system restore

[Sean]

The new AOL (surprise surprise) ran roughshod over our ME
operating sytem and I want to restore the system to an
earlier point. Unfortunately, halfway through the
restore the computer reboots and has a message that the
system could not restore to that point when it finishes
rebooting. Is there anything I can do to try and
successfully restore the system.

[Noel Paton]

It's likely that fixing g SR will remove all existing restore points - but
why not use the AOL Uninstaller??

It's possible that you haven't installed the System Restore Patch - without
which any current restore points are just space fillers.
To check this, look for the file C:\Windows\System\SMGR.DLL - r-click on the
file, and select Properties.
What's the version number? - if it's v4.90.0.3003 then you have installed
the patch, and we have to look elsewhere for the problem
if it's v4.90.0.2533, then you need to install the patch.

To install the patch, either visit Windows Update, or go here, and download
the patch for offline install
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q290700
Run the installer, and windows should reset System Restore at the same time,
clearing your old restore points (which wouldn't have worked, anyhow), and
creating a single new one.
You should then reset the maximum allocation for SR by going to the
adjustment slider at System Properties | Performance | File System | Hard
Disk - most people find that 200-400MB is quite sufficient for most
purposes, unless installing/uninstalling large applications such as Office.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar27pmvp.asp
"Sean" > wrote in message
...
> The new AOL (surprise surprise) ran roughshod over our ME
> operating sytem and I want to restore the system to an
> earlier point. Unfortunately, halfway through the
> restore the computer reboots and has a message that the
> system could not restore to that point when it finishes
> rebooting. Is there anything I can do to try and
> successfully restore the system.

[Sean]

Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far, no
luck . . .

Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version of AOL
from the computer but that hasn't remedied the settings it
changed and some other problems it caused.

I apparently already had the patch because I have the most
recent version of the SMGR.DLL.

My allocation for system restore was at about 7000 MB so I
reduced that but that basically seemed to make the system
restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I shut down
the restore when it went a couple of minutes with no
apparent progress.

Any other ideas?

[Noel Paton]

Leave SR to do it's thing - a restore can take up to 30 minutes or more, as
the first thing it has to do is create a new restore point containing all
the changes it makes in going back to the older point you indicate.

What happens if you create a manual restore point?

In Folder Options, make sure that you have enabled viewing of System and
Hidden folder/files (TWO settings),
Navigate to the C:\_Restore folder, and r-click on the icon, selecting
Properties - how many files/folders does it contain? How much space is it
using?


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar27pmvp.asp
"Sean" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far, no
> luck . . .
>
> Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version of AOL
> from the computer but that hasn't remedied the settings it
> changed and some other problems it caused.
>
> I apparently already had the patch because I have the most
> recent version of the SMGR.DLL.
>
> My allocation for system restore was at about 7000 MB so I
> reduced that but that basically seemed to make the system
> restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I shut down
> the restore when it went a couple of minutes with no
> apparent progress.
>
> Any other ideas?

Okay, I went into the folder options and checked the box
to show hidden files and folders, though I didn't see
where to check to make sure system folders are shown.

I created a manual restore point, but still haven't had a
successful restore.

The properties say that the Restore file has 8 files and 0
folders with a size of 633KB and size on disk of 736 KB.

Yet every time I run restore it speeds through the first
half (at least according to the status bar) but then the
system reboots and when it restarts it returns to system
restore saying the system could not be restored to that
point so no changes have occurred in the system.

Any other ideas?



>-----Original Message-----
>Leave SR to do it's thing - a restore can take up to 30
minutes or more, as
>the first thing it has to do is create a new restore
point containing all
>the changes it makes in going back to the older point you
indicate.
>
>What happens if you create a manual restore point?
>
>In Folder Options, make sure that you have enabled
viewing of System and
>Hidden folder/files (TWO settings),
>Navigate to the C:\_Restore folder, and r-click on the
icon, selecting
>Properties - how many files/folders does it contain? How
much space is it
>using?
>
>
>--
>Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>
>Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>
>Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post
messages to NG's
>or
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar
27pmvp.asp
>"Sean" > wrote in
message
...
>> Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far, no
>> luck . . .
>>
>> Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version of AOL
>> from the computer but that hasn't remedied the settings
it
>> changed and some other problems it caused.
>>
>> I apparently already had the patch because I have the
most
>> recent version of the SMGR.DLL.
>>
>> My allocation for system restore was at about 7000 MB
so I
>> reduced that but that basically seemed to make the
system
>> restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I shut
down
>> the restore when it went a couple of minutes with no
>> apparent progress.
>>
>> Any other ideas?
>
>
>.
>

[Noel Paton]

Are you sure that you were looking at the C:\_Restore folder? (the data
looks more like the C:\Windows\System\ Restore folder)

C:\_Restore should have had 5 folders - and been at least 2MB (more usually
10MB+++) in size.

