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HP Notebook PCs - Using Microsoft System Restore in Windows Me and XP

This document explains how to use and troubleshoot the Microsoft System Restore feature in Windows Me and XP.

note:
Microsoft's System Restore program is not the same as the HP or Compaq System Recovery process. The HP System Recovery restores your PC to its original state with its original software. For information on performing the HP System Recovery see the Related support section below.

About System Restore

Creating a Restore Point

Restoring the Computer to a Previous Point

Undoing the Restore

Restoring when Windows XP Cannot Start Normally

System Restore does not work in Windows XP

Related support

About System Restore

System Restore is software that creates restore points, a "memory" of the system files and settings on the computer at a particular point in time. System Restore can automatically create restore points or you can create restore points yourself as needed.

System Restore can replace all of the current files and settings with those from a previous time without losing many of your personal data files. For example, after a new PC is started for the first time, a restore point is created. Two days later, several system files are accidentally removed causing Internet Explorer to stop working. With System Restore, you can restore Windows back to the way it was on the first day, fixing the problem.

Creating a restore point

A restore point represents the computer's configuration at a given moment in time. Making a restore point allows you to reset the computer back to this same configuration at some time in the future. Use the following steps to create a restore point:

Click Start, Programs (or All Programs), Accessories, System Tools, then System Restore. The Welcome to System Restore window appears.
Select Create a Restore Point, and click Next.
In the Restore point description field, type anything you want that describes the current PC configuration change. What you type here will help identify the restore point later. For example, "installed racing game", or "added a new video card".
Click Create.

A new screen displays stating that a new restore point has been successfully created. The name of the restore point, the time, and the date appear in red.
Click Close to exit or click Home to return to the main System Restore window.

Some security and anti-virus programs may prevent you from using an earlier set point. They treat the Windows Restore as if it is a virus making an unauthorized change. In this case, you may open the control and temporarily disable the anti-virus program. Remember to re-enable the protection as soon as practicable.

Restoring the computer to a previous point

If your computer stops working correctly, you can restore it to a previous point in time. Use the following steps to restore your computer’s configuration:

Click Start, Programs (or All Programs), Accessories, System Tools, then System Restore. The Welcome to System Restore window displays.
Select Restore my computer to an earlier time, and click Next. The Select a Restore Point window displays.
Select a bolded date and a restore point, and then click Next.
Click OK if a pop-up window about closing programs appears. The Confirm Restore Point Selection window displays.
Click Next. The computer should shut down and restart automatically after the restoration completes. The Restoration Complete window displays.
Click OK. The computer has now been restored to a previous time when it worked correctly.

note:
If an error message appears saying that the PC cannot be restored to the point you selected, try a different restore point.

A Restoration Complete window should appear.
Click OK.

Undoing the restore

Use the following steps to go back to state the computer was in before the last system restore:

Click Start, Programs or All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then System Restore.
Click Undo my last restoration, click Next, and then click OK.
On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. The original configuration is restored, and then the notebook PC restarts.

Restoring when Windows XP cannot start normally

Use one of the two sections that follow to restore Windows XP to a previous time when you are unable to get to the Windows XP desktop:

Open restore from a command prompt

Use the following steps to try to start Windows XP in command prompt mode:

Turn on the computer.
At the first screen, press the F8 key repeatedly every half of a second until a Windows Advanced Options menu displays.
Press the Down Arrow key until Safe mode-Command Prompt Only is highlighted.
Press ENTER and continue through any informational screens that pop-up.
When the command window displays, type: c:
From the C:\> prompt type: cd c:\windows\system32\restore\
Press ENTER, then type: rstrui
Press ENTER. The System Restore screen will appear.
Use the steps in the previous section, Restoring the computer to a previous point.

note:
If you are unable to start the notebook in Safe Mode, see HP Notebook PCs - Repairing or Reinstalling Windows XP.

Use last known good configuration

Use the following steps if you are unable to start in command prompt mode or if you want to revert to the last previous restore point:

Turn on the computer.
At the first screen, press the F8 key repeatedly every half of a second until a Windows Advanced Options menu displays.
Press the Down Arrow key until Last Known Good Configuration is highlighted and then press ENTER.

Windows XP starts the PC using the last previous restore point.

System Restore does not work in Windows XP

If System Restore does not work in Windows XP, make sure that it is enabled and active. Use the following steps to make sure System Restore is enabled and active.

Step 1: Verify System Restore is enabled

Verify System Restore is turned on, using the steps below:

Click Start, and then right-click My Computer.
Click Properties and then click the System Restore tab.
Verify Turn off System Restore is not selected.

note:
If there is a check mark next to Turn off System Restore, click inside the box to remove the check mark.
Click Apply and then OK.
If Windows prompts to restart the computer, click Yes.

If Windows does not prompt you to restart the computer, close all windows and restart the notebook.
After the computer restarts, open System Restore. If System Restore is still not working, continue with Step 2 below.

Step 2: Verify System Restore is active

Verify System Restore is active using the steps below:

Click Start, Control Panel, and then double-click the Administrative Tools icon.
Double-click the Computer Management icon. The Computer Management window opens.
Click the plus (+) next to Services and Applications in the left window, and then click Services.
Double-click System Restore Services in the right window. The System Restore Service Properties window opens.
Verify Startup type is set to Automatic and that Service status is started.

note:
If Startup type is not set to Automatic, click the down arrow and select Automatic.
Click Apply and then click OK.
If Windows prompts you to restart the notebook, click Yes.

Restore points are missing in Windows XP

If restore points are missing, verify there is enough space reserved on the hard drive for System Restore.

Click Start, and then right-click the My Computer icon.
Click Properties, and then click the System Restore tab.
Under Disk space to use, move the slide bar to the right. This increases the amount of disk space reserved for System Restore and decreases the amount for other programs.

System Restore does not work in Windows Me

If System Restore is not working, you need to verify that the Statemgr and PCHealth programs are starting with Windows Me. Use the following steps to verify that these programs open:

Step 1: Verifying PCHealth and *StateMgr are active

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open field type: msconfig.
Click OK. The System Configuration Utility window displays.
Click the Startup tab.
Verify that both PCHealth and *StateMgr have check marks next to them.

note:
If either program does not have a check mark, click inside the box to place a check mark in it.
If any changes were made in msconfig, click OK. If no changes were made, click Cancel and go to the next Step.
1. If you made changes, Windows may prompt you to restart the computer. Click Yes.
2. After the computer restarts, open System Restore.
If System Restore is still not working after completing Step 1, continue with Step 2 below.

Step 2: Enabling System Restore

Use the steps below to enable System Restore:

Click Start, Settings, Control Panel.
Double-click the System icon. The System Properties window opens.
Click the Performance tab, and then the File System button.
Click the Troubleshooting tab.
Verify Disable System Restore is not selected.

note:
If there is a check mark next to Disable System Restore, click the check mark to remove it.
Click Apply and then OK.
On the System Properties window, click OK.
If Windows prompts to restart the computer, click Yes.

Microsoft: Troubleshooting System Restore in Windows Millennium Edition (in English)

HP Notebook PCs - Repairing or Reinstalling Windows XP

Microsoft Support Article Q306084 - How to: Restore Windows XP to a Previous State (in English)

note:
One or more of the links above will take you outside the Hewlett-Packard Web site. HP does not control and is not responsible for information outside of the HP Web site.