SYSTEM RESTORE

Michelle Maxted · External Since: Oct 02, 2004 Posts: 1

Hi there,

I am trying to use the system restore on my computer, ME.
I go to Programs, Accessories, system tools, but there is
no system restore option.

I then go via the control panel, system, performance tab,
file system, troubleshoot and then uncheck the disenable
system restore and then restart my computer. When I turn
the computer back on, I still can't access sytem restore
and I find the "disenable system restore" box has been
checked again.

Any ideas?

Thanks Michelle.

Mike M1 · External Since: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 4241

Michelle,

If you cannot uncheck the disable SR entry found at System | Performance |
File System | Troubleshooting check the following:
Do you have at least 300MB of free space on the drive containing your
windows folder?
Is the *StateMgr entry still present and checked in MSConfig | Startup?
Is stmgr.exe running? You can check this using either a process monitor
such as WinTop or TaskInfo or by using MSInfo32 (Start | Help & Support |
System Information) and checking for stmgr.exe in the section Software
Environment | Running Tasks.

If all of the above are OK then I think that the best way forward would be
to remove the _RESTORE folder and allow the state manager to rebuild the
necessary control files which have probably become corrupted. Delete the
folder as follows:
a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal Boot" from the menu
when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start computer with (or
without) CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command will not be
available.
b) At the DOS A:\> prompt, type:

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

c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC
e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created.
g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore
slider to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is normally more
than adequate for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to
be available although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days
during periods of large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.

It might now be a good time to test that system restore is working
correctly. You can do this by performing the following test.
a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
b) Create a manual checkpoint
Could you create a checkpoint?
c) Delete the shortcut
d) Restore your PC to the checkpoint you created.
Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error messages?
e) Reboot your PC
Was the checkpoint retained?
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2005]
mcmaltby RemoveThis @hotmail.com

Michelle Maxted <michellemaxted RemoveThis @tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi there,
>
> I am trying to use the system restore on my computer, ME.
> I go to Programs, Accessories, system tools, but there is
> no system restore option.
>
> I then go via the control panel, system, performance tab,
> file system, troubleshoot and then uncheck the disenable
> system restore and then restart my computer. When I turn
> the computer back on, I still can't access sytem restore
> and I find the "disenable system restore" box has been
> checked again.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks Michelle.

anonymous3597 · External Since: Oct 02, 2004 Posts: 1

Hi there Mike

Thanks for responding.

I have checked my free space on the C Drive, which
contains the Windows Folder and I have 30.5 GB.

I have also looked for the stgmr.exe (folder) in
Start/Help & Support/system information - software
environment/running tasks and it is not there. So before I
proceeded any further I wanted to check what the next
stage would be.

Many thanks for your help!

Michelle.
>-----Original Message-----
>Michelle,
>
>If you cannot uncheck the disable SR entry found at
System | Performance |
>File System | Troubleshooting check the following:
>Do you have at least 300MB of free space on the drive
containing your
>windows folder?
>Is the *StateMgr entry still present and checked in
MSConfig | Startup?
>Is stmgr.exe running? You can check this using either a
process monitor
>such as WinTop or TaskInfo or by using MSInfo32 (Start |
Help & Support |
>System Information) and checking for stmgr.exe in the
section Software
>Environment | Running Tasks.
>
>If all of the above are OK then I think that the best way
forward would be
>to remove the _RESTORE folder and allow the state manager
to rebuild the
>necessary control files which have probably become
corrupted. Delete the
>folder as follows:
>a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal
Boot" from the menu
>when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start
computer with (or
>without) CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command
will not be
>available.
>b) At the DOS A:\> prompt, type:
>
>ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
>then
>REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST
>
>c) Remove the floppy
>d) Reboot your PC
>e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
>f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was
created.
>g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore
folder:
>System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust
the restore
>slider to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is
normally more
>than adequate for day to day use allowing perhaps a week
of checkpoints to
>be available although increasing this to perhaps 400MB
for a few days
>during periods of large installs such Microsoft Office is
advisable.
>
>It might now be a good time to test that system restore
is working
>correctly. You can do this by performing the following
test.
>a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
>b) Create a manual checkpoint
>Could you create a checkpoint?
>c) Delete the shortcut
>d) Restore your PC to the checkpoint you created.
>Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error
messages?
>e) Reboot your PC
>Was the checkpoint retained?
>--
>Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2005]
>mcmaltby@hotmail.com
>
>
>Michelle Maxted <michellemaxted DeleteThis @tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>
  >> Hi there,
  >>
  >> I am trying to use the system restore on my computer,
ME.
  >> I go to Programs, Accessories, system tools, but there
is
  >> no system restore option.
  >>
  >> I then go via the control panel, system, performance
tab,
  >> file system, troubleshoot and then uncheck the disenable
  >> system restore and then restart my computer. When I turn
  >> the computer back on, I still can't access sytem restore
  >> and I find the "disenable system restore" box has been
  >> checked again.
  >>
  >> Any ideas?
  >>
  >> Thanks Michelle.
>
>.
>

