System Restore - Stays Disabled

Mike/Adrianus - note the version of STMGR that's running!!!!



It's possible that you haven't installed the System Restore Patch - without
which any current restore points are just space fillers.
To check this, look for the file C:\Windows\System\SMGR.DLL - r-click on the
file, and select Properties.
What's the version number? - if it's v4.90.0.3003 then you have installed
the patch, and we have to look elsewhere for the problem
if it's v4.90.0.2533, then you need to install the patch.

To install the patch, either visit Windows Update, or go here, and download
the patch for offline install
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q290700
Run the installer, and windows should reset System Restore at the same time,
clearing your old restore points (which wouldn't have worked, anyhow), and
creating a single new one.
You should then reset the maximum allocation for SR by going to the
adjustment slider at System Properties | Performance | File System | Hard
Disk - most people find that 200-400MB is quite sufficient for most
purposes, unless installing/uninstalling large applications such as Office.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
Desk.cpl

Yes, this is the file deskw95.cpl which is contained in WIN_9.CAB. Extract
deskw95.cpl and then rename to desk.cpl. If you check on the version tab
you will find that the File information indicates that the original file
name was desk.cpl. I have no idea as to why Microsoft has changed the
names of one or two files when stored in the cab files, there are a few
others I know of including marscore.dll which is stored in the cab files
as marspch.dll and keyb.com which is called keyb.ebd.

I don't recall your having yet replied to my query as to whether you can
access Display in the Control Panel since this is the same applet as
accessed by right clicking on the desktop and selecting Properties. If
you can don't waste any more time with desk.cpl as the problem lies
elsewhere.

C:\_RESTORE folder.

Could you please just check that you have enabled the viewing of both
hidden files and folders and also protected operating system files in
Explorer (Tools | Folder Options | View ). If C:\_RESTORE is missing and
stmgr.exe is running then you have a very odd situation, possibly unique.
Regrettably I'm very busy elsewhere at the moment and will be for probably
the next week at least but if you want to pursue this drop me an e-mail
next week and we can go through a number of steps to try and solve this
mystery.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

stmgr.exe is running.(v4.90.0.2533). Still no joy on restore.

I do not have desk.cpl on disk or on CD-Rom. The only file of a
similar name on CD-Rom is in \win9x\cab_9 and is deskw95.cpl. I
identified it using zipscan. I have extracted it via msconfig and
added it to \win\system but after reboot it has made no difference.
BTW, I have noticed that on the first occasions after start up or
reboot when I try Desktop Properties, the mouse cursor changes as if
it is running for a couple of seconds but nothing appears. On a
second attempt immediately thereafter, there is no response at all.
There is no display option in Settings.

I last used desktop properties at the beginning of November.

NB I have run Symantec online antivirus check and had a clean report.
I also run ad-aware regularly and have only had cookies reported
which I have deleted.

Noel,

Mike/Adrianus - note the version of STMGR that's running!!!!

Only one version of stmgr.exe has been publicly released and that is the
version reported by the Adrianus. Even if the poster is still using the
broken version of smgr.dll this won't be preventing the creation of a
C:\_RESTORE folder. At the moment I don't see much point in progressing
further until we can get the basics sorted out therefore I see little
point in testing the ability to create and restore a checkpoint until
Adrianus confirms the presence of a C:\_RESTORE folder.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Noel Paton wrote:

Mike/Adrianus - note the version of STMGR that's running!!!!



It's possible that you haven't installed the System Restore Patch -
without which any current restore points are just space fillers.
To check this, look for the file C:\Windows\System\SMGR.DLL - r-click
on the file, and select Properties.
What's the version number? - if it's v4.90.0.3003 then you have
installed the patch, and we have to look elsewhere for the problem
if it's v4.90.0.2533, then you need to install the patch.

To install the patch, either visit Windows Update, or go here, and
download the patch for offline install
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q290700
Run the installer, and windows should reset System Restore at the
same time, clearing your old restore points (which wouldn't have
worked, anyhow), and creating a single new one.
You should then reset the maximum allocation for SR by going to the
adjustment slider at System Properties | Performance | File System |
Hard Disk - most people find that 200-400MB is quite sufficient for
most purposes, unless installing/uninstalling large applications such
as Office.

