XP restore

[Broadback]

I was going to post this on the Backup thread, but I did not want to disturb the family tree musings
Several times recently I have tried to use restore, the last time today when I messed up a SeaMonkey update. The last time I tried 4 different restore point, all seemed to work the after the reload it tells me that it is unable to restore try another restore point.
As I have plenty of back ups it is not a serious problem., though a restore would have been quicker. Any suggestions as to the problem please?

[Rik]

It sounds like System Restore is being it's often cranky self. Has anything else changed which could explain it, eg have you removed any software?

[Broadback]

All the time Rik, but I thought it automatically made a restore point then.

[Rik]

Not necessarily. I always put in manual points before adding or removing, Windows seems to use a random system.

[Baz]

can you change restore point to do more or less points itself aswell as doing your own.

[Simon]

You can change the space allocated to restore points, but I think that only affects how far back they go.

[BrianM]

 A couple of months ago I loaded a programme onto my pc, but a couple of days later tried to use system restore but it would only allow me to restore for the previous two weeks.Tried 3 or 4 restore points  which went through the motions then after each reload got the message 'unable to restore try another restore point'.   Finally I opened system restore, clicked on 'system restore settings' put a tick in 'turn off system restore'  'ok' and rebooted PC and everything is now ok. It might not work for BB but just thought i'd tell of my experience.  Can't just think what the programme was I loaded.

[merlin]

if you turn off system restore, then reboot it deletes all the restore points,
if you have a problem in one of the restore points stored, if say it was a virus (as example) when you run a complete computer virus scan, the virus will not be detected, as the scan cannot get into the restore system.
trying to restore with a problem in any restore point ,will prevent the restore.

also i did read somewhere but can't remember where that failing to restore is an idiosycrasy of xp on occasions which ms could not resolve

[BrianM]

if you turn off system restore, then reboot it deletes all the restore points,
if you have a problem in one of the restore points stored, if say it was a virus (as example) when you run a complete computer virus scan, the virus will not be detected, as the scan cannot get into the restore system.
trying to restore with a problem in any restore point ,will prevent the restore.

Yes you're right Merlin. Forgot to mention to re-activate SR on reboot. I did have a problem in that it wouldn't restore to any of the points, I do know though it wasn't a virus or trojan etc. as SR is back to normal. Could be one of those idiosyncrosies Merlin as you say.

[Noreen]

System Restore has saved my bacon several times and never let me down although I've heard different reports from other people.

[Lance]

I don't think I've ever actually used it myself

[Rik]

I've had reasonable results from it, Lance, but I always have an Acronis backup beside me, just in case.

[Broadback]

OK folk, I will try the turn off and on idea. I have not tried every restore point, but the 4 or 5 I did try all failed the same way.  Restore is not essential for me as I have backups with Acronis, it was simply that I thought it would be the quickest option! It's not often I'm right, but I was wrong again!

[merlin]

i'm reasonably sure that if one restore point will not work,then none of them will work.and may actually be the reason for the fault which caused you to need to use restore in the first place.
this is because the problem is actually in the restore system itself.

turning off restore, and rebooting, eliminates that problem .and so it boots ok.

not sure if it resorts to "last known good" or boots from what it has in start up configuration, but yes by eliminating restore it usually boots ok.

i found long ago that many of my problems were caused by system restore, so i keep it permanently turned off, and rely on my spare hdd and acronis, but since turning off restore ,i,ve never had a problem (several years ?)   

[drummer]

Try booting into Safe mode, select a restore point and reboot normally.  Often works if a restore fails when selected in normal mode.

[Rik]

Useful tip, thanks, Drummer.