Solved Editing SysRestore schedule

[markaz]

Vista Home Premium.

Attempting to change the schedule of creating restore points (to every other day), but in checking restore points created over the past few weeks not one was created via the new schedule. I followed Brink's tutorial at System Restore Task - Change Automatic Restore Point Schedule - Vista Forums, but remain unsuccessful.
No screensaver and no other automatic programs to possibly interfere with the idle time. Just wondering if the "Action" was somehow changed because all other settings appear in order.
Can create and post jpg's of each SR Properties component if necessary. If there are any ideas on what to check for I would be greatly appreciative.
Thanks.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Markaz,
Have you looked at the lists of other tutorials for restoring?

THW

 

[markaz]

I'll check out a couple marked No, esp. the last two and reply thereafter. Thanks for the reply.

 

[richc46]

Toward the middle of this article, there is an interesting little note. That under certain conditions a restore point will never be made when computer is on battery power. I never heard of this and am as surprised as you; even doubt if it is true
Change How Often System Restore Creates Restore Points in Windows 7 or Vista - How-To Geek
I have also heard that an automatic point will not be made if another point was made within a certain period of time; think its a week.

 

[markaz]

"I have also heard that an automatic point will not be made if another point was made within a certain period of time; think its a week."

If true, that would explain it. Clicking on Show restore points older than 5 days displays at least 1 Windows Update every other day.

BTW, the "issue" I'm having is on a PC.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Markaz,
Your restore point may be hindered by the Dust Storm you are experiencing for the Nth time.
Have a brother in Phoenix and he just got thru cleaning up the last one and here comes another one.
THW

 

[markaz]

Markaz,
Your restore point may be hindered by the Dust Storm you are experiencing for the Nth time.
Have a brother in Phoenix and he just got thru cleaning up the last one and here comes another one.
THW

I feel his pain. And to make it worse while the dust bank rolled in and then pounding rain began it was still 103 degs @ 7:15pm. Could actually close your teeth together and feel and hear a crunch from the dust/particles getting in your mouth. Good times.

 

[markaz]

OK. I've reviewed all the tutorials provided by HowlingWolves and still cannot get SysRestore to create an automatic restore point.
The Windows Updates shown in the restore points created in the pic I posted are all virus definition updates for Security Essentials. Any chance their creation is recognized and replaces a scheduled event because both are a Microsoft event? Just grasping for an answer.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Take a look at this article and hints...
How to Run System Restore | PCWorld

 

[richc46]

Make a full anti virus scan
Download and make a full scan with Malwarebytes

 

[markaz]

Make a full anti virus scan
Download and make a full scan with Malwarebytes

Security Essentials picked up one benign adware and Malwarebytes detected one installer for some online gaming site. So all in all, nothing to point to.

 

[Sweet]

Hello dear people

What I'm about to tell, will not solve the problem, but it actually really happened.
Approximately one year after buying my HP laptop with Windows XP,
I noticed that Windows no longer created Automatic Restore Points.
Since I manually Create Restore Points, I didn't worry about it.
Everything else on my Computer worked fine,
and I could also use the Restore Points to restore the system in case it was needed.
I thought to myself, if I ever reinstall my Operating System,
the "problem" would be solved.
So one day, I decided to reinstall my Operating System.
And believe it or not, the "problem" was still there.
Windows still refused to create Automatic Restore Points.
As before, I didn't worry about it, because everything else worked fine on my Computer.
In the subsequent years I reinstalled Windows XP three times,
and every time again, I noticed that Windows refused to create Automatic Restore Points.
And then, you'll probably not believe it, about nine months after the last reinstall of XP,
on one day, I suddenly noticed that Windows had created an Automatic Restore Point.
I've got to say that I've never done anything to solve the "problem",
and my PC, at that time, never was connected to the Internet,
so, it was also not due to an update that the problem got fixed.
I've always found this a very remarkable event.
After years of sleep, Windows goes back to work with System Restore.
But enough reminiscing...

@ Markaz, You could place a VBScript in the Startup folder,
which creates a Restore Point when you log on to the Desktop.
( It's also possible to place a VBScript in the Startup folder,
that creates Restore Points at user-specified times, although this can result in significant CPU usage ! )

I added two script-examples.
You'll have to edit TimedRP.vbs to execute the script at the desired times,
The script RestorePoint.vbs can be placed in the Startup Folder as it is.
If you decide to try the scripts and you need more info about using or editing the scripts,
just ask and I'll be glad to help you.

