System restore feature not working yet

[koldis1]

hi,

I have exactly the same problem as described by hackitoff (system restore doesn't work) in General Discussions with the one difference however that sfc/scannow does give error's (it always give errrors); the pc is working pretty good and fast but I would like to get this handy and useful system restore feature working again, it has worked good for sure. I do run from time to time Malwarebytes and Spybot or Sas and also a Windows optimizer (internet-, drive- and register traces cleaning) and the Updating is ok also (Windows is up to date). And I use MSE and Windows Firewall as protection. All seems to be working ok, but system restore still gives the same by hackitoff mentioned final error message after doing its job (System restore did not complete successfully), so there must be a problem for sure.
And yes, when I generate a windows diagnostic system report I get this frequently (but not always):
Report of 31/12/2011 (latest example)
Warning - Info: missing events in events logbook
+ Find out why 24% (5.619) events during the collection of data went lost. The settings fot ETW (event tracing for windows) max buffers and buffersize may be not optimized depending on which eventsets of data is being collected
ref: About Event Tracing (looks very technical!)
I wonder sometimes if this windows optimizing has something to do with this missing events and with the not working anymore system restore (it removes a lot of temp files surely)
I did not try out yet the hint of making a system restore from another admin user account in safe mode.

Added: I also did generate several times a hijackthis log just for analysis; there are several specialized forums with assistance who do the analysis gratefully and give detailed safe instructions. I just submitted them the hjt log and do nothing in the registers of course; they didn't find anything faulty never.

Malwarebytes, Spybot and Sas did detect a lot of infection objects and removed and or repaired them also.

I do have a Vista installation dvd +SP2 for 32bit (I was happy to find one cheap surplus item, they are hard to get indeed (?) and expensive also...); I have also the the two Acer OEM recovery disks, but these are only usefull for a full reinstall of the Windows/Acer system.

 

[Yard Dog]

Hello, look at method 2 , should be able to do this with what you have . : Maximum PC | How to Repair a Faulty Windows Installation Without Reformatting

 

[Yard Dog]

Rut roh, look at this : Just realized that other one is for Windows 7, although similiar, this is the one to look at : http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

 

[wither 3]

Note that you can buy the SP1 and SP2 Vista discs from Microsoft for about $4 plus shipping. I don't know if you could buy a standard installation disc from them.

 

[patch41]

Hi Koldsi1, If you have norton, you have to turn off norton tamper protection, double click norton-( settings untick tamper protection), Maybe the same with other security systems also, good luck, patch41.

 

[koldis1]

I tried out the methods proposed in post #2, Maximum PC, is intended for Windows7 but works for Vista also apparently.

Method 1: sfc/scannow + special parameters via Windows Installation disc in disc boot, authentification ok (Windows ProductID of my laptop was accepted), repair Windows, via command prompt and the proces started correctly but returned finally the usual error message: there are damaged system files found but not all of them can be repaired; retried 3 times but still unsuccesfull.

Method 2: Reinstall Windows without losing any data. This time one has to boot from Windows (explorer), authentification ok, install Windows, kind of installation: upgrade ok, then starts a lengthy Compatibility check that returned the 1st time a white blank screen with one button close; the 2nd try did give something real as incompatibility message: You must perform following modifications before you can carry out any Windows Upgrade: Remove the program Windows Powershell; this statement is very clear and has no ambiguity at least.

So I'm stuck and blocked at this point because removing Powershell is not so obvious and easy or may be even simply impossible since it's a big part of Windows itself; there is no item Powerhell in C.P./Remove software and there is no installed update related to Powershell either at first view (KB928439 and others). The only thing I can do is disabling (uncheck) in Installed updates/Windows parts and programs: Windows Powershell and Windows Powershell Integrated Scripting Environment, but this is not enough, they ask for removal. This Powershell uninstall is also a notorious topic on internet with a lot of suggestions but none really working until now. May be MS is promoting some kind of 'flat earth' or 'baked air' as they say here! I wil probably have to do the full reinstall of Windows after all anyway to get my Windows o.s. system working correctly again ;-)

P.S. I have not Norton but Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Firewall, not disabled during this try.

 

[Yard Dog]

Rut roh, look at this : Just realized that other one is for Windows 7, although similiar, this is the one to look at : http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

You attempted this one, i added this after an 1/2 hour when i realized i had the Win7 tutorial up and posted ?

 

[patch41]

(turn the powershell off,) Start, Control panel, programs and features, In the left hand column under tasks you will see Turn windows features on or off, click on that, you will find powershell turn it off, It will not let you upgrade untill its turned off, good luck.

 

[koldis1]

Hi,

I turned off Powershell (the 2 items) successfully and my pc is now even working better and faster by, I think! I was just going to repeat the repair trial as proposed in post #3 but specially for my version for Vista (System files repair with Windows Install disc method for Vista).

But to my surprise another new problem came up, my Vista installation disc does not open the setup suite any more, I do get the classic Windows box logo, ok, but clicking on that doesn't start the setup as usual but it has worked perfectly for sure, the setup program has become inactive.

I did get some error messages also:
a)Install Windows - The file 'autorun.dll' could not be loaded or is corrupt - Setup cannot continue - Error code is [0x456]
b)Setup.exe - Invalid Installation copy - E:\Sources\SPWIZENG.dll is not suitable for Windows. Try to install the program again with the original installation media or contact the system administrator or softwaresupplier.

I tried the same Windows installation disc used succesfully previously, on another pc and it worked! No idea if this comes from spyware or from anything else.

The problem of course is that the computermaker (Acer) does not supply a genuine Windows Installation disc (for small repair purposes like this) and refers always to its 2 Recovery Discs what implicates full reinstall of everything.

 

[koldis1]

This system restore problem is solved now.
I got my Windows installation disc working again after some puzzling and googling...
I had to uncheck Windows PowerShell again after a new compatibilty check and started the long install/upgrading procedure well explained in post #3 'System files repair with Windows install disc for Vista', made the selection of my version and followed the the different steps and intructions. There was one error message at the end 'Net Framework 4' must be repaired and Windows repaired it succesfully, then the activation and installing ±110 updates. Also an update for PowerShell passed, KB968930 (Windows PowerShell + Win RM 2.0), this update was installed previously but I didn't know it was the one of Powershell. Some readjusting of settings of Vista was also really needed, that's right.
All my user files, applications and settings were kept intact, that's really great with this method of Windows repair. I had made a backup of course, just in case.
I did run a check sfc/scannow and that was ok: no integrity violations.. and did also a System Restore test also ok: System restore is completed succesfully..
thanx.

 

[Yard Dog]

Woot Woot , betcha feel good now, what an ordeal you have been through. Glad everything worked out for you.

 

[patch41]

Hi Koldis1, glad to see you got everthing working fine, I know how much a relief it is, as i have been through it mysel....Patch41