Back in Folder Options|View...
two lines below the Hidden Files and Folders section.....
'Hide protected operating system files...' - Uncheck it.

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar27pmvp.asp
> wrote in message
...
> Okay, I went into the folder options and checked the box
> to show hidden files and folders, though I didn't see
> where to check to make sure system folders are shown.
>
> I created a manual restore point, but still haven't had a
> successful restore.
>
> The properties say that the Restore file has 8 files and 0
> folders with a size of 633KB and size on disk of 736 KB.
>
> Yet every time I run restore it speeds through the first
> half (at least according to the status bar) but then the
> system reboots and when it restarts it returns to system
> restore saying the system could not be restored to that
> point so no changes have occurred in the system.
>
> Any other ideas?
>
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Leave SR to do it's thing - a restore can take up to 30
> minutes or more, as
> >the first thing it has to do is create a new restore
> point containing all
> >the changes it makes in going back to the older point you
> indicate.
> >
> >What happens if you create a manual restore point?
> >
> >In Folder Options, make sure that you have enabled
> viewing of System and
> >Hidden folder/files (TWO settings),
> >Navigate to the C:\_Restore folder, and r-click on the
> icon, selecting
> >Properties - how many files/folders does it contain? How
> much space is it
> >using?
> >
> >
> >--
> >Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
> >
> >Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> >http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
> >
> >Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post
> messages to NG's
> >or
> >http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar
> 27pmvp.asp
> >"Sean" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far, no
> >> luck . . .
> >>
> >> Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version of AOL
> >> from the computer but that hasn't remedied the settings
> it
> >> changed and some other problems it caused.
> >>
> >> I apparently already had the patch because I have the
> most
> >> recent version of the SMGR.DLL.
> >>
> >> My allocation for system restore was at about 7000 MB
> so I
> >> reduced that but that basically seemed to make the
> system
> >> restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I shut
> down
> >> the restore when it went a couple of minutes with no
> >> apparent progress.
> >>
> >> Any other ideas?
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Sean]

You're right, I was looking in the wrong Restore folder.
The info in the C:\_Restore folder was:
3.14 GB
3.3 GB (on disk or whatever that second disk space is
about)
9,788 files, 5 folders

After showing the hidden system folders the Restore has
continued failing halfway through and rebooting, coming
back on to say the system could not be restored to that
point.

Here is a full explanation of why I am trying to resotre
my system to an earlier date and maybe, in addition to
any further suggestions about system restore, you might
have other ideas-- when I downloaded the new version of
AOL it seemed to reset the prefences for everything,
including Internet Explorer. I deleted some of the
shortcuts to crap it threw on the desktop and I am afraid
I may have deleted a file of shortcuts or something to
that effect (though what that would be doing on the
desktop I have no idea).

Ever since then, there have been three main problem:
1) the shortcuts to virtually all the programs in the
start bar are gone-- when I go to the start bar and go to
programs only about 5 or 6 show up;
2) I can't open some programs becauce it gives me error
messages that certain components are missing (Palm
Desktop) or that there is no file type associated with
that program or that the program is not registered to
that user and I need to reinstall it (both of those for
the same version of Microsoft Word, a version which I
have had and used for over two years); and
3) Internet Explorer freezes frequently, including most
of the times I try to load the webpage for this newsgroup
or any other pages that have some sort of active content.

I don't know if there is a folder I could have deleted
that would have added to/caused some of these problems,
but I figured I would mention it. I felt confident that
whatever file I was deleting was something that had not
been on the desktop before the new aol was loaded, but I
figured I would mention it in case it could be part of
the problem and there was any way other than restoring
the system to bring back what I deleted on Saturday
morning.

Thanks for reading this long explanation. You've been
helpful so far so I figured it might help if I took the
time to explain everything.


