turn sys restore off reboot pc and turn back on...you'll lose previous restore points but it should work ok

 

 

What Internet Security/AntiVirus package are you running? Some of them (including Norton) have an option to protect their own files - ie. nothing can overwrite or modify the Norton files except Norton itself. This, or something similar, MAY be causing System Restore to fail. System Restore tries to overwrite Norton files but Norton won't allow this. If this is the case, disable your Internet Security/AV program before you attempt a System Restore. Of course, re-enable it after the restore.

Yes I have Norton, and it has that option. 

 

I vaguely remember doing a system restore when I had only free AV and spyware programs, and I got the same result from SR.  But I could be mistaken about this.

 

I'll make a note on that and try it next time.

I had that problem until I rebooted in the "safe mode". System Restore then worked fine. If you go back a long way you may have problems with things you have added since that restore point was created.

How do you get the menu to reboot into Safe Mode?  Keep tapping F8 before Windows boots?  I want to have your possible solution in my notes too.

To get to the safe mode, reboot and hold the F8 key down (no need to tap) until you see the selection menu. Select the Safe Mode using the cursor arrow key and enter. Wait............ Logon. You should now be in the Safe Mode. Click the start button in the lower left. On the search line type "system restore", Click on System Restore at the top of the page. Sorry if I'm telling you things you already know.

I also have this problem. I haven't had a successful system restore yet.

 

Dell Dimension E521

Windows Vista Home Premium

Have you tried the procedure that I outlined?

I'm sorry for your bad experience but System Restore made things better for me. It did exactly what I wanted it to do. I can see what you mean if you used a restore point from several weeks ago and have added several programs or updates since then. System Restore works best if you want to use a very recent (like a day or two ago) restore point.

 

After I did a System Restore from 5 days before, I had to re-update Norton Anti-virus and Nokia PC Suite that I had downloaded after the restore point. No problem.

I agree completely Big_Bird. Vista's System Restore works MUCH better and is much more powerful than System Restore in XP. It's worked great for me on several occasions.

It's a blessing, especially when we do something foolish and the results creates havoc on our machines. I've used system restore on many occasions with expected results. Whew!

 

Roger1955

---------------------------

XPS 410 Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe @ 2.4 ghz
3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 533 mhz / Evga Geforce 7600GT
2x250 GB WD Sata II HDD'S 7200 rpm(Raid 1 Array)
19 in E197FPB Flat Panel Display
13 and 1 media card reader
Sony CRX 3105S 48xCombo CD-RW/DVD Sata
TSST Corp TS-H553A 16xDVD+-RW/DL Sata
IEEE 1394 PCI Express Firewire Port
AVG Anti-Virus, AVG Anti-Spyware, Comodo Pro Firewall, Comodo BoClean, Super Anti-Spyware, Window Defender

I just tried it in safe mode using the most recent restore point a day or two ago.  It didn't work.  It said nothing was changed, and "an unspecified error occured during system restore."

You must have something pretty corrupt in windows for it not to work on a recent restore point. You might try creating a manual system restore point and then using it to do a system restore. If that doesn't work then you may really have something wrong with your software. Maybe you have a corrupted system registry.

Hmmm, that's bad-sounding news.  I don't have any other ongoing problems with my computer.  The last time I needed SR I ended up doing a restore from my external hard drive using my backup software, which works fine, but I have to leave it overnight because it takes a few hours.