System Restore does not save the restore points

Question

Hi,   I have recently noticed from a few days that my XP Pro is not making any restore points automatically in the normal way it should. There are no restore points at all. Also if I create a restore points manually, the restore point just stays for that particular day. The next day if I check for that particular restore point which I created manually, it is no longer there!!. I don't know how it is getting deleted. I have been checking for a couple of days but with no success. I checked all the system settings for system restore and everything is perfect. Also my system is clean from any spywares or viruses. This is becoming a real mystery to me. Can anyone of you provide assisstance fixing the problem?

VCraig · Answer

Have you checked to make sure you have enough disk space allocated for restore points - go to System Properties, Restore tab, then set the HD space slider to max. This may help, too:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/sr/sr/systemrestoreconfig.asp

Message Edited by VCraig on 03-15-2005 03:26 PM

gkraju747 · Answer

Craig, How much of disk space should be allocated for restore points on each drive?.

chimney · Answer

Howdy Craig,

fellow SR frustrated user! (Sr = System Restore).

gkraju747 gave you a hotlink that will probably get you there, though may not be as easy to understand as what I will post below- you decide.

I'd like to add my own 'tweak' that is written in layman's English for easy understanding. It is derived from a post in Microsoft Newsgroup's by MS-MVP ~Bert Kinney. After my translated version is the link to his site for full SR issues- in greater depth.

My way is as follows:

First read through it completely- THEN perform the outlined tasks as per your individual situation.

Do this: Close ALL programs prior to performing this procedure. Creating a manual Restore Point to confirm SR will function:

Go to Start , run, type in the box: msconfig click on “launch system restore”. Select ‘Create a restore point’ and click Next. Name it TEST then press Create. Now click Home and select ‘Restore my computer to an earlier time’ and click Next. Look for the RestorePointTEST.

If this works you have successfully created a restore point. Now try restoring to this test restore point. If you cannot restore to the test restore point try restoring to any restore point just prior to your test restore point. {Recognize that if this works you will have turned your pc back to that particular moment in time}. (Data files will NOT* be affected by this procedure). *Unless you are harboring a worm, Trojan, hacker, cracker, or other malicious code somewhere deep inside your pc- then you’re scre*ed, blued, tattooed!! And there is no hope… Just kidding!!
- If it does NOT work do the following: If earlier restore points, (prior to your test point) are NOT able to be accessed this would indicate a corrupted restore point some where in the SR chain and the System Restore Store should be purged. (See next section below).
- If this restore point was successful and previous restore points are also, then you are good to go! You can stop here.
- In the case that your SR needs to be purged do the following:
How to purge the System Restore Points.
- To Turn off System Restore follow these steps:
  - Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  - Click the System Restore tab.
  - Put a check next to Turn off System Restore. If it gives you the option turn it off on ALL drives, then click apply, then OK.
  - Click Yes when you receive the prompt to the turn off System Restore.
  - Shut down and reboot the system.
- Turn System Restore back on following these steps:
  - Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  - Click the System Restore tab.
  - Clear the Turn off System Restore check box- and (if present the turn off System Restore on all drives check box), then click OK.

It is not necessary to have System Restore monitor Partitions/drives that do NOT contain Windows or it’s installed applications. System Restore does not monitor data files. Monitored File Extensions.

- - Test System Restore by creating a NEW “test” restore point and restoring back to it. At this point your SR should be ready to go forward.
  - Disk Cleanup can also be used to remove all but the latest restore points.
If all else fails perform a Repair Install.
- Tip: It is also a good idea to check free disk space before and after creating a restore point in testing to see how much disk space each restore point takes up. If a very large file was created for some reason, that System restore monitors, this would limit the number of restore points that the store would hold.
- This is the end of the short version…..
- If you need MORE detail go to:
- http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/index.html then to the section on the left column marked: system restore fails.
- Let me know how this works for you.

Chimney

Message Edited by chimney on 03-15-2005 07:59 PM

Usurperr · Answer

Do you have an external hard drive attached to the system. IF so detach it and try now. I saw a similar issue with an external hard rive once.

maxd · Answer

If you know your system is clean of viruses and malware I suggest after you disable SR and reboot go to the Windows folder and reload SR by right-clicking the file sr.inf and selecting the 'Install' option. You'll need the i386 folder on your Hard disk or your XP cd to copy the files. Now re-enable SR. You may not need to do this reinstall but if it's not working properly by just clearing the restore points this step may be the fix.

chimney · Answer

Hello, my earlier post shows how to 'purge' SR without having to go to the trouble of a reinstall. And it works flawlessly. Why bother reinstalling when one can tweak instead? Less potential problems too, if there is something on one's PC that they are not aware of that could mess up a reinstall.

Just my opinion from my own personal experience.

Chimney

VCraig · Answer

maxd:   Wasn't aware this could be done without a reinstall of XP. I'm adding this to my 'may need to do this' file. Thank you!

gkraju747 · Answer

Hi VCraig,

Thanks. Your suggestion has resolved the problem for me. I have checked free space left on all my drives and noticed that one drive had very low free space. Once I fixed that, now my computer is able to create restore points like it should. Thank you.

Raj.

Windows General

System Restore does not save the restore points

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