Mike M1 · External Since: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 4241

Michelle,

Your next stage is to read the rest of my post beyond the first couple of
lines. <vbg>

For example:
Is the *StateMgr entry still present and checked in MSConfig | Startup?

I suspect it might not as you say you can't see an entry (not a folder)
for stmgr.exe in
MSInfo32 section Software Environment | Running Tasks.

How to proceed depends on what you see and cannot see so please go back
and look for the *StateMgr entry in MSConfig. If missing or unchecked
then we will know how next to proceed. If unchecked, check it, reboot and
then try the quick test I mentioned at the end of my earlier post.
If missing post back and I will tell you how to replace it.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby.RemoveThis@hotmail.com

michellemaxted.RemoveThis@tiscali.co.uk <anonymous.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Hi there Mike
>
> Thanks for responding.
>
> I have checked my free space on the C Drive, which
> contains the Windows Folder and I have 30.5 GB.
>
> I have also looked for the stgmr.exe (folder) in
> Start/Help & Support/system information - software
> environment/running tasks and it is not there. So before I
> proceeded any further I wanted to check what the next
> stage would be.
>
> Many thanks for your help!

AAH · External Since: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 359

Look for the file STMGR.EXE not
folder STGMR.EXE. There is no such
thing as STGMR.EXE.
The file STMGR.EXE should be in

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\STMGR.EXE

Read carefully what Mike said. You should be able to sort it out.

"michellemaxted@tiscali.co.uk" <anonymous DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
in message news:0ff901c4a870$1ff96ca0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
Hi there Mike

Thanks for responding.

I have checked my free space on the C Drive, which
contains the Windows Folder and I have 30.5 GB.

I have also looked for the stgmr.exe (folder) in
Start/Help & Support/system information - software
environment/running tasks and it is not there. So before I
proceeded any further I wanted to check what the next
stage would be.

Many thanks for your help!

Michelle.
>-----Original Message-----
>Michelle,
>
>If you cannot uncheck the disable SR entry found at
System | Performance |
>File System | Troubleshooting check the following:
>Do you have at least 300MB of free space on the drive
containing your
>windows folder?
>Is the *StateMgr entry still present and checked in
MSConfig | Startup?
>Is stmgr.exe running? You can check this using either a
process monitor
>such as WinTop or TaskInfo or by using MSInfo32 (Start |
Help & Support |
>System Information) and checking for stmgr.exe in the
section Software
>Environment | Running Tasks.
>
>If all of the above are OK then I think that the best way
forward would be
>to remove the _RESTORE folder and allow the state manager
to rebuild the
>necessary control files which have probably become
corrupted. Delete the
>folder as follows:
>a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal
Boot" from the menu
>when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start
computer with (or
>without) CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command
will not be
>available.
>b) At the DOS A:\> prompt, type:
>
>ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
>then
>REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST
>
>c) Remove the floppy
>d) Reboot your PC
>e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
>f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was
created.
>g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore
folder:
>System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust
the restore
>slider to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is
normally more
>than adequate for day to day use allowing perhaps a week
of checkpoints to
>be available although increasing this to perhaps 400MB
for a few days
>during periods of large installs such Microsoft Office is
advisable.
>
>It might now be a good time to test that system restore
is working
>correctly. You can do this by performing the following
test.
>a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
>b) Create a manual checkpoint
>Could you create a checkpoint?
>c) Delete the shortcut
>d) Restore your PC to the checkpoint you created.
>Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error
messages?
>e) Reboot your PC
>Was the checkpoint retained?
>--
>Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2005]
>mcmaltby@hotmail.com
>
>
>Michelle Maxted <michellemaxted DeleteThis @tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>
  >> Hi there,
  >>
  >> I am trying to use the system restore on my computer,
ME.
  >> I go to Programs, Accessories, system tools, but there
is
  >> no system restore option.
  >>
  >> I then go via the control panel, system, performance
tab,
  >> file system, troubleshoot and then uncheck the disenable
  >> system restore and then restart my computer. When I turn
  >> the computer back on, I still can't access sytem restore
  >> and I find the "disenable system restore" box has been
  >> checked again.
  >>
  >> Any ideas?
  >>
  >> Thanks Michelle.
>
>.
>

Michelle · External Since: Apr 29, 2004 Posts: 27

Hi there Mike

Well I "checked" the StateMgr entry and rebooted computer.
I then booted the computer with a floppy disk. It didn't
give me the option of "Start computer with (or without CD-
ROM support).