>-----Original Message-----
>Are you sure that you were looking at the C:\_Restore
folder? (the data
>looks more like the C:\Windows\System\ Restore folder)
>
>C:\_Restore should have had 5 folders - and been at
least 2MB (more usually
>10MB+++) in size.
>
>Back in Folder Options|View...
>two lines below the Hidden Files and Folders section.....
>'Hide protected operating system files...' - Uncheck it.
>
>--
>Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>
>Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>
>Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post
messages to NG's
>or
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Ma
r27pmvp.asp
> wrote in message
...
>> Okay, I went into the folder options and checked the
box
>> to show hidden files and folders, though I didn't see
>> where to check to make sure system folders are shown.
>>
>> I created a manual restore point, but still haven't
had a
>> successful restore.
>>
>> The properties say that the Restore file has 8 files
and 0
>> folders with a size of 633KB and size on disk of 736
KB.
>>
>> Yet every time I run restore it speeds through the
first
>> half (at least according to the status bar) but then
the
>> system reboots and when it restarts it returns to
system
>> restore saying the system could not be restored to that
>> point so no changes have occurred in the system.
>>
>> Any other ideas?
>>
>>
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Leave SR to do it's thing - a restore can take up to
30
>> minutes or more, as
>> >the first thing it has to do is create a new restore
>> point containing all
>> >the changes it makes in going back to the older point
you
>> indicate.
>> >
>> >What happens if you create a manual restore point?
>> >
>> >In Folder Options, make sure that you have enabled
>> viewing of System and
>> >Hidden folder/files (TWO settings),
>> >Navigate to the C:\_Restore folder, and r-click on the
>> icon, selecting
>> >Properties - how many files/folders does it contain?
How
>> much space is it
>> >using?
>> >
>> >
>> >--
>> >Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>> >
>> >Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> >http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> >
>> >Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to
post
>> messages to NG's
>> >or
>>
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Ma
r
>> 27pmvp.asp
>> >"Sean" > wrote in
>> message
>> ...
>> >> Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far,
no
>> >> luck . . .
>> >>
>> >> Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version
of AOL
>> >> from the computer but that hasn't remedied the
settings
>> it
>> >> changed and some other problems it caused.
>> >>
>> >> I apparently already had the patch because I have
the
>> most
>> >> recent version of the SMGR.DLL.
>> >>
>> >> My allocation for system restore was at about 7000
MB
>> so I
>> >> reduced that but that basically seemed to make the
>> system
>> >> restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I shut
>> down
>> >> the restore when it went a couple of minutes with no
>> >> apparent progress.
>> >>
>> >> Any other ideas?
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[Noel Paton]

OK - the fact that 3GB is taken by System Restore, and that there are a
considerable number of files present indicates that the control files are
almost certainly corrupted, especially as you attempted to reduce the amount
of disk space allocated (to what? - you didn't say (or I missed it!)). If
the current allocation is less than 4GB, then we have here a definite case
of corrupted files, and the only way to repair the situation (but not,
unfortunately, the other problems) is to reset System Restore - losing all
restore points along the way :(

To Reset System Restore -
System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and check
"Disable System Restore",
Apply and IMMEDIATELY reboot.
This will flush you restore folder and erase all checkpoints, then,
System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and uncheck
"Disable System Restore",
Apply and again IMMEDIATELY reboot.
This should now automatically create a new checkpoint immediately following
the restart.
Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder,
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore slider
to your preferred setting.

Most people find that a setting of 200-300MB is sufficient to hold 10-15
days worth of restore points, unless you are doing a lot of
installs/uninstalls, or installing large applications (such as Office).

Once SR is working again, we can risk working on your other problems!<g>
Look here for a test for SR function....
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/quiktipsr.htm


1)
The Start |Programs menu has probably been set to 'Use personalised menus'
in Properties |General - uncheck the entry, and click OK - all your entries
will reappear as if by magic<g>

2) Sounds like some of your file associations have been altered - easily
fixed by using Folder Properties |File Types

3) You may have a virus/spyware hijack

download the Stinger from here and run it to make sure that A-V-disabling
viruses are not present on your PC
http://download.nai.com/products/mcafee-avert/stinger.exe

- update your virus scanner and run a full system scan of all files.

Reboot to Safe Mode and run CWShredder - to remove variants of the
CoolWebSearch hijacker.
http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html

Use CWShredder, the removal tool:
http://www.merijn.org/files/cwshredder.zip
http://www.merijn.org/files/CWShredder.exe
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/tools/CWShredder.exe
http://www.zerosrealm.com/downloads/CWShredder.zip

download AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com, install, update, and run it to
remove spyware, adware,
and other such nasties from your system.



