What happened to all of my system restore points ?

[BuckSkin]

I have religiously created system restore points before any event, one as recently as yesterday and many within the last few weeks.
Today, I tried to create a restore point as always and it kept failing, giving an error number and something about "timeout for shadow copy has expired"
I thought maybe a restart might set things to rights; was I ever wrong.
The machine refuses to start.
I put in the system repair disc and attempted to boot from that.
After several fails at that, I decided to restore to a restore point.
When it gave me a list to chose from, there are only two choices, both in October 2016; the machine was new to us in early October with a clean install of W7.
Why do I not have the choice of any of my more recent restore points ?
Another thing that puzzles me is that it is not giving me the option to use the revert to when new whatever it is called; I know it is there because I used it a couple days after we got it when something went haywire.
Not to confuse the issue, but one more question: when it finally gets to a box that offers me two choices, the bottom one being "restore to a system image" and the top choice "use recovery tools", there is nothing showing where it should show the OS; when I click the button "load drivers", it opens an explorer window showing tons of files that I have no idea what I am looking at.
I canceled out of that and clicked "next" at which point it provides the choices "use repair disc", "restore point" etc.
Could the reason that it will not boot from the system repair disk be the absence of anything in that window where it has the load drivers button ?

Please don't assume that I know all the lingo and such and walk me through this.
I would really like to avoid the hassle of reinstalling all those many many programs and drivers.Thanks so much for reading.

 

[BuckSkin]

Update Update:
In the repair options box, at the bottom were two buttons, "Shut Down" and "Restart", I clicked "restart", and after seemingly forever, it booted and Windows desktop appeared.
Once it all got settled down and looked like it was ready for action, I clicked on a simple program icon and it is responding very sluggishly, with the little blue circle just spinning.
The minute before all of this ordeal began, response was instantaneous.

And, where did all of my restore points go ?

Thanks.

 

[Layback Bear]

From the cmd. prompt. Copy and past this.

vssadmin list shadows

Please post the log. It should look something like this.

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/1/2017 10:00:26 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {89b52c24-f30b-4f43-80f3-025a98bb5c19}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy27
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {f35a7d48-9608-496c-a83e-c2adb16457a0}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/1/2017 10:18:48 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {0753ee1f-c7b7-4182-9ff4-2ba8c42c2bce}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy28
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {a4ce0b0d-cb21-4222-9822-ab405ed40b49}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/1/2017 10:20:45 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {6011e992-f471-44fc-a36c-6aa0cb61d09e}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy29
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {8d9e473e-ebc8-4708-84c2-05aea0f5ccde}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/1/2017 11:43:01 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {814a58d1-c59e-44cf-83e8-1c3d9a35bca7}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy31
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {3c84db98-add9-4e71-be50-20721ede1334}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/4/2017 8:27:14 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {3db16e8c-61d8-4503-91c4-310dc66f60d8}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy32
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {850d68d3-ef54-4cc4-9bdd-9d3213ad7ba6}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/7/2017 10:10:12 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {f33c040e-1483-4d1f-919e-a4a4bc044834}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy33
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {a485915c-1c45-4cb7-a32c-e2d457f550ac}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/7/2017 4:34:53 PM
      Shadow Copy ID: {ce59f64c-4c65-4570-b411-47bf3ab1f0d5}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy34
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {41b64e22-31b8-4dea-977f-4429e0081b00}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/10/2017 10:11:26 AM
      Shadow Copy ID: {5bf6f23b-d7d9-4a92-af08-fa2332b998b3}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy35
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {68684c59-34da-4680-8871-dfe24a686d1b}
   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 1/10/2017 7:48:37 PM
      Shadow Copy ID: {04395787-2f94-49d1-a45b-6fd6a1f7aca0}
         Original Volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{cc1934e0-7154-4dc2-86f4-fde6173dce8f}\
         Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy36
         Originating Machine: Jack-PC
         Service Machine: Jack-PC
         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters
         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

The slowness of your system and loss of restore points most likely are not related.


C:\Users\Jack>

Jack

 

[BuckSkin]

