Testing restore points?

[netrate]

Since I had a sudden issue last night where I needed my restore points and they were not there - how can I test my restore points? I am creating restore points about once a week now since I had an issue in December - BUT after trying to use them last night in SAFE MODE and not being able to, I am finding out that my "create restore points" is either :
1) not working
2) Cannot be found
3) on another drive

How can I test and look at the restore point DURING the times windows 7 is working?

 

[samuria]

Try in full mode not safe mode

 

[netrate]

Ok, so are you saying there is no way of using RESTORE in safe mode?
Or are you saying to check restore points in full mode?

 

[SIW2]

How can I test and look at the restore point DURING the times windows 7 is working?

Type rstrui.exe into start search box

 

[netrate]

Thank you!
At least I know I have my restore points, but it certainly does not show all of them. I have had restore points for years, but maybe it copies over the old ones?

But I am a bit perplexed at the result.
Two restore points say "Manual" and one says "Backup"?

 

[SIW2]

Manual means you created it.

Backup is the restore point created at the same time you used windows backup

 

[Bree]

...At least I know I have my restore points, but it certainly does not show all of them. I have had restore points for years...

They may have been automatically deleted. There is a fixed size for the space set aside to keep restore points. When the limit has been reached the oldest restore point will be deleted when a new one is created.

Restore points are saved until the disk space System Restore reserves is filled up. As new restore points are created, old ones are deleted.

It really depends on how many restore points you would like to have stored on your computer for what you should set the MAX storage size to be.

System Protection - Change Disk Space Usage

 

[RolandJS]

A combination of SRPs (System Restore Points) and full image backups residing on external media of one's choosing is an excellent way to head off lots and lots of fixing when Windows goes wrong in a big way. Congratulations for taking such steps!

 

[Snick]

netrate

Personally, I don't use Windows backup and restore. Most every time I needed to use system restore, it didn't work.

I create a full disk image to external hard drive, regularly. Never had a problem with reimaging if needed.

Snick

 

[netrate]

I am using Macrium Reflect as well. I was using Create Restore points more often as a way to ease my anxiety.

 

[SIW2]

Restore points can be useful.

 

[RolandJS]

netrate Personally, I don't use Windows backup and restore. Most every time I needed to use system restore, it didn't work. I create a full disk image to external hard drive, regularly. Never had a problem with reimaging if needed. Snick

I forgot in my earlier post about backups to mention: use any well-known, well-respected, 3rd party backup/restore software, make DVD and USB boots; make routine backups like Snick said!

 

[netrate]

The question remains, how come I cannot use a restore that I have created and seen when I'm in safe mode?

 

[RolandJS]

The question remains, how come I cannot use a restore that I have created and seen when I'm in safe mode?

And, from your first post: "...How can I test and look at the restore point DURING the times windows 7 is working?" I googled "How does one test a Windows 7 System Restore Point? This is the best URL I found so far:
How to Use System Restore in Windows 7, 8, and 10
I am not sure if that article really answers the question you have.

 

[netrate]

I guess it really doesn't matter. If I cannot access restore points from Safe Mode or even from the cmd prompt or advance repair, those restore points are useless. I did see that using "rstrui" showed me I had 3 restore points, however they are not accessible during a repair for some (unknown to me) reason.
This same thing occurred with Win 10.

 

[SIW2]

Use boot media for system restore. I don't recall hearing of anybody doing it from safe mode, that is very unusual.

Either use the installation media, or a system repair disc.

In addition, if the recovery sequence is set up on your machine, tap F8 during post and it should boot into winre and you should be able do the restore from there.

If none of those work, there is most likely a problem with some of your system files - maybe try SFC, or a repair install.

 

[netrate]

I tried it from boot media - MCT and from advanced trouble shooting - both times, it said "no restore points are found".
When I finally got the system up and running again, I used rstrui and found three restore point, 1 from march last year.