This has been driving me crazy. After spending about 4 hours trying to get it to work, Vista refuses to back up my computer. I keep getting this box:
I have done all I know how to do, including creating a partition bigger than the one my OS is housed on (500gbs) and it is still not big enough apparently. The Seven backup worked amazingly, but Vista seems to not like it.
it's a completely idiotic feature of Vista Home Premium (and maybe Basic too) System Restore relies on Shadow Storage - which MS also uses to provide "previous version" file capabilities in higher-end Vista systems. However, Vista is in fact still taking copies of ALL your files - thereby eating up space that you might reasonably have thought was solely for System Restore points. Result: ShadowStorage fills up very quickly and your restore points are dumped.
I previously had a problem on my Gateway Laptop Computer - Gateway Core2 Duo Centrino, that came pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium, which I could not fix. I had to do a System Recovery using the on-screen program and did not back up any of my files, in attempt to clear out everything that I had on the computer. After I completed this process, I set up my desktop and internet, and started over. When reviewing my Hard Disk Drives on my "Computer" menu, I notice that my C: Drive is almost all the way full (8.55 GB free of 139 GB).
Although I downloaded a few programs and set up my Internet Security, I am sure I did not install anything large enough to use up almost all of the computers storage space for programs and files. By doing the System Recovery I thought that it would erase everything so that my computer would be back to it's factory condition. Could my previous files still be in the computer? After searching this forum, I did not find any information on the specific question that convinsed me of the soultion, or a course of action.
I created a restore point and went into the System Tools menu and attempted the disk cleanup on the recovery drive C: where Windows Vista is stored and then cleaned up the up the Shadow Copies, and nothing helped. I went through many windows folders and found nothing that would amount to the vast amount of space that is apparently taken up.
Why can't I use system restore to restore back to certain restore points? I was only successful twice with it. When my laptap was new and when I used it after re-formatting my hard drive. On all occassions after those two instances I can never restore back to any restore point. It always says that "unspecified error" line. If Microsoft doesn't know what happend, how could I. Why did they bother putting system restore if it doesn't work all the time anyway. It gives you a false sense of security.
It has been bugging me: why there are so few System Restore Points on my system (and on the one occasion I really neeeded it, only 1 which was too recent)[System = Vista HP laptop, 100GB disk, System Restore having private >11GB of its own disk space but 10GB still free, only C monitored]
Here's a partial answer that raises other questions...I ran Cmd "as Admin", typed "vssadmin List ShadowStorage" and noted it said the "used shadow copy storage space" is 10.871GB of the allocated 11.451... which would explain why I currently see only 4 restore points in System Restore...[wow... all the way back to 20 Feb] But I haven't been doing *that* much! How come Vista [HP] is eating ~2.5GB per restore point? Is it snapshotting the entire Windows system? Even in theory this is close to useless when Vista creates scheduled restore points once or twice a day (the 2 may have been an update install): since Vista doesn't need to be restarted that often it might be days before a problem is noted on restart... by which time any good restore points are gone. [In practice it was totally useless...] What's triggering restore point creation if there are no updates or applications installed/uninstalled?Is there any way it can be tweaked to gain a longer history... or, should I turn it off, reclaim the disk space and use Acronis' "Safe Zone" and/or rely on my external Acronis backups?
Running Vista Basic SP1 as only user. While trying to update Adobe Reader, I get msg saying installer has insufficient privileges to access the Adobe directory, cannot continue, Logon as administrator. It doesn't give me the option of downloading the file, and then using right-click, Run as Administrator.
After installing SP2, on 5/25, System Restore seems to have stopped creating automatic restore points every 24 hours. I checked the Task Manger and it is set for 24 hours. It shows a restore point being created on 5/26. System Restore shows the last Restore Point being created on 5/25 about 1 hour after downloading.
I have a recent problem installing Windows updates on Vista Ultimate as the update process stays on 'creating restore point' forever. I've let it run as long as 7 hours in this state, with no change. It looks like the system is unable to make a restore point sucessfully. I know it has worked in the past, as I'm fairly up-to-date on Windows updates. Reading some other threads, I've tried using Disk Clean-up to remove all by the most recent restore points, and then try to disable/re-enable system restore - this part without success. When I check the system properties for System Restore, the System Restore button is greyed out. I've attached a screenshot of the screen for reference. I've checked the group policies to verify the System Restore is not disabled there.
I went to accessories/system tools/system restore and clicked it. I then got a small dialogue window asking if I wanted to continue and I clicked continue. That little window disappeared but then nothing hasppened. I was expecting to see a list of possible restore points but nothing showed on my screen. I clicked system restore again and got a message that system restore was already running and would now exit.
Not sure why but when I try to open system restore I get this message: "System Protection Settings has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available." I cannot make or restore my computer. If I go into system protection I get this error: C:WindowsSystem32SYSDM.CPL is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.
I am new here and I have been having problems with my laptop for at least a few months now. And now I am fed up with it and just want to do a full system restore. I have no disks or previous system save dates. I talked to one of my friends and he said that i need a disc. I am just coming her for confirmation and or help. I am running a Toshiba Satallite P505D with and AMD Turion X2 dual core processor 4GB of Ram and a 64 bit operating system.
I wish the ****ing dumbass companies wouldnt preload computers with useless trials and dumb****. Ever since this computerwas purchased, I've had more problems than Lindsay Lohan had with DUI and drugs.
Holy ****. Games, Personalization, System Restore, System Backup (Error code 1068), User Accounts, and Windows Update. They show up, and then they dissapear right away. Any help please? Virusscan'd with AVG, tested hardware, it's clean, I dont know whats wrong.