I had to leave the machine for a few hours; just before I left, it had finally booted on it's own without the disk to a screen with the users there to be clicked on and I had to enter a password.
Before all this foolishness, I had everything set such that no password was necessary.
Once I entered a password, it said "creating your desktop".
It was taking forever, so I had to leave it to it's own devices.
When I returned, the entire screen was a textured grey; no task bar, no desk-top icons, nothing.
I pressed the Windows button and a very different style start menu appeared where I clicked "change user"
I was expecting another lengthy wait, but a desktop of sorts appeared immediately.
However, there were no desktop icons and nothing on the task bar.
Then, a notice popped up that said "location is not available. C:\Windows system 32 config system profile desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. etc., etc."
I can X this notice away and everything I do prompts it to return.
Thankfully, all of our many programs seem to still be there.
However, although the libraries heading is still in Explorer, there are no libraries there; clicking on a library heading gets a different notice stating "explorer exe this file does not have a program associated with it etc., etc.
At least everything happens lightening quick instead of creepy crawly slow.
On top of all these problems, the entire display appearance is totally unlike the layout it had before; everything is flat and grey.
I hope I can figure out how to get into the library contents, as I had just recently stored a bunch of digitized VHS tapes and was waiting for a new external hard-drive to back them up on.
For the same reasons, I really don't want to have to use the system image that I stored some time ago.
For what it is worth, while everything at least is responsive, I tried creating another restore point.
Before doing so, I clicked on "restore" and it listed the same two October restores that it showed earlier.
I cancelled out of that and then created another restore point and it actually worked and only took a second.
I then looked in "restore" again and the two October points were gone and the only one listed was the one I had just created.
How am I going to get this thing back to where it was yesterday ?
Are all of my restore points still there and I just don't know how to access them?
I thought times like this were why I had been creating them all along.

Sorry for such lengthy information.

 

[Layback Bear]

Take a read through this tutorial by Brink to refresh your thoughts on restore points.

System Protection - Change Disk Space Usage

Your desktop and user problems has nothing to do with restore points. A proper restore point would be quite handy at this time.

If you would complete my request in post #2 we would be able to see your restore points.

Your original thread as posted.

What happened to all of my system restore points ?

Jack

 

[BuckSkin]

If you would complete my request in post #2 we would be able to see your restore points.

Your original thread as posted.





Jack

When I type "cmd" in the start menu search bar, all I get is "see more results"; clicking that yields a notice that says "Windows cannot find search querry cmd etc., etc."

Is there another way to get the command prompt to come up ?

Thanks for pointing out that really good tutorial on restore points.

 

[BuckSkin]

I did some poking around and all of my files can be found if not by conventional means; I am uncertain whether it will allow me to copy them onto another drive, but they are all still there.

When I go system properties > system protection, under "available drives" are listed three; Windows C: System ON, Factory Restore OFF, and Windows C: (Missing) ON

What is up with that "(Missing)" ?

 

[Layback Bear]

Complete this tutorial by Golden so we can see what you have.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Your system is not acting like it should in many ways.
Are you using the Administrator account? To do the things that need to be done the Administrator account is a must.

When you type in cmd in the Start Orb Search Programs and Files, you should get this cmd.exe.
Right tick on cmd.exe and select Runs as Administrator.


Jack

 

[BuckSkin]

Are you using the Administrator account?

Yes, logged on as Admin

When you type in cmd in the Start Orb Search Programs and Files, you should get this cmd.exe.
Right tick on cmd.exe and select Runs as Administrator.


Jack

When I type "cmd" in the start menu search bar, all I get is "see more results"; clicking that yields a notice that says "Windows cannot find search querry cmd etc., etc."

I do not get any cmd.exe to click on, only the words "see more results"

Just in case anyone is wondering, I am carrying on this discussion on a different machine than the one that has gone haywire.

I do appreciate your help; thanks.

 

[BuckSkin]

For what it's worth, I cannot do a screen-shot from the affected machine; it will not do "save as" -- something about Explorer not being associated somehow; and, if I could save a screenshot, it has lost connection with it's browsers such that it cannot communicate on the internet.

I did look in disk management and all drives say healthy.

 

[Layback Bear]

Okay, let do something basic.

Please complete this tutorial by Brink on the troubled computer.
I need to see the log.

Windows Genuine and Activation Issue Posting Instructions

If you can't do any of the test and post results, I can only think of one other thing to do.

Save what you can to a external drive and do a Clean Install.

Jack

 

[BuckSkin]

Well, I have gained lost ground !
By typing the error message I kept getting in Google search, I found this:

Solved: c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop | Tech Support Guy

I read and read and re-read and looked and hunted and scrutinized through all of the user folders and could not find a single instance where I had acquired a second folder with the same name except empty, so I really don't think that part of the fix is relevant.
What I did have was a single "Desktop" folder in the user folders.
Opening this folder showed only five desktop shortcut icons and nothing else; so, I was not very excited as to the outcome of me copy/pasting this Desktop folder into "systemprofile"
I had already looked and there was no Desktop folder in systemprofile, empty or otherwise.
So, figuring I had little to lose, I copy/pasted that Desktop folder into systemprofile.
Instantly, about a fifth of my missing icons appeared on the desktop, more than were in the folder; plus, some shortcut icons showed up that I had never seen before,such as "libraries", "control panel", "Explorer"
I still had no task bar icons.