I then typed in at the Dos A prompt the text you mentioned
and it kept coming back invalid command (or something
similar can't remember exact wording).

Next I tried to find the folder C: OLDREST but couldn't.

Now the last part of your email I didn't quite understand.
How do I create a manual checkpoint?

Kind regards,

Michelle
>-----Original Message-----
>Michelle,
>
>Your next stage is to read the rest of my post beyond the
first couple of
>lines. <vbg>
>
>For example:
>Is the *StateMgr entry still present and checked in
MSConfig | Startup?
>
>I suspect it might not as you say you can't see an entry
(not a folder)
>for stmgr.exe in
>MSInfo32 section Software Environment | Running Tasks.
>
>How to proceed depends on what you see and cannot see so
please go back
>and look for the *StateMgr entry in MSConfig. If missing
or unchecked
>then we will know how next to proceed. If unchecked,
check it, reboot and
>then try the quick test I mentioned at the end of my
earlier post.
>If missing post back and I will tell you how to replace
it.
>--
>Mike Maltby MS-MVP
>mcmaltby@hotmail.com
>
>
>michellemaxted@tiscali.co.uk
<anonymous.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
  >> Hi there Mike
  >>
  >> Thanks for responding.
  >>
  >> I have checked my free space on the C Drive, which
  >> contains the Windows Folder and I have 30.5 GB.
  >>
  >> I have also looked for the stgmr.exe (folder) in
  >> Start/Help & Support/system information - software
  >> environment/running tasks and it is not there. So
before I
  >> proceeded any further I wanted to check what the next
  >> stage would be.
  >>
  >> Many thanks for your help!
>
>.
>

Mike M1 · External Since: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 4241

Michelle.

May I suggest you take this one stage at a time rather than jumping about
through my earlier reply. For example if the *StateMgr entry was
unchecked you should have checked it, rebooted and seen whether that fixed
your problem. Did it? Did you check?

You ask how to make a manual checkpoint. By using system restore which
you can launch in a number of ways including:
a) From the link in Help & Support
b) From the link on the General tab of MSConfig (Start, Run, enter
MSConfig and click OK),
c) By entering C:\windows\system\rstrui.exe in the Start | Run box and
clicking OK, or,
d) By directly double clicking the file rstrui.exe (Use Windows Explorer,
rstrui.exe is in the windows\system\restore folder).
and
e) From the link placed in the Start | Programs | Accessories | System
Tools folder.

If the link at e) is missing (your first post) you can make a new shortcut
to place in the Accessories folder as follows:
Using Explorer, browse to the file rstrui.exe in the
windows\system\restore folder and create a shortcut to this file on your
desktop. Rename the shortcut System Restore. Drag the shortcut to the
Start button. Click Start and then drag the System Restore shortcut to
the Programs | Accessories | System Tools folder.

You mention that when booting from a floppy you saw no menu. In my
original reply I should have said "Boot to DOS using a Win Me boot
floppy". If you don't have a Win Me boot floppy you can make one for
yourself as follows:
Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Startup Disk and follow the prompts.

If you get asked for the location of a "missing" file point the wizard
towards your Win Me cab files which should be in either the
windows\options\cabs or windows\options\install folder. Alternatively
point to the Win9x folder on the Win Me CD. Specifically look for the
file BASE2.CAB and then point the wizard at the folder containing
base2.cab..

If you are unable to create a Win Me boot floppy you can download the
image of a Win Me OEM boot disk from <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bootdisk.com." target="_blank">www.bootdisk.com.</a> Download to your
desktop, double click to run and follow the prompts to transfer the image
to a floppy.