My wife was on the internet and suddenly System Pro popped up and started scanning warning my wife of a virus attack on her computer and wanted her to buy the AV Pgm for $49.95. She just clicked all the exits and got off of the internet and now she is locked out of her computer. We can't get system restore to work, Can't get safe mode to work, She has AVG 8 installed but cannot start it. Tried SFC /scannow but was denied access. Tried putting the Windows XP disk in to do a repair and was unable to get it to start. I think the only thing to do is reformat the HD and start over but her PC ignores the A drive and the dvd drives. I cannot get into it in order to re format it.
I am trying to get rid of system restore shadow copies on my Vista home premium. I keep getting system error when I try to reduce the room used on my C drive as I only have 28gb of 145gb left. I have tried typing in:vssadmin list shadowstorage For the above command to run you must use elevated privileges:
1.. Click on the Start menu then click All Programs / Accessories 2.. Right Click on the Command Prompt option and from the drop down menu click on the Run as Administrator option 3.. At the command prompt type vssadmin list shadowstorage and Press Enter (NOTE: if the command does not run change directories to c:windowssystem32) After the vssadmin has executed you will see results similar to the following:.....
The output above shows space used on the C: drive by System Restore is 237.419 MB. The maximum space allocated for System restore is 2.092 GB To view the number of restore points you currently have on your Computer run the following command vssadmin list shadows Next, to reduce the allocated space used by Vista's System Restore, use the following command: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /on=[OnVolumeSpec:] /for=[ForVolumeSpec:] /maxsize=[MaxSizeSpec] Where example: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: /Maxsize=1GB When decreasing the space allocated to System Restore, you will loose the earlier system restore points. The advantage is gaining extra free space. If you are concerned with losing the previous restore points, wait until you do not need them anymore before reducing the allocated space. If you plan on upgrading to Windows Vista or running a clean install and will need extra space, consider reducing the space after installation has completed. It is not recommended to disable System Restore. The capability to restore to a previous point in time or having the new Shadow Copy feature available can be a time saver if something goes wrong or if you delete a file. source: John Barnett Windows Vista Support I keep getting an error message. I seem to remember doing this before with my XP but can't remember how. Is there an easier way?
The mystery, at least to me, my PC was running almost 2 years. and it was not until about 3 weeks ago that System Restore began to save Restore Points the size of Approx 3 to 4GB daily. Prior to that the Restore Points were well under 1GB. it would be 3 to 6 days before I noticed the loss of 1GB. So why suddenly would the Restore File grew 1 one day from well under 1GB to between 3 to 4GB? That now is the issue I would like to know the answer to. and perhaps that file being saved with each Restore Point is not needed. I mean it wasn't needed for almost 2 years. so I can't think over night it became important but it sure is eating up HDD space.
I remember with WinXP that if I had my computer turned on and was not using it for a certain length of time (maybe 30 minutes), it would 'automatically' create a 'System Checkpoint' in the System Restore area. I could also 'manually' create a 'System Checkpoint.' What I would like to know is - doees Vista (Home Premium) create such an 'automatic' System Checkpoint if I have notebook turned on, but don't use if for about 30 minutes?
(I believe there is a way to turn on an Automatic 'System Checkpoint' that you can schedule to be done at a certain time. That is not what I am talking about. I am talking about an 'automatic' System Checkpoint' that is done if the computer is turned on, but not used for 30 minutes or more (approximately).
Every time I try to run System Restore I get an error message saying that the restore was unsuccessful because of an error. Try again with a different date
It seems no posible to restore the system from previous "restore points" with Vista Bussines. I always get the message "System restore did not complete succesfully. Details: The writer experienced a transient error (0x800423F3)."
I have not been able to resolve my sound and messenger problems that occured after an update. However, when I go to system restore, it only goes back 5 days and I need it to go back 6. Is there any way to restore to a point previous to the points they offer?
My problem is I can't get the "System Restore" to work. Every time I set it to do a system restore, it appears to go through all the right motions. Then after it shuts down and restarts itself, I get an error message: "System restore did not complete successfully. "An unspecified error occurred during system restore." It goes on to say that the computers settings have not changed. What's going on? I've tried several different checkpoints including one that I had manually set myself. None of them work, I always get the same error message.
I wanted to give my views with regards getting rid of System Restore points when dealing with spy/malware/virus. Through being around forums and newsgroups for a few years it's my belief that it's best to leave whatever System Restore points you have until you have got rid of any virus's you may have. I know it's more than likely that the virus will end up in a Restore point but it is harmless while in there if you don't Restore to that point and if while you are dealing with the virus and going through steps to rid yourself of it you happen to screw up your machine at least you'll have a System Restore point to get you back into a working system, even if it has a virus, you can then try again. When you have a clean machine then you go in and turn off System Restore to get rid of all checkpoints and then go straight back in and turn it back on and make a manual Restore point while there.
My friend began to have problems with his sound running vista ultimate and for whatever reason he decided to run a system restore to see if it rectified the problem. Unfortunately now the GUI doesn't seem to be loading properly, the windows splash screen with the animated bar appears then when it should switch to desktop he gets a blank screen with a mouse cursor... Nothing else happens. He's left it all day to see if it was just being really slow but no change.
System restore is restoring the registry...........for 5 hours (and counting!) I have vista home premium and i used the windows system restore to undo windows updates (which included a rather annoying ie8) the initial restore claimed to have failed and i was given the option to undo the restore, which i did... to my cost it seems. now i can't do anything with the laptop, no keys seem to be working and i have even tried to get the task manager up with no avail. I'm scared to turn the damn thing off incase i lose everything
I do not use the system restore feature so I disabled it as I make image backups of windows every week or so using vista backup image instead. I read that you can disable volume showdow copy in services needed for the system restore feature, most sites say you should keep it enabled if you use MS backup services. But would that include making backup images of windows? I can't find a clear answer for this anywhere.