I held my breath and give her a restart.......; and, low and behold, it restarted and there was our old familiar desktop, back in all it's glory.
I give her a few minutes to get settled and successfully created a new system restore point.
I haven't taken time to put her through her paces; I am exhausted to the point of staggering, but I will get a second wind directly and see what is what.

I never did quite grasp this statement in the instructions: "once it has copied a message will say copy desktop.ini file the top 1 being older and other newer make sure you overwrite this to the older 1."; and, I have not as of yet seen any such message.

I did search around in the system files and I never saw any desktop.ini files.


After I catch my breath and recuperate from this ordeal, I intend to do that command prompt shadow copy business; as the mystery still has not been solved as to where all of my restore points went.

 

[Barman58]

One of the most common causes of "missing" system restores is User action.

A lot of system maintenance programs like CCleaner, and even windows own Disk Clean-up contain an option to delete all but the last Restore Point. The last restore point is normally the only one you actually need but if you have a reason to retain more than this then be careful when housekeeping a system - the actual store for the restore point is also set to a specific size as described by Jack, and will automatically remove the oldest or more to make room for each new retore point

 

[Layback Bear]

Just a thought.

It could be that you have been changing names of folders and moving them around and Windows 7 couldn't find them. I have also read that icon problem can happen when a (Make my Desktop Pretty) program has been used.

If you have Ccleaner on your system, you can also see restore points under (Tools).

Jack

 

[BuckSkin]

I don't have any sort of CCleaner or such, nor did I employ one of those make-my-desktop-pretty deals.
I honestly cannot fathom any reason for the near calamity I had.
It may or may not be connected at all; but, the two events that predated the trouble was first, I made several attempts to create a restore point and on each attempt got the shadow copy error.
I gave up on that and restarted the machine, hoping that would purge whatever glitch was preventing me creating restore points, and it all went downhill from there, at which point I left the ninety and nine to retrieve the one that had gone astray.

After the "fix", it is as good as it ever was and whatever was wrong with creating restore points is fixed as well.

 

[Layback Bear]

Try cmd prompt and see if you have it back. If it's back run this and see if any errors are found.

sfc /scannow

Jack

 

[BuckSkin]

Try cmd prompt and see if you have it back. If it's back run this and see if any errors are found.

sfc /scannow

Jack

Results of "sfc /scannow":



After all this scary episode, the machine is running like a 6BT Cummins; however, I am still losing restore points and for reasons unbeknownst to me it is hanging onto those two from October (which may be a good thing as it was clean install sometime in October)




Which leads me to the question, can I pick certain restore points so that that it never deletes them ?

Also, how can I get it to keep the last several ?

When I look in our other identical machine, it has a long list of restore points.

On EDIT:

From the cmd. prompt. Copy and past this.

vssadmin list shadows

Do I do ^^^ this ^^^ in normal or elevated command prompt ?


Thanks for reading.

 

[torchwood]

Hi
System restore is dependant upon VSS which in turn is dependant on the amount of free space on your MBR.
If you have vey little space on it then VSS and system restore will both fail.
(I've recently and Unfortunately not been able to resolve, Microbell, his problem).

The thread makes for interesting reading and may help you to resolve yours.
Windows 7 Update disables system restore + new folder entry
Please post the Event Id's that are thrown up, we can go from there.


Roy

 

[BuckSkin]

The thread makes for interesting reading and may help you to resolve yours.
Windows 7 Update disables system restore + new folder entry

Roy

I haven't read that entire thread yet, however, I just checked again to be certain and the machine in question shows one of those "Windows(C: ) Missing"; the Missing has protection ON as also the Windows(C: ) main drive.

When I clicked "Configure", everything in that box looked the same as the "good" example posted in that thread with one exception, while that capacity gauge thingie shows 10-GB available, there are only a very few MBs of that space currently being used; the same thing on this machine shows nearly the entire 10-GB used.

After much discussion of bad things happening after updates, and me not being smart enough to understand what to pick and choose, I have had updates turned OFF on all of our machines for a very long time; what puzzles me about this is that on the machine that lists a whole host of restore points, about every other one's description says "Windows critical update"; how can it get critical updates when updates are turned OFF ?

Thanks for the link to the other thread.

 

[Layback Bear]

From my post #3

From the cmd. prompt. Copy and past this.

vssadmin list shadows

As you can see, it states from the cmd. prompt.

Please complete so we can see what you have.

Next.
To check we are on the same page.

Restore points are only stored on the "C" partition. Backups are stored where ever you care to.
There is no such thing as a drive with a letter. Drives have numbers and partitions have letters.
How much space on the drive means nothing when it comes to Restore Points.
What is needed is space on the "C" partition that is positioned on a drive and has Windows 7 installed on the "C" partition.

Also, please complete this tutorial by Golden and post the results here exactly as the tutorial stipulates.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

We need to see information to give better guidance.

Jack