Microsoft KB Archive/306768

= Troubleshooting System Restore in Windows Millennium Edition =

Article ID: 306768

Article Last Modified on 5/7/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

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This article was previously published under Q306768



INTRODUCTION
This article describes how to perform basic troubleshooting for issues that involve the System Restore utility in Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition. This article contains steps that you can try when System Restore does not work as expected. For example, System Restore may not restore your computer by using a restore point, or you may not be able to create a restore point. This article also contains a list of references to articles that contain instructions and information about how to troubleshoot specific issues.



MORE INFORMATION
The System Restore utility in Windows Millennium Edition monitors and records changes that are made to Windows system files and to the registry. The restore points (also known as system checkpoints) are created automatically. With System Restore, you can &quot;roll back&quot; or restore your system to an earlier configuration when your computer was functioning correctly. You can also create your own restore points. Creating restore points may be useful when you are not sure how a change to your computer will affect the overall performance of Windows Millennium Edition. For example, if you do not know how the installation of a new program or device drivers will affect the performance of Windows Millennium Edition, you may want to create a restore point before you complete the installation.

For additional information about how to use the System Restore Utility, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

267951 Description of the System Restore utility in Windows Millennium Edition

279736 How to start the System Restore tool from a command prompt

When System Restore does not work as expected, or if you cannot create your own restore points, try the following troubleshooting procedures.

Troubleshooting error messages
If you receive an error message that is related to System Restore, note the error message. System Restore error messages describe the issue and may also give you suggestions about how to resolve the issue. Use the information in the error message to troubleshoot the issue if you can.

For additional information about troubleshooting specific error messages in System Restore, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

261680 Error message occurs when attempting to use System Restore

303354 Error message: System Restore was unable to create a restore point

274092 Error message: System Restore cannot run until you restart the computer

296090 Error message when you start System Restore: An error occurred in the script on this page

267511 Error in Rstrui.exe when starting System Restore or creating a manual restore point

290700 Checkpoints that you create after September 8, 2001 do not restore your computer

Allocate more disk space for the data store
System Restore uses at least 200 megabytes (MB) of free disk space for the data store. Restore points and system checkpoint files are stored in the _Restore folder (data store). The _Restore folder is located on the drive where Windows Millennium Edition is installed.

Notes
 * By default, if you do not have sufficient free disk space when Windows is installed, System Restore is turned off. You must turn on System Restore after you free up sufficient disk space.
 * If you run out of disk space, System Restore is turned off. When you free up sufficient disk space, System Restore automatically turns on. However, all earlier restore points are lost.

If you suspect that you do not have as many restore points as you should have, increase the available disk space that System Restore can use to save information. To do this, follow these steps:
 * 1) Right-click My Computer on your desktop, and then click Properties.
 * 2) Click the Performance tab, and then click File System.
 * 3) Under System Restore disk space use, move the slider to the right to increase the disk space that is used for System Restore, and then click OK.
 * 4) Restart the computer.

Reset the data store
In some cases, you may want to reset the data store. For example, you may want to reset the data store if you cannot restore your computer by using a restore point, or if you cannot successfully create a restore point.

You may want to reset the data store if you suspect that an earlier restore point is corrupted. Restore points build on earlier restore points. If a restore point from an earlier date is corrupted, all subsequent restore points that are created from that date forward are also corrupted. Therefore, you may not be able to restore your computer by using a restore point.

When you reset the data store, the contents of the _Restore folder are deleted, and all the previous restore points and log files are removed. To reset the data store, turn off System Restore, restart your computer, and then turn on System Restore.

Important When you reset the data store, any previous restore points that were present are no longer available. You can only restore your system by using new restore points that you create after System Restore is turned on again.

For additional information about how to turn on and turn off System Restore, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

264887 How to enable and disable System Restore

Additional troubleshooting references
For additional information about how to troubleshoot specific System Restore issues, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

261716 System Restore removes files during a restore procedure

267123 Restore operation fails if a folder has the same name as a file in the root directory

261690 Start menu or shortcut items appear capitalized after restoration

261719 Screen saver password may be removed or changed after using System Restore

274460 Computer may not restart after unsuccessful system restore with drive overlay software installed

267160 System Restore may not properly restore attributes to files

267426 Previously scheduled tasks start even after System Restore changes configurations

267698 Computer may not start properly after you use a system restore point

267808 CD-ROM drive title remains after you restore the system restore point

267718 Cannot reinstall SurfWatch 3.0 after you run the System Restore tool

267794 Recently saved files may not remain in the My Documents folder

275646 System Restore shows date of Saturday, December 30, 1899

250231 System restore points may not be created for hardware device driver installations

264152 Deleting the _Restore folder from a non-Windows Me partition resets the data store

306762 Restore points are not saved in System Restore

Keywords: kbhowto kbprb kbtshoot KB306768

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