system restore not working at all

Please help! I can't find anything like my problem. When I try to access system restore, it says "system restore is not able to protect your computer. Please restart your computer, then run system restore again." I just keep getting that message every time I try to run system restore. I followed the Microsoft instructions "How to Troubleshoot System Restore", and when I got into System Restore Services and clicked Start, I got a message that said "Error 3 - system cannot find the path specified". I haven't been able to find any information about this problem, and, being an almost complete computer moron, have no idea how to try and fix this. I'm not sure if this is tied into the other problem I have, which is that my computer will randomly shut itself off, then restart. Often, although not always, I will then get a message saying that my computer has recovered from a serious error and do I want to send an error report to Microsoft. When I send the report, sometimes I get no response, and sometimes I get an oh-so-helpful message that says one of my drivers is incorrectly installed, that there is no way of knowing which one, and that they will work on the problem. Have you ever encountered this before? Thanks for any help!
legolass

 

Hi again! Well, it just gets worse. I couldn't find a file called C:/windows/inf even with a full search. I went into properties and checked for devices with ? or ! and there weren't any. While in there, I clicked on the System Restore tab, and got a box with "Run a DLL as an App has encountered a problem and needs to close. Sorry for inconven...". It offered to send an error report, which I did. Then another box popped up with rWatson Postmortem Debugger has encountered an problem and needs to close. Sorry ..." and offered to send an error report. I sent it, and it said reporting completed, but didn't offer anything else. I closed the box, then tried to close Properties. IT said the program was not responding. I clicked End Now. Then another box said "you chose to end the nonresponsive program Run DLL as App". I sent another error report. Again I got reporting completed with no response. I closed that box, and was back to my desktop. What is going on here???!!! HELP ME!!!!
legolass

 

Have you recently replaced your hard drive or used any software to transfer data from one drive to another?

Steve

 

Hello! Well, I tried what you suggested, TimW. I ran sfc /scannow with the XP disc in the drive, and a box popped up with "Please wait while Windows verifies protected files are intact and in original versions." And boy, did I wait! Eleven times, I got a box that said "Files required for Windows to run properly must be copied in DLL Cache." And it told me to insert my XP CD (which I left in the drive). Once, it wanted the Service Pack 2 CD, which I don't have because I downloaded SP2 and never got a disc. The only options it gave me each time were Cancel or Retry, so I clicked Retry. That would make it continue whatever it was doing. When the bar was full, the program closed (I guess) without giving me any instructions, messages or anything. Then I tried to go into System Restore to see if it fixed anything, and I got the same stuff I described in my second message.
And yes, Steve, we do have a second hard drive from the old computer that my husband has put in on this computer a couple of times at least. He keeps old files and AutoCad on it. He may have transferred some files from it onto the new hard drive as well. Is this my problem? And divorce probably won't fix it, will it? Many thanks for any further suggestions!
legolass

 

Try this and see if it helps.

1. Click Start | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services.
2. Right-click System Restore Service and click Properties.
3. From the Startup Type drop-down, select Disabled.
4. Click OK.
5. Close the Services and Administrative Tools windows.
6. Right-click My Computer, click Properties, and click the System Restore tab. The System Restore tab should now display properly; however, the System Restore service will be disabled.
7. Enable System Restore and click Apply.

Steve

 

Hey Steve! I got halfway through step 6, and then got the same old "Run DLL as an App" and "DrWatson Postmortem Debugger encountered a problem" stuff again. I sent the error reports, and got the same situation again as described in Plea No. 2. You may be up all night over this one! Any other suggestions? Thanks for trying!
legolass

 

Try the steps below but be advised this will delete ALL existing restore points.

Go to Start - Run and type %Windir%\INF then press enter.

In Windows Explorer go to Tools - Folder Options - View Tab and uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”.

Find the sr.inf file, right click on it and select Install.

OR simply type or paste the following command into the Start - Run box and press enter.

rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\Windows\Inf\sr.inf


If the Files Needed dialog box appears, click Browse and point to the i386 folder on the Windows XP CD or to the i386 folder on the hard drive, if it exists, of for systems updated with the Service Pack 2 CD or Download from Microsoft, browse to the C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder.

Steve

 

Hey again! I tried Part I, and got as far as a Files Needed box. It wanted sr.sys from SP2 and wanted me to type the path where the file is located. I clicked Browse, and got a list: DPE; My eBooks; MyMusic; MyPictures; MyReceivedFiles; MyVideos. There was nothing else to pick from, even though I had inserted my XP CD into the drive. I typed C:\Windows... into the Browse line, and got File Not Found. Sorry, I'm not sure how to access this. Are you still awake?
legolass

 

Sorry, I was reading something. Did you try just copying and paste the command I listed in bold rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\Windows\Inf\sr.inf?

Just highlight it, right click and select copy. Then right click inside the Run box and select paste.

Steve

 

I wanted to include this before I get off. If you need to browse or locate something like the I386 folder, just look under or start at C: then click on the + sign next to it, this will expand it. Next, look for Windows, click on the + sign and expand it, etc.

