, 2009

You might want to look for an alternative to Norton .

Plenty of decent ones around - free too.

"System Restore" NEVER "Restores"

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