Win XP Home Restore Issue

I have a Compaq Presario laptop running XP Home edition. Every time I attempt to restore the PC to an earlier date, I get the message that it can't restore. This happens even if I create a restore point and then at a later time try to go back to it. I'm a tad puzzled! Any input please!
Dondd

 

This site has been around for a long time and saved me from myself more than once....
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_restore.htm

About 1/2 way down it talks of fixing the system restore but the whole article is good reading

 

Thanks Petaluma!

The problem is now resolved. Here's what I did:

In running Windows XP Home and after going thru the System Restore process, a message stating "Cannot restore the computer to an earlier restore point, no changes have been made to your computer" pops up, this procedure listed below restored its functionality.

Right click [My Computer] [Properties] then click on System Restore tab.
Put a check in the box for Disable Restore on all drives.

Click apply, (You'll get a warning that all previous restore points will be deleted...they don't work anyhow, so I decided to go for it) then Reboot your PC.

After the system reboots, navigate to the System Restore tab and turn it back on. Click apply.

Navigate to [System Tools] (Start>All Programs>Accessories>); click on System Restore,and choose [Create a Restore Point]
Provide a name for the new restore point.
Try and restore the new point just created. Mine now restores.