Kind regards
Sweet

 

[markaz]

Sweet-

I appreciate the time you spent explaining your history with SysRestore. Quite frankly, somewhat like you, I know that restore points are being created nearly daily by Security Essentials at definition updates, but it's the knowing I can't control something that is a default function that's driven me nuts.
Question: How much CPU usage are we talking about? Frankly, I'm not concerned. I ask because the last time I purposely shut down any computer of mine is when I moved in 2006. I refuse to shut it down for any reason and restarts are usually of function of application install/deinstall.
Again, I really appreciate the information you offered and offer for further assistance. As I am not nearly at a skill level as you on OS behavior I will admit that your failures to correct the same situation make me feel less ignorant.

Update content

I just now (1 hour after initial post) checked SysRestore to see if SE created a restore point and found the attached.

I have no idea why this "Scheduled Restore Point" was created and notice that the time it was created was 4:45pm. The scheduled time to automatically create a restore point in Task Scheduler is 3:30AM every other day.
This is the first instance of a Scheduled restore point creation in a month. The next scheduled time is for tomorrow @ 3:30AM and will be curious if it keeps to that schedule, creates a point at another time, or does nothing.
I am interested in utilizing the script if the 3:30AM time is not kept. I will follow up tomorrow.

 

[Sweet]

Hey Markaz

Good to hear that a scheduled Restore Point was created.
In answer to your question about the CPU usage,
if I run TimedRP.vbs on my PC,
the CPU usage is about 50%, which is much, because normally it's only 1 to 2 %.
As I understand, it is now waiting for the next scheduled Restore Point.
I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that everything will be OK.

Sweet

 

[markaz]

Sweet -

Thank you for the reply. Should I consider using your script if another restore point is created, but not even close to the scheduled time? As I said in my previous post, a restore point was created @ 4:45PM whereas Task Scheduler is scheduled for 3:30AM.

One thing just occurred to me. Just yesterday (when the restore point was created) I uninstalled a spam filtering program that ran in the background (system tray) checking the server for new mail 24/7. Is it possible that this was interfering with the "Condition" in taskschd that 30 minutes of idle time was necessary for the task to run? (I'm still looking for a reason).

 

[Sweet]

Hello Markaz

It's entirely your choice whether you want to use the script or not.
If you rarely shut down your computer then the script must run continuously.
This means, the script is likely to consume 50% of your CPU constantly.
Another option would be, to run the script RestorePoint.vbs through Windows Task Scheduler,
In that case, an executable would be better,
because I am not sure if a VBScript can be executed by Windows Task Scheduler !
I am attaching two executables.
When executed, they create a silent Restore Point.

I uninstalled a spam filtering program that ran in the background (system tray)
checking the server for new mail 24/7.
Is it possible that this was interfering with the "Condition" in taskschd

It's a possibility, I have seen enough weird stuff happen in Windows.
I am also curious how it went with the last scheduled restore point,
I hope it was created...

Sweet

 

[markaz]

...
I am also curious how it went with the last scheduled restore point,
I hope it was created...

Sweet

Good and bad news. Another restore point was created, but as you can see it is independent of the parameters I scheduled in taskschd (every other day at 3:30AM). It was scheduled to run this morning, but did not.

I am also including the taskschd 2 day history.

So SysRestore is making daily automatic restore points, (which I'm happy about), but why it is doing so independent of Task Scheduler I have no idea. Thoughts??

 

[Sweet]

Hey Markaz

Well, the cause could be several reasons...
The default built-in Scheduled Checkpoint runs every day and systematically creates Restore Points ( Created, but not scheduled ),
but your Planned Checkpoints don't ( Scheduled, but not created ), probably because there is a problem with it.
I myself am not a fan of the Windows Task Scheduler.
In the past, I sometimes used it.
However, there was very often a problem with the scheduled tasks.
So now, I no longer use it, and I even disabled the Service.
Perhaps you've already tried it,
but if not, you can delete the task and create a new one.
It's one of the things I've often noticed that a scheduled task was not executed.

Sweet

 

[markaz]

Thank you Sweet. The built-in checkpoint creator failed to run yesterday as well as what was scheduled. In light of this and your previous posts I am going to disable Task Scheduler as well, get into a routine of manually creating restore points and just forgetting about this. Should the system occasionally create a restore point during a lightening storm or on some holiday, so be it.
I'm marking this solved as the solution is to throw in the towel and do something better with my time.

 

[markaz]

Very interesting and well above my computer skill level. If only you could solve my SidebySide Configuration problem all would be good.