--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar27pmvp.asp
"Sean" > wrote in message
...
> You're right, I was looking in the wrong Restore folder.
> The info in the C:\_Restore folder was:
> 3.14 GB
> 3.3 GB (on disk or whatever that second disk space is
> about)
> 9,788 files, 5 folders
>
> After showing the hidden system folders the Restore has
> continued failing halfway through and rebooting, coming
> back on to say the system could not be restored to that
> point.
>
> Here is a full explanation of why I am trying to resotre
> my system to an earlier date and maybe, in addition to
> any further suggestions about system restore, you might
> have other ideas-- when I downloaded the new version of
> AOL it seemed to reset the prefences for everything,
> including Internet Explorer. I deleted some of the
> shortcuts to crap it threw on the desktop and I am afraid
> I may have deleted a file of shortcuts or something to
> that effect (though what that would be doing on the
> desktop I have no idea).
>
> Ever since then, there have been three main problem:
> 1) the shortcuts to virtually all the programs in the
> start bar are gone-- when I go to the start bar and go to
> programs only about 5 or 6 show up;
> 2) I can't open some programs becauce it gives me error
> messages that certain components are missing (Palm
> Desktop) or that there is no file type associated with
> that program or that the program is not registered to
> that user and I need to reinstall it (both of those for
> the same version of Microsoft Word, a version which I
> have had and used for over two years); and
> 3) Internet Explorer freezes frequently, including most
> of the times I try to load the webpage for this newsgroup
> or any other pages that have some sort of active content.
>
> I don't know if there is a folder I could have deleted
> that would have added to/caused some of these problems,
> but I figured I would mention it. I felt confident that
> whatever file I was deleting was something that had not
> been on the desktop before the new aol was loaded, but I
> figured I would mention it in case it could be part of
> the problem and there was any way other than restoring
> the system to bring back what I deleted on Saturday
> morning.
>
> Thanks for reading this long explanation. You've been
> helpful so far so I figured it might help if I took the
> time to explain everything.
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Are you sure that you were looking at the C:\_Restore
> folder? (the data
> >looks more like the C:\Windows\System\ Restore folder)
> >
> >C:\_Restore should have had 5 folders - and been at
> least 2MB (more usually
> >10MB+++) in size.
> >
> >Back in Folder Options|View...
> >two lines below the Hidden Files and Folders section.....
> >'Hide protected operating system files...' - Uncheck it.
> >
> >--
> >Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
> >
> >Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> >http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
> >
> >Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post
> messages to NG's
> >or
> >http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Ma
> r27pmvp.asp
> > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Okay, I went into the folder options and checked the
> box
> >> to show hidden files and folders, though I didn't see
> >> where to check to make sure system folders are shown.
> >>
> >> I created a manual restore point, but still haven't
> had a
> >> successful restore.
> >>
> >> The properties say that the Restore file has 8 files
> and 0
> >> folders with a size of 633KB and size on disk of 736
> KB.
> >>
> >> Yet every time I run restore it speeds through the
> first
> >> half (at least according to the status bar) but then
> the
> >> system reboots and when it restarts it returns to
> system
> >> restore saying the system could not be restored to that
> >> point so no changes have occurred in the system.
> >>
> >> Any other ideas?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Leave SR to do it's thing - a restore can take up to
> 30
> >> minutes or more, as
> >> >the first thing it has to do is create a new restore
> >> point containing all
> >> >the changes it makes in going back to the older point
> you
> >> indicate.
> >> >
> >> >What happens if you create a manual restore point?
> >> >
> >> >In Folder Options, make sure that you have enabled
> >> viewing of System and
> >> >Hidden folder/files (TWO settings),
> >> >Navigate to the C:\_Restore folder, and r-click on the
> >> icon, selecting
> >> >Properties - how many files/folders does it contain?
> How
> >> much space is it
> >> >using?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >--
> >> >Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
> >> >
> >> >Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> >> >http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
> >> >
> >> >Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to
> post
> >> messages to NG's
> >> >or
> >>
> >http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Ma
> r
> >> 27pmvp.asp
> >> >"Sean" > wrote in
> >> message
> >> ...
> >> >> Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far,
> no
> >> >> luck . . .
> >> >>
> >> >> Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version
> of AOL
> >> >> from the computer but that hasn't remedied the
> settings
> >> it
> >> >> changed and some other problems it caused.
> >> >>
> >> >> I apparently already had the patch because I have
> the
> >> most
> >> >> recent version of the SMGR.DLL.
> >> >>
> >> >> My allocation for system restore was at about 7000
> MB
> >> so I
> >> >> reduced that but that basically seemed to make the
> >> system
> >> >> restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I shut
> >> down
> >> >> the restore when it went a couple of minutes with no
> >> >> apparent progress.
> >> >>
> >> >> Any other ideas?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Sean]