Duh,,,,, - too much work, and not enough play? (or do I have that the wrong
way around?)

Excuse the BrainF&rt - it's been a long day.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
Noel,

Mike/Adrianus - note the version of STMGR that's running!!!!

Only one version of stmgr.exe has been publicly released and that is the
version reported by the Adrianus. Even if the poster is still using the
broken version of smgr.dll this won't be preventing the creation of a
C:\_RESTORE folder. At the moment I don't see much point in progressing
further until we can get the basics sorted out therefore I see little
point in testing the ability to create and restore a checkpoint until
Adrianus confirms the presence of a C:\_RESTORE folder.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Noel Paton wrote:

Mike/Adrianus - note the version of STMGR that's running!!!!



It's possible that you haven't installed the System Restore Patch -
without which any current restore points are just space fillers.
To check this, look for the file C:\Windows\System\SMGR.DLL - r-click
on the file, and select Properties.
What's the version number? - if it's v4.90.0.3003 then you have
installed the patch, and we have to look elsewhere for the problem
if it's v4.90.0.2533, then you need to install the patch.

To install the patch, either visit Windows Update, or go here, and
download the patch for offline install
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q290700
Run the installer, and windows should reset System Restore at the
same time, clearing your old restore points (which wouldn't have
worked, anyhow), and creating a single new one.
You should then reset the maximum allocation for SR by going to the
adjustment slider at System Properties | Performance | File System |
Hard Disk - most people find that 200-400MB is quite sufficient for
most purposes, unless installing/uninstalling large applications such
as Office.

Noel Paton wrote:

Duh,,,,, - too much work, and not enough play? (or do I have that the
wrong way around?)

Excuse the BrainF&rt - it's been a long day.

LOL.

It's not been that good a week here either. :-( I've managed now to
recover 50GB or so from my corrupt hard disk. I'm not sure how much more
I'll be able to recover as it seems to be pretty well trashed from around
the 67GB mark. Overall it means I will have lost around 100+GB or so of
which I've been able to recover another 40GB or so from backups. I'll
probably give it another day and then see if I can resurrect the disk at
the weekend if not I'll try and get it replaced under warranty.
--
Mike

OUCH!!

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
It's not been that good a week here either. :-( I've managed now to
recover 50GB or so from my corrupt hard disk. I'm not sure how much more
I'll be able to recover as it seems to be pretty well trashed from around
the 67GB mark. Overall it means I will have lost around 100+GB or so of
which I've been able to recover another 40GB or so from backups. I'll
probably give it another day and then see if I can resurrect the disk at
the weekend if not I'll try and get it replaced under warranty.
--
Mike

A funny thing happened on my way to the forum......
Not so funny in fact. Sorry for the delay getting back to you.

My PC keeled over. Blue screen..in safe mode.."Windows Protection error. You
need to restart your computer. System Halted.".

Restart.. safe mode.. blue screen etc etc.
I found at Command level that my C drive had been completely filled with
..dmp files.
This happened yesterday morning.

To-day I phoned MS and an adviser in New Delhi took me through the process
of recovering my PC. AVG Antivirus software turned out to be the bugger which
had left remnants in autoexec.bat, static VxDs and registry. Problem solved.
I'm back up, online and restored. Yes, restore is enabled and I can see it!

On top of the software problem I discovered that one of my memory cards had
packed in. i don't know if this was a consequence of the problems I've had or
not.

Now I'll sort out this Desk.cpl thing and everything should be hunkydory, I
hope.

Thanks for your help over the last week. It's much appreciated.

Oh, i see you have one or two minor problems of your own. Can I help? (dot
and parenthesis).

I'll confirm desktop OK some time soon.

Best Wishes



"Mike M" wrote:

Desk.cpl

Yes, this is the file deskw95.cpl which is contained in WIN_9.CAB.
Extract deskw95.cpl and then rename to desk.cpl. If you check on the
version tab you will find that the File information indicates that the
original file name was desk.cpl. I have no idea as to why Microsoft has
changed the names of one or two files when stored in the cab files, there
are a few others I know of including marscore.dll which is stored in the
cab files as marspch.dll and keyb.com which is called keyb.ebd.

