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System Restore Not Working

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6K views 84 replies 9 participants last post by  DR.M 
#1 ·
System restore was working a month ago. I'm aware it should not be used as my only backup. I did a system restore point about a month and a half ago prior to loading tax software, then more recently prior to uninstalling Acronis, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware, without issue. Tonight I wanted to make a restore point prior to downloading another app and I ran into the following issues:
-selected "create a restore point", named it and it kept creating a restore point for a long time, 30+ minutes, always around 5 or 6 minutes for this machine, max, had to use Task Manager to stop it, end task
-found the config set to MAX...987GB
-sometimes I would get "searching for available drives", would never stop
-I checked to see what restore points were there, and the system said there were no available restore points

System Restore is turned on

I did a full scan with Windows Security/Defender, 1.2 hour, no threats found

I'm set up to install updates automatically.....any issues with the latest?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.9
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 10 Home, 64 bit, Build 19043, Installed 20200801104039.000000-300
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3340 CPU @ 3.10GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9, CPU Count: 4
Total Physical RAM: 8 GB
Graphics Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics
Hard Drives: C: 929 GB (734 GB Free);
Motherboard: Dell Inc. 084J0R, ver A00, s/n 6VW9NY1.CN7016338301DQ.
System: Dell Inc., ver DELL - 1072009, s/n 6VW9NY1
Antivirus: Windows Defender, Enabled and Updated
 
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#2 ·
https://askleo.com/why_i_dont_like_system_restore/

System Restore ... does not restore everything to the state it was at the time the restore point was created. It restores some things - like the registry - but not all things - like your files or whatever else you were hoping it would.

System Restore is not a substitute for backing up your system.
 
#5 ·
Yes I did. The only thing I got out of it was the obvious pros and cons depending on who was posting, and to check the right services were running.
Volume Shadow Copy
Task Scheduler
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider Service
- all are supposed to be running and they weren't. I turned them on to Running and tried to use System Restore with no change. I did not get a chance yet to set them to Automatic, and reboot, then try it. Not sure how old the article in that link is, but it also says you need to have "System Restore Service" running. I did not see that in the services listing.
 
#6 ·
Tap the [WinKey], type gpedit.msc and press [Enter]. In the left pane navigate to "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "System" > "System Restore" and make sure the "Turn off Configuration" and "Turn off System Restore settings" over on the right are both set to "Not configured".
 
#9 ·
In addition to the above suggestion.
First run DISM.exe and then System File Checker.
In the search box type > cmd
Right click > Select Run as administrator
In the Command Prompt window
Type [copy and paste]
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Press Enter.

Let it run to completion, it may take some time.
After you see a message that says 'The operation completed successfully'
in the Command Prompt window.
Now type [copy and paste] sfc /scannow
Press Enter.
Again let it run until it has completed the scan.
Restart your pc and let us know if it has helped.
 
#15 ·
If you want to attempt to get system restore working, try the following;
1 Delete ALL system restore points
2 Disable system restore
3 Restart the system and enable system restore
4 Restart again and now attempt to create a restore point

FWIW I never depend on system restore. In fact on my personal systems, it is one of the very first things I disable. IMO a MUCH better way to go is to make an image of the system disk using acronis true image.
 
#17 ·
Patmac,

Can you do this for me please?

In the Search area type Restore point. Choose Create a restore point from the items appeared. Select the System Protection tab and then choose Configure.

Please take a screenshot of what you see and attach it for us to check.
 
#20 ·
Hi, tried all suggestions.
When I went to System Properties->System Protection, the system just kept searching for the drives...and searching, five plus minutes I gave it. Restart, then System Properties->System Protection, finds the C: drive immediately. Tried creating a restore point after following crjdriver and Dr. M's directions, and it just sat there "creating a restore point", timed it...20 minutes, never happened like that before, had to use Task Manager to break out of it.
The only software changes done to the system in the past three weeks are:
Uninstalled SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Acronis.
Also, I'm set up to have Windows updates download and install automatically. Any known issues in any of the recent updates?
Thanks
 
#21 ·
A few other suggestions;
1 Since you are running the windows security, disabling that is probably not going to do anything. Normally IF running a third party AV, you would disable it so just leave it alone
2 Start>run and type in "services.msc" without quotes.
3 Now locate for Virtual Disk and Volume Shadow copy
4 If either of these are not running, start them and test system restore again.
 
#23 ·
Understood. It's just that I'm working with someone in here to install Macrium Free, and they suggested getting the System Restore issue squared away before installing Macrium and creating an image.

Between the posts in this thread and some of the links provided, the following services have been mentioned, you just mentioned Virtual Disk. The others were:
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider Service
Task Scheduler
Volume Shadow Copy
Virtual Disk
System Restore Service - which I have never found.

Should all of these be running AND set to Automatic?
Should System Restore Service exist?
 
#24 ·
I just checked my system and they are set to manual. If one of your drives is either a seagate or a WD drive, you are able to download the proprietary version of acronis true image. IMO this is far superior to macrium.
 
#25 ·
On the other hand, I consider System Restore as something critical for a computer's security. There are many times where going to an earliaer system restore point saves you. OK, I understand that a system image does this and other things, but I wouldn't leave the system restore issue un-fixable.

Something I would like you to check regarding services:
  • Please download Farbar Service Scanner and save it on your Desktop.
  • Right click on the tool icon and run it as administrator.
  • Make sure all the options are checked.
  • Click on the Scan button.
  • It will create a log (FSS.txt) on your Desktop.
  • Copy and paste the log's content to your next reply.
 
#26 ·
Farbar Service Scanner Version: 03-11-2021
Ran by apm95 (administrator) on 01-05-2022 at 09:55:54
Running from "C:\Users\Maggie\Desktop"
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (X64)
Boot Mode: Normal
****************************************************************

Internet Services:
============

Connection Status:
==============
Localhost is accessible.
LAN connected.
Google IP is accessible.
Google.com is accessible.
Yahoo.com is accessible.


Windows Firewall:
=============

Firewall Disabled Policy:
==================


System Restore:
============

System Restore Policy:
========================


Windows Security:
============


Windows Update:
============

Windows Autoupdate Disabled Policy:
============================


Windows Defender:
==============

Other Services:
==============


File Check:
========
C:\Windows\System32\nsisvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\nsiproxy.sys => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\afd.sys => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\tdx.sys => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\tcpip.sys => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\dnsrslvr.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\dnsapi.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dnsapi.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\mpssvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\bfe.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\mpsdrv.sys => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\SDRSVC.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\vssvc.exe => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealthService.exe => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\wscsvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\wbem\WMIsvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\wuaueng.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\qmgr.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\es.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\cryptsvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpSvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\ipnathlp.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\iphlpsvc.dll => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe => File is digitally signed
C:\Windows\System32\rpcss.dll => File is digitally signed


**** End of log ****
 
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