Since you earlier mentioned that you were unable to execute the two DOS
commands without error, no doubt due to the ATTRIB command being
unavailable since you were not using a Win Me boot floppy, it comes as no
surprise that you were unable to locate an OLDREST folder. Smile

--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2005]
mcmaltby.RemoveThis@hotmail.com

Michelle <anonymous.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Hi there Mike
>
> Well I "checked" the StateMgr entry and rebooted computer.
> I then booted the computer with a floppy disk. It didn't
> give me the option of "Start computer with (or without CD-
> ROM support).
>
> I then typed in at the Dos A prompt the text you mentioned
> and it kept coming back invalid command (or something
> similar can't remember exact wording).
>
> Next I tried to find the folder C: OLDREST but couldn't.
>
> Now the last part of your email I didn't quite understand.
> How do I create a manual checkpoint?

anonymous1 · External Since: Feb 20, 2004 Posts: 6584

Hi there Mike,

Thanks for your continued patience.

OK I have gone back to the beginning.

The StateMgr entry is still present and checked in
MSConfig/Start-up.

Is stmgr.exe running?

No, I looked in Start/Help & Support/System Information.
Then the section Software Environment/Running Tasks.

It says:

Name: stmgr.exe
Path: c/windows/system/restore/stmgr/exe
Version 4.90.0.2533
Size 60.27KB
File Date: Not available

But the good news is that if I go via, control panel,
system, performance tab, file system, troubleshoot the
disenable system restore box is unchecked, this was not
happening before. It kept reverting back to being checked.

But I still can't access the system restore application
via accessories, system tools.

Please could you let me know the next step, should I carry
on and follow the rest of your original advice i.e. boot
to dos with floppy etc.

Thanks.

Michelle.

>-----Original Message-----
>Michelle.
>
>May I suggest you take this one stage at a time rather
than jumping about
>through my earlier reply. For example if the *StateMgr
entry was
>unchecked you should have checked it, rebooted and seen
whether that fixed
>your problem. Did it? Did you check?
>
>You ask how to make a manual checkpoint. By using system
restore which
>you can launch in a number of ways including:
>a) From the link in Help & Support
>b) From the link on the General tab of MSConfig (Start,
Run, enter
>MSConfig and click OK),
>c) By entering C:\windows\system\rstrui.exe in the Start
| Run box and
>clicking OK, or,
>d) By directly double clicking the file rstrui.exe (Use
Windows Explorer,
>rstrui.exe is in the windows\system\restore folder).
>and
>e) From the link placed in the Start | Programs |
Accessories | System
>Tools folder.
>
>If the link at e) is missing (your first post) you can
make a new shortcut
>to place in the Accessories folder as follows:
>Using Explorer, browse to the file rstrui.exe in the
>windows\system\restore folder and create a shortcut to
this file on your
>desktop. Rename the shortcut System Restore. Drag the
shortcut to the
>Start button. Click Start and then drag the System
Restore shortcut to
>the Programs | Accessories | System Tools folder.
>
>You mention that when booting from a floppy you saw no
menu. In my
>original reply I should have said "Boot to DOS using a
Win Me boot
>floppy". If you don't have a Win Me boot floppy you can
make one for
>yourself as follows:
>Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Startup Disk and
follow the prompts.
>
>If you get asked for the location of a "missing" file
point the wizard
>towards your Win Me cab files which should be in either
the
>windows\options\cabs or windows\options\install folder.
Alternatively
>point to the Win9x folder on the Win Me CD. Specifically
look for the
>file BASE2.CAB and then point the wizard at the folder
containing
>base2.cab..
>
>If you are unable to create a Win Me boot floppy you can
download the
>image of a Win Me OEM boot disk from <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bootdisk.com." target="_blank">www.bootdisk.com.</a>
Download to your
>desktop, double click to run and follow the prompts to
transfer the image
>to a floppy.
>
>Since you earlier mentioned that you were unable to
execute the two DOS
>commands without error, no doubt due to the ATTRIB
command being
>unavailable since you were not using a Win Me boot
floppy, it comes as no
>surprise that you were unable to locate an OLDREST
folder. Smile

>--
>Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2005]
>mcmaltby@hotmail.com
>
>
>Michelle <anonymous.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
  >> Hi there Mike
  >>
  >> Well I "checked" the StateMgr entry and rebooted
computer.
  >> I then booted the computer with a floppy disk. It didn't
  >> give me the option of "Start computer with (or without
CD-
  >> ROM support).
  >>
  >> I then typed in at the Dos A prompt the text you
mentioned
  >> and it kept coming back invalid command (or something
  >> similar can't remember exact wording).
  >>
  >> Next I tried to find the folder C: OLDREST but couldn't.
  >>
  >> Now the last part of your email I didn't quite
understand.
  >> How do I create a manual checkpoint?
>
>.
>