I don't recall your having yet replied to my query as to whether you can
access Display in the Control Panel since this is the same applet as
accessed by right clicking on the desktop and selecting Properties. If
you can don't waste any more time with desk.cpl as the problem lies
elsewhere.

C:\_RESTORE folder.

Could you please just check that you have enabled the viewing of both
hidden files and folders and also protected operating system files in
Explorer (Tools | Folder Options | View ). If C:\_RESTORE is missing and
stmgr.exe is running then you have a very odd situation, possibly unique.
Regrettably I'm very busy elsewhere at the moment and will be for probably
the next week at least but if you want to pursue this drop me an e-mail
next week and we can go through a number of steps to try and solve this
mystery.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

stmgr.exe is running.(v4.90.0.2533). Still no joy on restore.

I do not have desk.cpl on disk or on CD-Rom. The only file of a
similar name on CD-Rom is in \win9x\cab_9 and is deskw95.cpl. I
identified it using zipscan. I have extracted it via msconfig and
added it to \win\system but after reboot it has made no difference.
BTW, I have noticed that on the first occasions after start up or
reboot when I try Desktop Properties, the mouse cursor changes as if
it is running for a couple of seconds but nothing appears. On a
second attempt immediately thereafter, there is no response at all.
There is no display option in Settings.

I last used desktop properties at the beginning of November.

NB I have run Symantec online antivirus check and had a clean report.
I also run ad-aware regularly and have only had cookies reported
which I have deleted.

Oh dear! I hope you didn't lose too much important data.

Returning to system restore. Now that it is enabled it might be a good
time to check that all is working correctly.

First check that the file smgr.dll in the windows\system folder is the
latest version (select file, right click, open the Properties page and
then the Version tab). If v4.90.0.3003 all is OK but if 4.90.0.2533 you
need to install the 290700 patch to create usable checkpoints. This can
be downloaded using the link in the associated KB article (KB290700 -
"Checkpoints that you create after September 8, 2001 do not restore your
computer" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=290700).

Finally check that you can create and restore by carrying out the
following quick test:
a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
b) Create a manual checkpoint
Could you create a checkpoint?
c) Delete the shortcut
d) Restore your PC to the checkpoint you created.
Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error messages?
e) Reboot your PC
Was the checkpoint retained?

Cheers,
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

A funny thing happened on my way to the forum......
Not so funny in fact. Sorry for the delay getting back to you.

My PC keeled over. Blue screen..in safe mode.."Windows Protection
error. You need to restart your computer. System Halted.".

Restart.. safe mode.. blue screen etc etc.
I found at Command level that my C drive had been completely filled
with .dmp files.
This happened yesterday morning.

To-day I phoned MS and an adviser in New Delhi took me through the
process of recovering my PC. AVG Antivirus software turned out to be
the bugger which had left remnants in autoexec.bat, static VxDs and
registry. Problem solved. I'm back up, online and restored. Yes,
restore is enabled and I can see it!

On top of the software problem I discovered that one of my memory
cards had packed in. i don't know if this was a consequence of the
problems I've had or not.

Now I'll sort out this Desk.cpl thing and everything should be
hunkydory, I hope.

Thanks for your help over the last week. It's much appreciated.

Oh, i see you have one or two minor problems of your own. Can I help?
(dot and parenthesis).

I'll confirm desktop OK some time soon.

Best Wishes



"Mike M" wrote:

Desk.cpl

Yes, this is the file deskw95.cpl which is contained in WIN_9.CAB.
Extract deskw95.cpl and then rename to desk.cpl. If you check on the
version tab you will find that the File information indicates that
the original file name was desk.cpl. I have no idea as to why
Microsoft has changed the names of one or two files when stored in
the cab files, there are a few others I know of including
marscore.dll which is stored in the cab files as marspch.dll and
keyb.com which is called keyb.ebd.

I don't recall your having yet replied to my query as to whether you
can access Display in the Control Panel since this is the same
applet as accessed by right clicking on the desktop and selecting
Properties. If you can don't waste any more time with desk.cpl as
the problem lies elsewhere.