I have tried some of the other things but have not had
luck in clearing up most any of the problems.
Unclicking "use personalized menus" has not brought back
the numerous programs that have gone missing from the
start bar. Also, it gives the error message about file
types not being associated but when I go to the folder
options the associations are there (such as Word
with .doc). And it still gives the message that word has
not been installed for the current user and must be
reinstalled if I try to open it from a shortcut I have to
word on the desktop.

I have run the stinger and run mcafee and cleared up what
I can-- it won't delete the adware files in the Restore
folder since it is read only.

I am hesitant to get rid of all the past system
checkpoints until I am sure that the problems can be
remedied without returning the computer to a prior state.
I guess I will if it looks as if there is no choice, but I
am trying to find anyway where I wouldn't have to delete
old checkpoints (or where I can remedy my problems without
resorting to system restore).


>-----Original Message-----
>OK - the fact that 3GB is taken by System Restore, and
that there are a
>considerable number of files present indicates that the
control files are
>almost certainly corrupted, especially as you attempted
to reduce the amount
>of disk space allocated (to what? - you didn't say (or I
missed it!)). If
>the current allocation is less than 4GB, then we have
here a definite case
>of corrupted files, and the only way to repair the
situation (but not,
>unfortunately, the other problems) is to reset System
Restore - losing all
>restore points along the way :(
>
>To Reset System Restore -
>System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and
check
>"Disable System Restore",
>Apply and IMMEDIATELY reboot.
>This will flush you restore folder and erase all
checkpoints, then,
>System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and
uncheck
>"Disable System Restore",
>Apply and again IMMEDIATELY reboot.
>This should now automatically create a new checkpoint
immediately following
>the restart.
>Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder,
>System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust
the restore slider
>to your preferred setting.
>
>Most people find that a setting of 200-300MB is
sufficient to hold 10-15
>days worth of restore points, unless you are doing a lot
of
>installs/uninstalls, or installing large applications
(such as Office).
>
>Once SR is working again, we can risk working on your
other problems!<g>
>Look here for a test for SR function....
>http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/quiktipsr.htm
>
>
>1)
>The Start |Programs menu has probably been set to 'Use
personalised menus'
>in Properties |General - uncheck the entry, and click OK -
all your entries
>will reappear as if by magic<g>
>
>2) Sounds like some of your file associations have been
altered - easily
>fixed by using Folder Properties |File Types
>
>3) You may have a virus/spyware hijack
>
>download the Stinger from here and run it to make sure
that A-V-disabling
>viruses are not present on your PC
>http://download.nai.com/products/mcafee-avert/stinger.exe
>
>- update your virus scanner and run a full system scan of
all files.
>
>Reboot to Safe Mode and run CWShredder - to remove
variants of the
>CoolWebSearch hijacker.
>http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html
>
>Use CWShredder, the removal tool:
>http://www.merijn.org/files/cwshredder.zip
>http://www.merijn.org/files/CWShredder.exe
>http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/tools/CWShredder.exe
>http://www.zerosrealm.com/downloads/CWShredder.zip
>
>download AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com, install,
update, and run it to
>remove spyware, adware,
>and other such nasties from your system.
>
>
>
>--
>Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>
>Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>
>Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post
messages to NG's
>or
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Mar
27pmvp.asp
>"Sean" > wrote in
message
...
>> You're right, I was looking in the wrong Restore folder.
>> The info in the C:\_Restore folder was:
>> 3.14 GB
>> 3.3 GB (on disk or whatever that second disk space is
>> about)
>> 9,788 files, 5 folders
>>
>> After showing the hidden system folders the Restore has
>> continued failing halfway through and rebooting, coming
>> back on to say the system could not be restored to that
>> point.
>>
>> Here is a full explanation of why I am trying to resotre
>> my system to an earlier date and maybe, in addition to
>> any further suggestions about system restore, you might
>> have other ideas-- when I downloaded the new version of
>> AOL it seemed to reset the prefences for everything,
>> including Internet Explorer. I deleted some of the
>> shortcuts to crap it threw on the desktop and I am
afraid
>> I may have deleted a file of shortcuts or something to
>> that effect (though what that would be doing on the
>> desktop I have no idea).
>>
>> Ever since then, there have been three main problem:
>> 1) the shortcuts to virtually all the programs in the