This C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder would be,

C: (click on + sign)
Windows (click on + sign)
ServicePackFiles (click on + sign)
I386

Hope this makes sense, but I think you can figure it out when you get started.

Steve

 

Hey Steve - I did the copy/paste. It still needs the sr.sys file from SP2. The Copy Files From line already had C:\WINDOWS\Inf\i386 in there (highlighted in blue), so I pressed OK. Nothing happened. It's just sitting there.
And TimW, I tried your suggestion. You won't believe this... I got to the agreement, pressed my F8 button, and nothing happened. So I tried pressing it with Ctrl, Alt and Shift. Nothing. So I pressed Esc, and of course THAT worked. Now what do I do? And do lots of other people have these pain-in-the-we-won't-go-there problems???
legolass
p.s. Steve - I saw your last posting - I don't get little +, just pictures of folders. I went to C:, then Windows, and there is no folder that says Service Pack Files.

 

Maybe the steps below will explain the procedure better, it's a little more detailed and I didn't explain it very well last night.

Steve

 

Hello Legolass
I am so sorry for you and having been down similar mind numbing computer problems such as yours I can understand your feelings.
Please understand I do not have the expertise of the previous advisers but I note you are still in trouble and I hope this might help.
It seems to me you are caught up between Xp and sp2 upgrade and I note that M$ is as usual confusing you with the language they speak on Mars. I have been there too - so what is needed is a different path to go down.
Why do you need a system restore?
If the answer is that your computer is a complete write off and you are contacting MG on different computer then I would reluctantly go down the old fashioned path of Format and reinstall using your original XP1 CD.
Then of course you start again and reinstall the programs you lost and hopefully before such drastic action you have backups of the personal info that will be lost in the format process.

After that mind boggler I would create a slipstream of the composite of XP and Xp2 just to be on the safe side in case you ever get trapped between the versions in the future.

If on the other hand you can access your computer - are you able to uninstall XP2?. If you can and it works then run msconfig again as advised by the other folks. Then enable system restore create a restore point and install XP2 again. This should create another restore point for the XP2 installation and the world will smile again.
But slipstream as soon as you are able to.
Because here is a link to Fred Langa which puts everything back together without the aggro when your computer turns to custard next time.
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897
Cheers
Robert

 

Hey, Steve. Thanks for all your help. Guess what? I don't have the file sr.INF. I got all the way to step 15, and the file isn't there. I have an sr, then an sr.PNF. No sr.INF. Is this my problem? Is a reinstall my only hope? And if so, how do I get my F8 key to work to accept the agreement as per instruction from TimW? Or is there some other way? And am I the longest-running problem you've ever faced?!
legolass

 

Hi TimW - The keyboard I have now is a remote - I have my old cord one, but I don't know how to put it back. Can I do that and still keep this one running? Also, what's a usb keyboard??? And is there a way I can make my F keys work on this one? Thanks!
legolass

 

Hi everyone! Well, let's go through the whole saga for posterity. Bearing in mind that when I started this thread I did say I was a computer -and perhaps other things, too- MORON, I found (illuminated-no kidding-by a shaft of sunlight streaming through the window) that I had a key called F Lock on my keyboard. So I hit it, and of course all my F keys now work. So I tried to do the repair install as per TimW's (and others, thanks) suggestion. It seemed to be moving right along, and then, to my horror, I got this: FATAL ERROR: An error has been encountered that prevents SetUp from continuing. One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup could not be installed. Error performing in page operations. If you are installing from a CD, there might be problem with your disk, try cleaning or using another disk. If you are installing from a network, it is possible that not all of the files were copied correctly to your disk drive. Run the disk checking utility on your installation drive from the Recovery Console and start setup again. Press OK to view Setup log files.
So I pressed OK and got: Error: Install Failed D:\I386\asms

Then my computer kept attempting to do the setup. I forced it to shut off, started up again, and got the same message. I shut off again, took out the XP CD, and started up. It kept trying to do the setup. I put in the disc, and got the same message AGAIN. Now I feel sweat running down my back. I shut off the computer and remembered my husband has a backup hard drive. The sweat stopped. He gets home 3 hours later and tells me there's no system files on the other hard drive, just data and music. He turns on the computer. He gets the "Insert XP CD message". He notes that it contains Service Pack 2 already. He puts the disk in the drive. It works. What's with THAT??!!

The only message we got from HIS installation is "Could not load the installer for Tape Controller. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance". Then it carried on installing everything, rebooted itself, and it's all working now. And guess what?? I NOW HAVE SYSTEM RESTORE!!!

I still have no idea why the disk wouldn't work for me, and can only be happy I'm not going to end up in divorce court. Please look for my new threads regarding Tape Controller, and my new start-up problem, Tray Program for Intel Desktop Utilities has encountered a problem... I'll also be suggesting a new topic for a Forum: Dealing With Spousal Anger in Computer Related Issues - Topic One: He Told Me to Just Leave It Alone and I Went Ahead and Tried Anyway.

One last thing - you guys aren't geeks - you're angels. Heartfelt thanks to all of you.
legolass (aka Christina)