C:\_RESTORE folder.

Could you please just check that you have enabled the viewing of both
hidden files and folders and also protected operating system files in
Explorer (Tools | Folder Options | View ). If C:\_RESTORE is
missing and stmgr.exe is running then you have a very odd situation,
possibly unique. Regrettably I'm very busy elsewhere at the moment
and will be for probably the next week at least but if you want to
pursue this drop me an e-mail next week and we can go through a
number of steps to try and solve this mystery.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

stmgr.exe is running.(v4.90.0.2533). Still no joy on restore.

I do not have desk.cpl on disk or on CD-Rom. The only file of a
similar name on CD-Rom is in \win9x\cab_9 and is deskw95.cpl. I
identified it using zipscan. I have extracted it via msconfig and
added it to \win\system but after reboot it has made no difference.
BTW, I have noticed that on the first occasions after start up or
reboot when I try Desktop Properties, the mouse cursor changes as if
it is running for a couple of seconds but nothing appears. On a
second attempt immediately thereafter, there is no response at all.
There is no display option in Settings.

I last used desktop properties at the beginning of November.

NB I have run Symantec online antivirus check and had a clean
report. I also run ad-aware regularly and have only had cookies
reported which I have deleted.

I had V4.90.0.3003

I have completed your wee test successfully. Shortcut restored. No error
messages. Checkpoint retained.

Desk.cpl also successful.

Have you noticed the new message to-day "System Restore Problem". It
mentions AVG. I wonder if the poster has a similar problem to mine. The
solution for me was to restore from A: prompt (Scanreg /restore) to a date at
which last confident of working system, reboot and then run MSconfig. The
problem was associated with initial message on entering MS config utility
which said "Environmental variables were found in the legacy files
Autoexec.bat and/or Config.sys and the variables were moved to the Windows
registry."

We then examined the entries under the various tabs, some of which still
retained AVG entries (although I had uninstalled AVG antivirus per their
process) and by a process of elimination tidied up the various sectors. We
then ran Regedit and deleted the AVG entries in the Local_Machine root and
saved. After reboot the system was up and running.

This is obviously a precis of the process which included reboots at stages
in the msconfig process. If you want any more detail I may be able to provide.

Thanks again for your help and as they say in Auchtermuchty "Lang may your
lum reek".

"Mike M" wrote:

Oh dear! I hope you didn't lose too much important data.

Returning to system restore. Now that it is enabled it might be a good
time to check that all is working correctly.

First check that the file smgr.dll in the windows\system folder is the
latest version (select file, right click, open the Properties page and
then the Version tab). If v4.90.0.3003 all is OK but if 4.90.0.2533 you
need to install the 290700 patch to create usable checkpoints. This can
be downloaded using the link in the associated KB article (KB290700 -
"Checkpoints that you create after September 8, 2001 do not restore your
computer" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=290700).

Finally check that you can create and restore by carrying out the
following quick test:
a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
b) Create a manual checkpoint
Could you create a checkpoint?
c) Delete the shortcut
d) Restore your PC to the checkpoint you created.
Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error messages?
e) Reboot your PC
Was the checkpoint retained?

Cheers,
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

A funny thing happened on my way to the forum......
Not so funny in fact. Sorry for the delay getting back to you.

My PC keeled over. Blue screen..in safe mode.."Windows Protection
error. You need to restart your computer. System Halted.".

Restart.. safe mode.. blue screen etc etc.
I found at Command level that my C drive had been completely filled
with .dmp files.
This happened yesterday morning.

To-day I phoned MS and an adviser in New Delhi took me through the
process of recovering my PC. AVG Antivirus software turned out to be
the bugger which had left remnants in autoexec.bat, static VxDs and
registry. Problem solved. I'm back up, online and restored. Yes,
restore is enabled and I can see it!

On top of the software problem I discovered that one of my memory
cards had packed in. i don't know if this was a consequence of the
problems I've had or not.

Now I'll sort out this Desk.cpl thing and everything should be
hunkydory, I hope.

Thanks for your help over the last week. It's much appreciated.

