Solved Can't do system restore - error message says "timed out"

[janice2611]

Computer running extremely slow. Tried to do system restore but getting an error message that says "the creation of a shadow copy has timed out. Try this operation again. (0x81000101) - have tried again several times with no luck, Have read previous threads that say to clear restore points but am afraid that if I do this I will not be able to fix the problem had to begin with as i wont be able to go back to earlier saves. Would like to reinstall windows but the laptop came with it already installed so dont have a hard copy.

 

[JaidynM]

Are you running an anti-virus software? If so, disable it before continuing.

Complete the following (taken from here):

Verify if these two services are started and running on your computer. If it’s not started, start the services and check if you can create a system restore point.

a) Volume Shadow Copy service
b) Windows backup

Also ensure that their dependency services are running.
Verify if their dependency services are running.

You can check this information from services.msc. To do this follow the steps below:

a) Go to start and type services.msc in the search field.
b) Locate the two services.
c) Right-Click on the service one at a time.
d) Select properties.
e) Go to Dependencies Tab.
f) Note the dependency services.
g) Make sure they’re also running.
h) To start a service, right click on it and select start.

You should also try booting up your system in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html and then trying the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Would like to reinstall windows but the laptop came with it already installed so dont have a hard copy.

If you get in a major jam and cannot otherwise recover, you can download an ISO of your exact Windows 7 version from Mydigitallife.info and then burn that ISO to a DVD. The DVD can give you a clean installation. You would need to use your current Product Key to activate any new install.

 

[JaidynM]

Would like to reinstall windows but the laptop came with it already installed so dont have a hard copy.

If you get in a major jam and cannot otherwise recover, you can download an ISO of your exact Windows 7 version from Mydigitallife.info and then burn that ISO to a DVD. The DVD can give you a clean installation. You would need to use your current Product Key to activate any new install.

+1

Alternatively, you can create a USB key drive and Clean Install with that.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

 

[janice2611]

Thankyou for your help. I am currently working my way through your 1st response JaydnM - but everything is taking so long it might not be possible! Unfortunately the product key located on the base of my laptop has about 4 characters that have worn off so not if it's possible to still d/l from that site? - I have all the other numbers!

 

[janice2611]

The computer is taking about 30 minutes to shutdown. Do you know what would case this?

 

[JaidynM]

Right, forget my first post and go straight to the clean install. You can find your key by using one of the programs:
KeyFinder
KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean
Belarc Advisor
Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit

After you have your key, download the ISO from My Digital Life (just go from Software -> Windows -> Official Windows 7 SP 1 ISO) and burn it to a disk using something like Daemon Tools Lite.
DAEMON Tools Lite :: Products :: DAEMON-Tools.cc
DAEMON Tools Lite - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Finally, install a fresh copy of Windows 7 using the Clean Install Tutorial.
http://www.Mydigitallife.info

 

[janice2611]

JaydnM thanks again. I had already gone thru the steps in your first reply and managed to get to do system restore but that hasn't fixed the problem so is clean install the only option now? If I do, what will I lose and what should I backup to external hd? Sorry - never done this before so would prefer not to but if it's the only option I will try!!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If you do a clean install, you will lose everything on the C drive.

You should back up ALL personal data on that drive to an external. I don't know if you keep your personal data on C or not. Most people do, usually in sub-folders of C:\Users\Your user name whatever it is.

Don't forget email and bookmarks. They may be somewhere else.

It's up to you to find out where your personal data is--people have different habits. If you type up a spaghetti sauce recipe, where do you put it?

Locate your Product Keys for any software you may use. Locate software discs.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Janice:

Before you get too wound up in the idea of a clean install, please describe your remaining problems. I assume you can now run System Restore, but it does not resolve certain other issues.

What are those issues?

 

[JaidynM]

As ignatzatsonic said, be sure to back up everything that you want to keep as your hard drive will be wiped clean. That means documents, videos, software, photos etc.

Adding on to what he said in his second post, do you get any error messages? Is it the same error (0x81000101)? Or does it simply not finish and just slow down to a snails pace?

 

[janice2611]

ok - just did system restore in safe mode and on restart got message about doing a startup repair which it couldn't do automatically - these are the results:

Root Cause Found:
Boot critical file C:\windows\system32\drivers\cng.sys is corrupt
Repair action : File repair
Result: Failed. Error Code = 0x490

Repair Action: System Restore
Result: Failed. Error Code = 0x1f

Repair Action: System Files Integrity Check and Repair
Result: Failed. Error Code = 0x490

Computer has restarted since but still experiencing long long delays when doing most things, eg tried to do virus scans open games etc and sometimes they don't even start after 10 mins. Also getting a lot of "not responding" messages then will all of a sudden it will start. Shut down can take up to 20-30mins. HELP!!!

 

[marsmimar]

You might be able to avoid a clean install if a System File Checker scan can repair any damaged or corrupt system files. If any problems are found, run the scan 3 times rebooting in between each scan. Use Option Two from this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[janice2611]

Sorry for delay in getting back here - but ts taken me nearly 3 days (between work) to do the sfc scannow 3 times. Unfortunately they have all come back with messages of no problems found. Did dl new updates for windows - service pack - but wasn't able to install so am now downloading the hot fix for windows 7 that might be causing it to not install but has been stuck in the same spot for nearly 2 hours as it installs. Getting very frustrated and on the verge of taking it to someone to blow $200 plus on getting it fixed - any ideas??

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Were you able to find out your entire Product Key per the instructions from Jaidynm in post 7?

Were you able to complete the instructions about services in post 3?

Have you contemplated a "repair" install?

A clean install is also a possibility if you were able to recover your entire Product Key.

 

[JaidynM]

Have you contemplated a "repair" install?

A repair install should definitely be an option. A tutorial on how to do so can be found here.

 

[janice2611]

Yes, I was able to get the product key - but it is a different key to what is written on the label on the underside of my computer (the one I can't read entirely as some of it has worn off) is this a problem? I have also been getting a message in the last two days as it does Windows updates saying that it is not a genuine copy of windows and have not been able to successfully install windows 7 service pack 1. When I bought the laptop from Dick Smiths 1 year ago it came loaded on the comp already so don't know why it would say it wasn't genuine.

 

[JaidynM]

In that case, go ahead with downloading the ISO from Mydigitallife.info and use the product key you obtained from the software I linked to activate the new install. If that doesn't work, we'll see if we can sort something else out.

 

[janice2611]

Hi again, am unsure which iso to download from mydigitallife - do I need the x64 or the x86 file? These are the stats on my Operating System:

Windows 7 Home Premium (build 7600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (Australia)
Installed: 30/10/2010 12:53:48 PM
Processor a
2.27 gigahertz Intel Core i5 M 430
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
3072 kilobyte tertiary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Hyper-threaded (4 total)

 

[seavixen32]

As you are using a 32-bit version of Windows you will need the Windows 7 SP1 x86 ISO, if you were using a 64-bit version of Windows you would need the x64 ISO.