Windows 7: System Restore only shows limited restore points

Why does system restore only shows the two restore points where I backed up my computer to my external drive. And If I try to restore that, then it says, The backup drive could not be found. How would that matter though? I mean I only backed up my system to an external drive. I didn't create a system restore point to my external hd.

I created a manual system restore earlier today and now it's gone for some reason.

So I created another manual restore point in System Restore but now it's also gone. Can someone help me with this, please?

Please refer to our Tutorials to see if they can provide you with further information..

System Restore
How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7

System Restore Configuration - Enable or Disable
How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 System Restore Configuration

System Restore - Enable or Disable
How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 System Restore

System Restore General Troubleshooting to Fix Issues

System Restore Point - Create
How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 7

System Restore Point : Create at System Startup
How to Automatically Create A System Restore Point at Startup

System Restore Point Shortcut
How to Make a "Create System Restore Point" Shortcut in Windows 7

System Restore Points - Manually Extract Files and Folders
How to Extract Files and Folders from System Restore Points in Windows 7 and Vista

System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete
How to Stop System Restore Points from being Deleted in Vista and Windows 7 when Dual Booting with XP

System Restore - Undo
How to Undo the Last System Restore in Vista and Windows 7

Personally, I would avoid using System Restore. Some folks mistake System Restore for an imaging and restoration solution -- which it is not.

My own approach is to use third-party apps to image off the Windows 7 OS partition. The apps (in some cases) are free, the imaging only take a few minutes, and restore can be done just as quickly.

But, that's just my approach.

Ok, So I ran SFC/ SCANNOW on my desktop and it seemed to have fixed the problem.

Great news.
Well done.
Safe surfing!

Ok. Never mind. Same problem again. I only have 1 restore points and those are the ones when I backed up the system to an external HD.

Are you booting more than on OS by any chance? If you boot XP and it can see Vista or Windows 7 partition it will think those restore points are corrupted and delete them. The format has changed a bit so it doesn't recognize them as valid.

If that's the case, this may help:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/12...delete-14.html

Check mark the box I circled in yellow when you get to this window.

Which is Option One, Step #8 here.> System Restore

I got that option after I ran sfc/scannow yesterday and I was able to see more restore points if you notice from my earlier snips from this thread. I just ran SFC/scannow again and it showed that windows did not find any integration , etc.