System restore points not being automatically created

[MrBear]

Hello Everyone - it's been a while since I posted here, so I apologize for any errors I may make.

I have a Dell Inspiron Core I5 Windows 7 SP1 PC with Norton internet security.

My question is: what are the rules that govern when the system will make automatic restore points. I've read several threads here, and there seems to be multiple opinions, from "every 7 days", when volume shadow copy is started, when task scheduler has proper triggers and no conflicting conditions.

My PC wasn't creating restore points automatically. I tried changing the Volume shadow copy to automatic. I added a new task under SR to start at 3:30 PM (as a test), I checked the box to wake computer for this task. The system created two restore points hours apart once, but none since then.

I've attached screen shots showing all my settings, including one that seems to indicate the task did run, but no restore point can be seen for that time. NIS did show the system at an idle state at the time the tasks should have ran.

So to sum it up, do I have my settings incorrect? Is there a glitch in my system? How often should SR create automatic restore points (aside from program updates)?

SR has bailed me out a few times and is quicker than restoring from a system image which I do periodically, along with a separate file backup.

Any suggestions, help, explanations, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[marsmimar]

Is System Protection turned on?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/330-system-protection-turn-off.html

As far as how often Windows 7 creates restore points, Microsoft says: "Restore points are created automatically every week, and just before significant system events, such as the installation of a program or device driver."

System Restore - Microsoft Windows (see FAQs at bottom of page > How does system restore work.)

 

[MrBear]

Hello Marsmimar,

Yes, SR is turned on for the OS (c drive)

Also, please see the listing of restore points that occurred when I manually ran a backup of the system image - as you can see, over time, no "automatic" "system" system restore points were created within that 7 day period that several posts have mentioned.

Thank you for your response, if you or anyone else has any thoughts, please let me know.
I appreciate your response.

-MrBear

 

[marsmimar]

You might want to check for any damaged or corrupt system files that are preventing restore points from being automatically created. You could run a System File Checker scan from an elevated command prompt (Option Two.)

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

 

[MrBear]

Hello Marsmimar,

I ran the sfc /scannow command from an elevated administrator command prompt. It did not find any problems.

For the record, back on 10/19, I made one change in Task Scheduler under the general tab to allow the computer to be awakened for the task - that box had been unchecked. A restore point was created after that. Since it is only 6 days since then, I'd need to wait until at least tomorrow (7 day rule) and see if another SR point is created.

Also, this anomaly is not isolated to just one PC. I recently received a gift from the company I work for of an almost brand new Windows 7 SP1 PC - that one is not creating restore points either. My Dad just bought a Brand new Dell Win7 SP1 PC that I set up for him, and that one is not created SR points either.

The IT manager I work with checked his PCs and he said his last restore point was back in July.

I just can't seem to find a common thread that could account for 4 PCs not doing this.

I miss the days of XP when a SR point would be created at least once every day or two. To me, what with patch Tuesday and various program updates, 7 days as a fall back is too long.

Thank you again for trying to help me with this unusual problem. If restore points are created tomorrow or Monday, I will reply back with an update.

-MrBear

 

[MrBear]

Still no restore points created after 7 days.

If anyone can give me a tutorial with screen shots, or point me to an older thread - at this point I'd settle for creating some sort of task that would create a system restore point at least once a day.

Thank you one and all for your help.

-MrBear