Windows 7: System Restore Failed to extract orignal copy of the directory etc.

I have searched this forum for a solution to this problem. Did not find a workable solution. Using Win 7 Home Premium , Intel Pentium Dual-Core , 6134 Megabytes Memory and attached external Western Digital My Book drive.

Attached is the error dialog box.

I have tried several things with no success.
Ran System Restore in Safe Mode.. failed to extract etc.
Ran sfc /scannow at C: prompt... no errors
Ran vssadmin list writers at C: prompt...all 11 writers no errors
Ran Event Viewer found these errors under Windows Applications: 33, 8206 and 1000
Ran HD Tune scan no errors
Ran Avast Pro scan no viruses
Defraged C: drive (this was not really necessary)

This appears to be an old and recurring problem. I had the same problem over a year ago and was forced to do a clean reinstall and do not want to do that again if I can avoiid it.
Hope you can help wwith sime suggestions.

repair install?

System specs updated. Warned not to run the systeninfo tool. Searched Google. One post suggested System Restore had more problems than value. Explain "unless you just wanna give us the extra +R"

That is just my signature. nothing wrong with the system info tool, but you don't have to download it if you don't want to. That link will help you just fine. System restore is fine, you just may have to redownload updates, etc. it removes what you've done up to a point in time (whenever the restore was created). Thought you already did that though?

Google is very helpful. I made a slight joke that if you don't want to search google, just ask sevenforums, as that is a way to make easy reputation on the forum. In other words, people who ask the easy questions often give easy reputation that we "experts" don't have to work very hard for.

I suppose I fail to see why you need the system restore as you have not mentioned it. Perhaps if you do not require it, you could create a new system restore and delete the previous. Do you have more than one system restore point? Did you move any files or folders of windows to another location (like from C drive to H drive, etc)?

I do not need System Restore. I just like for things to work the way they should. Would like to learn how to fix this problem.
Not sure what is meant by "you could create a new system restore and delete the previous". I have deleted all restore points and then created a new one. The system responded that the point was created successfully but I was not able the restore from this new point. The same old error "System failed to extract the original etc.:.

Repair install or clean install might be my only option.

i wouldtry the repair install. at least you get to keep your files

As suggested I tried the repair install. First 7 step went well. After click UPGRADE in step 8 (not custom as I want to keep programs) this message was on the screen "Your current version of Windows is more recent than the version you are trying to upgrade . Windows cannot complete the upgrade." I ran WINVER and it indicate Version 6.1 (Build 7601 Service Pack 1) My reinstall DVD list only Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit. No indication which version.

Could you explain this error message for me?

I am using windowsforums tutorial number 3414

About a year ago I had this system restore problem and had the Geeks at Best Buy do a clean install. This required the downloading of all my programs and copying my saved data after the return of my machine. Not exactly sure how they did this. I do recall I sent my Windows 7 Reinstallation disk with the machine for the repair.