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dennis - 29 Aug 2005 00:39 GMT

i have a dell 8100 running windows me. the backup utility called system
restore is not working. when i try to restore my computer to an earlier
checkpoint, nothing happens. the process generally took less that 10 minutes
to complete. it does not work in safe mode either. i've gone through
defrags, restarts, etc and nothing works. the programs does not appear to be
frozen just does not restore.

if anyone has this software on the dell, let me know what the problem could
be

tia
djd

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Noel Paton - 29 Aug 2005 00:44 GMT

>i have a dell 8100 running windows me. the backup utility called system
> restore is not working. when i try to restore my computer to an earlier
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> could
> be

It's possible that you haven't installed the System Restore Patch - without
which any current restore points are just space fillers.
To check this, look for the file C:\Windows\System\SMGR.DLL - r-click on the
file, and select Properties.
What's the version number? - if it's v4.90.0.3003 then you have installed
the patch, and we have to look elsewhere for the problem
if it's v4.90.0.2533, then you need to install the patch.

To install the patch, either visit Windows Update, or go here, and download
the patch for offline install
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q290700
Run the installer, and windows should reset System Restore at the same time,
clearing your old restore points (which wouldn't have worked, anyhow), and
creating a single new one.
You should then reset the maximum allocation for SR by going to the
adjustment slider at System Properties | Performance | File System | Hard
Disk - most people find that 200-400MB is quite sufficient for most
purposes, unless installing/uninstalling large applications such as Office.

Signature

Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

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> tia
> djd

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dennis - 29 Aug 2005 01:41 GMT

thanks noel,

the version is 1.90.0.3003

dennis

> >i have a dell 8100 running windows me. the backup utility called system
> > restore is not working. when i try to restore my computer to an earlier
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> > tia
> > djd

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Noel Paton - 29 Aug 2005 08:07 GMT

What's the EXACT error message you get when you attempt a restore operation?
what happens when you try to create a restore point??
Are you using Norton software (a bigger virus than anything it is meant to
deal with!!)??
Are you getting any error messages on booting the system??

check this out.....

Do a Search for the file WININIT.INI - if you find it, then rename it to
WININIT.JNK, and reboot - your problem should be gone.

If you don't find it, then try this - Start|Run - enter SCANREG /FIX into
the dialog box, and click OK - windows will reboot - see if that fixes it.

If not, then open Windows Explorer - check in Folder Properties that you are
able to view Hidden and System files (two settings), then Search on your PC
for files named '_RESTORE' (without the quotes) - you should find the
C:\_RESTORE folder - r-click on it, and select Properties.
How many files/folders are there? If it's around 64 thousand, then
LiveUpdate (or something else) has been up to its tricks again, and you'll
have to completely remove the folder from DOS - use the following method,
which seems to be the easiest at present.

Reboot to DOS using your Startup disk enter the following commands at the
A:\> prompt.

ATTRIB -R -H -S C:\_RESTORE
REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

remove the floppy, and reboot to normal windows. - your error should be
gone, and you should now have a new, single restore point. Go to Windows
Explorer, and delete the C:\OLDREST folder

HTH

Signature

> thanks noel,
>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>> > tia
>> > djd

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dennis - 29 Aug 2005 11:38 GMT

I found the following WININIT extensions: exe, sav, bak, txt, and
wininitlog.txt, but no ini.

I ran scanreg /fix, but I didn't expect that this would delete all my
restore points

There are only 4 objects in _Restore

> What's the EXACT error message you get when you attempt a restore operation?
> what happens when you try to create a restore point??
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> HTH

> > thanks noel,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
> >> > tia
> >> > djd

Reply to this Message

Noel Paton - 29 Aug 2005 12:17 GMT

scanreg /fix would not delete your restore points....

open Windows Explorer, and navigate so that you can see the C:\_Restore
folder
r-clcik on its icon, and select Properties - how many files/folders are
displayed??
how much disk space is used?
How big is your C: drive??

Signature

>I found the following WININIT extensions: exe, sav, bak, txt, and
> wininitlog.txt, but no ini.
[quoted text clipped - 107 lines]
>> >> > tia
>> >> > djd

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dennis - 29 Aug 2005 16:09 GMT

8.06 gb used on disk, 19046 files, 5 folders, C drive is 40 gb with 19 used.

when i go to my system restore, all earlier checkpoints are gone

> scanreg /fix would not delete your restore points....
>
[quoted text clipped - 116 lines]
> >> >> > tia
> >> >> > djd

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Noel Paton - 29 Aug 2005 16:22 GMT

Ah!!
that explains it..... your SR archive has overflowed its set bounds - either
because of the action of some software, or because of error on your part
(not rebooting IMMEDIATELY after a reset of the SR state)....

Boot to DOS, using your Startup Disk (if you don't have one and can't make
one from Start | Add/Remove Programs, then download a diskmaker from
www.bootdisk.com, and create the floppy by running the file)

At the A:\> prompt, type the following commands (followed by [return])

ATTRIB -S -R -H C:\_RESTORE

REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

When the A:\> prompt returns, remove the floppy, and reboot the PC. The
Control Files will be rebuilt, and a Restore point should be created.

Then delete the C:\OLDREST folder, and reboot again.

Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder to about 500MB

Then post back.

Signature

> 8.06 gb used on disk, 19046 files, 5 folders, C drive is 40 gb with 19
> used.
[quoted text clipped - 136 lines]
>> >> >> > tia
>> >> >> > djd

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dennis - 29 Aug 2005 17:46 GMT

i don't have a floppy drive on this machine

> Ah!!
> that explains it..... your SR archive has overflowed its set bounds - either
[quoted text clipped - 160 lines]
> >> >> >> > tia
> >> >> >> > djd

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Noel Paton - 29 Aug 2005 17:51 GMT

There are ways to create boot CD's - or hopefully you will have been
provided with one.
again - www.bootdisk.com has instructions, if not

Signature

>i don't have a floppy drive on this machine
>
[quoted text clipped - 189 lines]
>> >> >> >> > tia
>> >> >> >> > djd

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dennis - 29 Aug 2005 18:04 GMT

I don't see anything regarding boot cd's at bootdisk.com

> There are ways to create boot CD's - or hopefully you will have been
> provided with one.
[quoted text clipped - 168 lines]
> >> >> >> > download
> >> >> >> >> the patch for offline install

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q290700

> >> >> >> >> Run the installer, and windows should reset System Restore at
> >> >> >> >> the
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> >> >> >> >> > tia
> >> >> >> >> > djd

Reply to this Message

Noel Paton - 29 Aug 2005 18:12 GMT

http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

Signature

>I don't see anything regarding boot cd's at bootdisk.com
>
[quoted text clipped - 223 lines]
>> >> >> >> >> > tia
>> >> >> >> >> > djd

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