>> start bar are gone-- when I go to the start bar and go
to
>> programs only about 5 or 6 show up;
>> 2) I can't open some programs becauce it gives me error
>> messages that certain components are missing (Palm
>> Desktop) or that there is no file type associated with
>> that program or that the program is not registered to
>> that user and I need to reinstall it (both of those for
>> the same version of Microsoft Word, a version which I
>> have had and used for over two years); and
>> 3) Internet Explorer freezes frequently, including most
>> of the times I try to load the webpage for this
newsgroup
>> or any other pages that have some sort of active
content.
>>
>> I don't know if there is a folder I could have deleted
>> that would have added to/caused some of these problems,
>> but I figured I would mention it. I felt confident that
>> whatever file I was deleting was something that had not
>> been on the desktop before the new aol was loaded, but I
>> figured I would mention it in case it could be part of
>> the problem and there was any way other than restoring
>> the system to bring back what I deleted on Saturday
>> morning.
>>
>> Thanks for reading this long explanation. You've been
>> helpful so far so I figured it might help if I took the
>> time to explain everything.
>>
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Are you sure that you were looking at the C:\_Restore
>> folder? (the data
>> >looks more like the C:\Windows\System\ Restore folder)
>> >
>> >C:\_Restore should have had 5 folders - and been at
>> least 2MB (more usually
>> >10MB+++) in size.
>> >
>> >Back in Folder Options|View...
>> >two lines below the Hidden Files and Folders
section.....
>> >'Hide protected operating system files...' - Uncheck
it.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>> >
>> >Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> >http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> >
>> >Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to
post
>> messages to NG's
>> >or
>>
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Ma
>> r27pmvp.asp
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >> Okay, I went into the folder options and checked the
>> box
>> >> to show hidden files and folders, though I didn't see
>> >> where to check to make sure system folders are shown.
>> >>
>> >> I created a manual restore point, but still haven't
>> had a
>> >> successful restore.
>> >>
>> >> The properties say that the Restore file has 8 files
>> and 0
>> >> folders with a size of 633KB and size on disk of 736
>> KB.
>> >>
>> >> Yet every time I run restore it speeds through the
>> first
>> >> half (at least according to the status bar) but then
>> the
>> >> system reboots and when it restarts it returns to
>> system
>> >> restore saying the system could not be restored to
that
>> >> point so no changes have occurred in the system.
>> >>
>> >> Any other ideas?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >Leave SR to do it's thing - a restore can take up to
>> 30
>> >> minutes or more, as
>> >> >the first thing it has to do is create a new restore
>> >> point containing all
>> >> >the changes it makes in going back to the older
point
>> you
>> >> indicate.
>> >> >
>> >> >What happens if you create a manual restore point?
>> >> >
>> >> >In Folder Options, make sure that you have enabled
>> >> viewing of System and
>> >> >Hidden folder/files (TWO settings),
>> >> >Navigate to the C:\_Restore folder, and r-click on
the
>> >> icon, selecting
>> >> >Properties - how many files/folders does it contain?
>> How
>> >> much space is it
>> >> >using?
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >--
>> >> >Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>> >> >
>> >> >Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> >> >http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> >> >
>> >> >Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to
>> post
>> >> messages to NG's
>> >> >or
>> >>
>>
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/Mar01/Ma
>> r
>> >> 27pmvp.asp
>> >> >"Sean" > wrote
in
>> >> message
>> >> ...
>> >> >> Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions, but so far,
>> no
>> >> >> luck . . .
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Okay, I already uninstalled the offending version
>> of AOL
>> >> >> from the computer but that hasn't remedied the
>> settings
>> >> it
>> >> >> changed and some other problems it caused.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I apparently already had the patch because I have
>> the
>> >> most
>> >> >> recent version of the SMGR.DLL.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> My allocation for system restore was at about 7000
>> MB
>> >> so I
>> >> >> reduced that but that basically seemed to make the
>> >> system
>> >> >> restore either extremely slow or ineffective (I
shut
>> >> down
>> >> >> the restore when it went a couple of minutes with
no
>> >> >> apparent progress.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Any other ideas?
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >.
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>