Why doesn’t Vista’s System Restore actually restore the system?

Poor disaster recovery is one of windows Vista’s most vexing problems. some utilities-usually big security suites that must be on at all times to protect you—interfere with system restore.

One work around is to run system restore in Safe mood. Reboot your PC and press before windows start loading (you may need a few tries to get the timing right).Select Safe mood. Once Windows is up, try system restore.

Is a long time solution available? Not really. Uninstalling your security software might help. But there’s no guarantee, and you will need to replace that software with something else. Trying to uninstall it is probably not worth the trouble unless the program is giving you a lot of other problems.

Disabling and re-enabling System Restore as a possible fix. But do that only after you have successfully restored you system or completely given up, as that action erases all of your existing restore points. If you are ready to give it try, here’s how:

v Click start, type sysdm.cpl and press

v In the resulting system properties dialog box, click the system protection tab.

v You will see the available Disks list. Uncheck all discs that are checked.

v When you attempt to uncheck C: a warning will come up asking if you really want to turn off system restore. Click Turn System Restore Off.

v Back in system properties, click Apply. Wait while windows processes that command.

v Recheck the box next to C: and then click Apply again.

v Click creates to make a new restore point. You should be set for your next emergency.