Oh, i see you have one or two minor problems of your own. Can I help?
(dot and parenthesis).

I'll confirm desktop OK some time soon.

Best Wishes



"Mike M" wrote:

Desk.cpl

Yes, this is the file deskw95.cpl which is contained in WIN_9.CAB.
Extract deskw95.cpl and then rename to desk.cpl. If you check on the
version tab you will find that the File information indicates that
the original file name was desk.cpl. I have no idea as to why
Microsoft has changed the names of one or two files when stored in
the cab files, there are a few others I know of including
marscore.dll which is stored in the cab files as marspch.dll and
keyb.com which is called keyb.ebd.

I don't recall your having yet replied to my query as to whether you
can access Display in the Control Panel since this is the same
applet as accessed by right clicking on the desktop and selecting
Properties. If you can don't waste any more time with desk.cpl as
the problem lies elsewhere.

C:\_RESTORE folder.

Could you please just check that you have enabled the viewing of both
hidden files and folders and also protected operating system files in
Explorer (Tools | Folder Options | View ). If C:\_RESTORE is
missing and stmgr.exe is running then you have a very odd situation,
possibly unique. Regrettably I'm very busy elsewhere at the moment
and will be for probably the next week at least but if you want to
pursue this drop me an e-mail next week and we can go through a
number of steps to try and solve this mystery.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

stmgr.exe is running.(v4.90.0.2533). Still no joy on restore.

I do not have desk.cpl on disk or on CD-Rom. The only file of a
similar name on CD-Rom is in \win9x\cab_9 and is deskw95.cpl. I
identified it using zipscan. I have extracted it via msconfig and
added it to \win\system but after reboot it has made no difference.
BTW, I have noticed that on the first occasions after start up or
reboot when I try Desktop Properties, the mouse cursor changes as if
it is running for a couple of seconds but nothing appears. On a
second attempt immediately thereafter, there is no response at all.
There is no display option in Settings.

I last used desktop properties at the beginning of November.

NB I have run Symantec online antivirus check and had a clean
report. I also run ad-aware regularly and have only had cookies
reported which I have deleted.

I have no idea why AVG appears to have given you problems as I'm not aware
of others reporting anything similar in the years that I have been reading
these newsgroups. The newsgroup message you refer to is I believe the
standard problem of a user, or in this case an AV application, being
unable to remove an infected file from the system restore folder. (See MS
KB 263455 - "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore
Folder" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=263455))

I'm still not clear as to the precise nature of your AVG problem. I am
familiar with the message "Environmental variables were found in the
legacy files Autoexec.bat and/or Config.sys and the variables were moved
to the Windows registry." but am unaware of this causing problems and have
never before read of this leading to a system becoming unbootable and
requiring the use of scanreg /restore to restore a copy of the registry.
It doesn't here on a box running Win Me where this message is seen every
time I open MSConfig (and has been now for over four years) due to the
sound card driver adding an entry to autoexec.bat each time it is loaded.

Cheers,
(from down the road in London)
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



adrianus (doesn't
ft.com wrote:

I had V4.90.0.3003

I have completed your wee test successfully. Shortcut restored. No
error messages. Checkpoint retained.

Desk.cpl also successful.

Have you noticed the new message to-day "System Restore Problem". It
mentions AVG. I wonder if the poster has a similar problem to mine.
The solution for me was to restore from A: prompt (Scanreg /restore)
to a date at which last confident of working system, reboot and then
run MSconfig. The problem was associated with initial message on
entering MS config utility which said "Environmental variables were
found in the legacy files Autoexec.bat and/or Config.sys and the
variables were moved to the Windows registry."

We then examined the entries under the various tabs, some of which
still retained AVG entries (although I had uninstalled AVG antivirus
per their process) and by a process of elimination tidied up the
various sectors. We then ran Regedit and deleted the AVG entries in
the Local_Machine root and saved. After reboot the system was up and
running.

This is obviously a precis of the process which included reboots at
stages
in the msconfig process. If you want any more detail I may be able to
provide.

Thanks again for your help and as they say in Auchtermuchty "Lang may
your lum reek".