Cannot create System Restore Points

System: Sony Laptop VAIO VGN-Z790DLX, 1 TB HGST HDD, Windows 7 Pro., 4 GB Ram, HDMI Monitor, BD Optical Disk.

An internet search indicates that this is quite a common problem. If one does not want to read all of this same-old same-old, scroll down to my three choices at the bottom of the post.

I am unable to create System Restore Points in Control Panel or when running updates. It is turned on, and there is plenty of disk space allocated.

If I try to manually create one from Control Panel’s System Properties it goes through the motions but I get the error popup saying “The specified object was not found. (0x80042308) Please try again.” All that shows in Control Panel’s System Properties is one from 10/11/2015 and another from 8/16/2015, and these will not delete either. There is never an entry in the Event Log that I can find to indicate any error.

I installed Brink’s “Create Instant Restore Point” shortcut and run it at least once per day. I have it set to run on each startup and also manually when I choose. I checked the Event Log under Windows Logs Application and I see that the startup and manual ones show “Successfully created restore point (Process = C:\Windows\system32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe; Description = Manual Restore Point).” Event ID 8194. However they do not appear in the System Restore window.

However if I manually create one from Control Panel’s System Properties I get the error popup saying “The specified object was not found. (0x80042308) Please try again.” There is never an entry in the Event Log that I can find to indicate any error. Also the manually created ones do not appear in the System Restore window. All that is there is one from 10/11/2015 and another from 8/16/2015, and these will not delete either.

I seem to have three choices.

1. Fix it.

2. Ignore the problem and use an external 2TB drive to create and do a daily automatic differential image update. I actually have this set up now using Macrium Reflect and it does a differential update each day at 10 am. If I forget to plug the drive back in, it simply catches up the next day.

3. Do a clean install of Win 7. This would be a last ditch effort. My original Win 7 clean install was a nightmare and took about a month to get it all sorted and working. There is so much Sony specific software and drivers to be installed after the Win 7 install it is not funny, and it has to be installed in the right order too or things will not work properly.

Any opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.

Peter B.

whs said:

I would go with #2 - except I would make full images and not differentials.

There must be a good reason you would go with full images, would you mind sharing?

Thanks,

Peter B.

Right now this is what I am doing.

Automatic Macrium Reflect Differential Image backups of my Vaio VGNZ laptop to an external 2TB drive every day at 10 am.

Backing up those file on the external 2TB drive to a networked 2TB data drive on a Dell 755 desktop, which incidentally has 6TB of drive space available. This back up is initialized manually usually in the early evenings when I do other backups to the 755.

So without Microsoft's broken Restore Point system, I am backing up to an image then backing up the backup. In the likely event of another Vaio HD failure, I should be OK. I have also started doing a clone of the Vaio about once a month to a different 2TB external drive for good measure.

I still have to get my wife's Windows 7 system set up too; She is not very good in the backup department.

PS, I am thinking about retiring my VGNZ laptop with the NEW VGNZ laptop. VAIO Z Canvas Signature Edition 2 in 1 PC, 1TB SSD $3,099.00. Detachable touchscreen which can be used as a separate stand alone monitor, or the whole thing can be used like a regular laptop. The only downside is that it comes with Windows 10. yuk...

Darn it, I just hijacked my own thread.

Peter B.

whs said:

I think $3000 for a PC is a waste.

Regarding your clones I recommend you check whether they work Mine did not.

That is about what I paid for the upgraded one I am using now in 2009. It is still a great laptop, but it is showing its age. Intel Centrino 2, Nvidia graphics which will not upgrade, BD burner acting up etc. Replaced the HDMI screen in 2012, cost $600 plus labor. I need power and speed to do NLE and other resource hungry work on the fly. A $300 Acer or whatever from Best Buy won't cut it even with an SSD installed.

I did have reason to use one of my Reflect clones on one of my other PCs, did not have any issues with it. I have also re-imaged this one about a month ago with no difficulties.

Best regards,

Peter B.

whs said:

I would think that a desktop would be better than a laptop for your situation. Desktops are also easier to upgrade.

No debate on that one. I actually use three machines. The Sony VAIO when I am on the road, and my Dell when I am back in my cave. Both of these run Adobe Premiere Pro. I also use my Mac Pro running Final Cut Pro, also in the cave. Fortunately both Premiere Pro and Final Cut can suck in the same footage format. I do find that Final Cut is a bit quirky and I expect too much of it sometimes. I do some film conversions and FCP is good for this, at least one can adjust the frame position to get rid of frame fluff in the projector.

It is better though to use a machine with at least two drives, one for the app and another for the data, because of high read/write speeds and so on. Can't do that on the laptop, so when using the VAIO I kill absolutely everything that is not needed when doing NLE work and have never had a problem. The Dell has two drives, ops sys and a 2TB for data. The Mac Pro has three internal drives, a 1TB op sys, and a 1 and 2TB for data. Both have several external 1 and 2TB drives for long term storage with more on the shelf.

What I really need though is a server for storage...One day maybe.

We've really drifted off topic. Maybe some of the members who do NLE work etc, will get a bit of a buzz out of it.

Best regards,

Peter B.