System Restore won't restore to earlier version

System Restore seems to be a cranky one who refuses to go back to earlier iterations of my system.

Since day one it has been like that, claiming that I have some anti virus opened, or some other issue which it does not list.

I shut down the Microsoft anti virus and firewall programs and still SR won't budge.

I wanted to go back before I did an installation of Movie Maker, which in another post I explain -- it just did not install and what it did install is Live Mail, the latest version, which keeps popping up a window that says it is installing it.

But if System Restore does not function, what else is left to do aside from the possibility of reinstalling Windows 7?

Thanks
Roxy

Do you definitely have system restore points?

Try running it from safemode - tap the F8 key repeatedly during boot-up.

if no-go, boot into Recovery via the HDD Recovery partition or W7 DVD and try system restore there (it runs under the supreme NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM user).

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

Hello Roxy,

What error messages have you received re this problem?

Refer to the links below...

System Restore General Troubleshooting to Fix Issues

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Disk Check

Repair Install

Clean Install Windows 7

Please post up a screenshot of the error message (or type it out verbatim) received when you try to System Restore.

Next try John and Archie's suggestion to use System Recovery Options to Restore.

If these fail try running SFC -SCANNOW Command to repair any damaged System files. It may need to be run three times if it finds problems.

Next I would consider a Repair Install using an installer w/SP1 if you have it. Let us know if you need one.

If all fails, I would turn off System Restore then after reboots turn it back on to flush the SysVolInfo file, but this will lose all of your Restore points so I list it last after more non-destructive steps. I also set all installs to use up to 20% of HD for Restore points so they will last longer: System Protection - Change Disk Space Usage

Tips for getting a perfect reinstall of Win7: Reinstalling Windows 7

Thank you all. That did it.

Roxy