No Restore Points

[troc]

I was looking at my system restore today and noticed that I have no - I mean NO restore points to revert to if needed. Any ideas why that happens. I thought points were automatically created when software was added and at other times. Any help would be appreciated as I'm still learning how to use this thing.

Thanks

[jason.b.c]

I was looking at my system restore today and noticed that I have no - I mean NO restore points to revert to if needed. Any ideas why that happens. I thought points were automatically created when software was added and at other times. Any help would be appreciated as I'm still learning how to use this thing.

Thanks

What are you using.?? Like Norton Go-Back or something.??

[-pops-]

Assuming you don't have Go-Back, System Restore can sometimes be restored into action by switching it off then on again.

To do this, go to Control Panel -> System. Click on the System Restore tab and tick the box "Turn off System Restore". Shut the computer down then re-boot. Turn system Restore back on.

If this doesn't work, more drastic action is needed. Post back if required.

As you have found, System Restore is not entirely reliable and, as I am often saying, no substitute for a full system backup. Have a look at http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?showtopic=7054&hl= for some advice on backups.

[r4may]

I Never use System Restore, Always make a proper backup before making any changes or installing software.

[troc]

Thanks for the assistance. I tried turning system restore off and then back on again and it still did not work.

Any other ideas? I have never used the feature but I had read about it and looked at it when I first started with this system. I don't have Go Back and am not even sure what it is(like I said, I'm new to this).

Thank you for the link to the thread about proper backup procedures. I had always wondered how to restore your settings exactly as they were in case of a problem. This thread answered a lot of questions. Thanks again.

Pops, you said more drastic action is needed.

Let me know the bad news if you can.

[andsome]

Thanks for the assistance. I tried turning system restore off and then back on again and it still did not work.

Any other ideas? I have never used the feature but I had read about it and looked at it when I first started with this system. I don't have Go Back and am not even sure what it is(like I said, I'm new to this).

Thank you for the link to the thread about proper backup procedures. I had always wondered how to restore your settings exactly as they were in case of a problem. This thread answered a lot of questions. Thanks again.

Pops, you said more drastic action is needed.

Let me know the bad news if you can.

After switching System Restore off, you should restart before switching it back on.

[-pops-]

troc, if you haven't used System Restore and are just wanting to start using it, then can I suggest that you go with the backup option - then you are not missing anything and have a much more reliable method if (when) anything goes wrong.

Numerous times I have heard and had to sort out computers where the System Restore had failed so, from that alone, my view is that you ignore it.

Regarding Go Back, this is an independent program which is similar to System Restore in that it will restore you computer to an earlier time but I have had some very poor experiences with it and it is said to be a resource hog and slow the computer down.

This is how to restore system Restore:

Warning: This will delete ALL existing restore points.

Go to Start - Run and type %Windir%\INF then press enter.

In Windows Explorer go to Tools - Folder Options - View Tab and uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”.

Find the sr.inf file, right click on it and select Install.

Or simply type or paste the following command into the Start - Run box and press enter.

rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\Windows\Inf\sr.inf

If the Files Needed dialog box appears, click Browse and point to the i386 folder on the Windows XP CD or to the i386 folder on the hard drive, if it exists, of for systems updated with the Service Pack 2 CD or Download from Microsoft, browse to the C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder.

From http://bertk.mvps.org/html/reinstaltips.html

If you are not familiar with the inner workings of your computer, you may want to give that a miss and just continue with backing up - which is much better anyway.

[andsome]

I used Go Back for some time on W 98 with no bother, until one day everything fouled up. The uninstall for it ran for about 45 minutes before I got rid of it. NEVER AGAIN.