Windows 7 - System Restore doesn't work

entheogenic,

Get ready to perform a 100% clean install of Windows 7.

Microsoft never has fixed the problem of unreusable system restores.

As mentioned earlier, you only recourse against future disasters is making a 100% system image frequently.

This approach has saved me many times.

I have had nothing but total and complete success with the best free backup and restore software on the market, namely, that from Microsoft.

As stated, I have used this procedure many, many times with zero problems.

Here is the procedure:

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disk button
CREATE A SYSTEM IMAGE BACKUP
· START | type Backup your computer | Enter key
· In left-hand pane, select Create a System Image
· select where you want to save the backup | Next
· Select the drives you want to backup | Next
· Start Backup button
· Finish button after completion


RESTORE A SYSTEM IMAGE BACKUP
· Boot from the System Repair CD you created.
· Connect the external drive with the backup image
· NEXT button (change language if desired)
· Restore your computer using a system image
that you created earlier radio button
· NEXT button
· Use the latest available system image radio button
· NEXT button
· Format and repartition disks checkbox
· NEXT button
· FINISH button
· YES button
Yes, you can use the Create & Restore steps listed above when you want to replace your hard disk with one of same or larger size.

If your using Norton Antivirus or internet security you have to uncheck tamper protection under Misc. settings or your system restore will not work. Also there is a setting in Avast that is similar that is causing the same problem. In Avast it's under settings, troubleshooting. There's an item called Enable Avast self defense module, it has to be unchecked.