My System Restore will not work.?

Question

No matter what restore point I try it tells me that my computer could not be restored to that point. Please help.

Answer 1

Please check these out before you give up on it. If these fail, send me a message and I will send you links to Windows Repair.

Windows Restore

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx

The System Restore feature is built into Windows XP and is used to return your computer to an earlier state if you have a system failure or other major problem with your computer. The point of System Restore is to restore your system to a workable state without you having to reinstall the operating system and lose your data files in the process.
System Restore takes snapshots of your computer system and saves them as restore points. These restore points mark configuration places to return to, in the event of a problem with your computer that might occur after you install an unstable device driver or an older application. Because the snapshots are taken automatically and are restored through the System Restore Wizard, System Restore is both effective and user-friendly.
In this column, you'll learn how to use the System Restore Wizard to recover from a system failure. You'll also learn how to create restore points manually, how to use Scheduled Tasks, and how to troubleshoot System Restore if it doesn't work the way you expect it to.
How System Restore Works
System Restore automatically tracks changes to your computer and creates restore points before major changes are to occur. To create a restore point, System Restore takes a full snapshot of the registry and some dynamic system files. For a list of what file types are monitored and restored, see the MSDN article, http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997627.aspx
For example, restore points are created before new device drivers, automatic updates, unsigned drivers, and some applications are installed. These healthy system checkpoints are created without prompting or intervention from the user the first time the computer is started after Windows XP is installed and, by default, on a daily basis after that. You can also manually create restore points.
When you use System Restore, you can revert to a saved state without losing personal data including Word documents, e-mail settings and messages, and your Internet favorites list. System Restore won't lose any data you have stored in the My Documents, My Pictures, or My Music folders either.
More information at source link.

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Microsoft Office System Restore
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997627.aspx
Excellent site – fully explains system restore.
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Answer 2

System Restore only creates restore points when you install some new software so that it can restore back to point before you installed the software.

It looks like you will have to sort your problem out another way.

Answer 3

That's most likely because you have not set the amount of space to be used for a restore point.

Answer 4

*lights cigarette* System restore isn't really time travel because all you're doing is reversing actions that have been done before - time travel would be easy if there was something recording us, but there is nothing that we know of. So the closest we can get to time travel is the 13:00->12:00 Heathrow Airport to LAX. BQ: If you have uni tomorrow, a nice 9 hour kip would sure be of benefit, but it's up to you.

Answer 5

Have you alloted enough space for your system restore to save each point ready to restore for you .~~

Answer 6

System Restore is a common target of malware.
If your PC is acting strangely, it's probably infected. Use the link below to learn more about "malware".

Then, you need to install: ONE Anti-virus (AVG free), ONE Firewall (Zone Alarm free), and Anti-spyware tools like: Windows Defender, Spybot, Ad-Aware, Spyware Blaster and cCleaner (free, use all 5 regularly).

Google for them, install them and learn how to use them.

TIP: Last resort, back up (copy to CD / DVD / external hard drive) all personal data and do a Windows "Clean Install". The apps above can only clean up so much.