How to Create Your Own Restore Points in XP
 

Windows XP has a great feature to allow users create Restore Points, Before you install new software, add hardware devices, or change the registry you might want to create a Restore Point. This way if something goes wrong with the changes you made, you can revert back to previous state.

To create restore points follow the steps below:

• Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> click System Restore.
• In the System Restore dialog box -> click Create a restore point -> click Next.
• Type a description for your restore point, such as "Before install_on_Apr30", -> click Create.

If your system fails, and you want to revert back to your previous state
Press F8 in the boot menu, and then click Last known good configuration.
Windows XP restores your system to the most recent restore point.

After installing one of the many Updates that Microsoft sends - i found that i no longer have System Restore on my computer - or for that matter nothing even asso. with it.- where did it go????? Any way after reading a long of the know. base on Microsoft's pages about the only way to get it back is to do a reinstall - I would like to find an easier way around this if i can. Thanks

Hi Sami.
Thanks for the useful tip.
As for the Q&A :Feel free to move this to another category
which is more applicable.Your choice.

To jperret:

What else is new?
Microsoft is No 1 in many aspects.
Largest producer of "Spyware".
Largest producer of programs or applications that play havoc
with your system. etc etc

Anyway, to address your problem:The System Restore executable
(rstrui.exe) is found in
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe (Drive letter as installed)
Depending how XP was installed you will find this also in
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\I386\rstrui.exe

In this case copy the file to the system32\Restore folder if it is missing there.

If not in this I386 folder,you may also have one as C:\I386
This is when the OS install was made from the harddrive and not from the XP CD.
In this case the file shows as RSTRUI.EX_
You will have to extract this to the System32\Restore folder.

As to starting System Restore:I made a shortcut of rstrui.exe
and placed it in the Start menu.Much quicker access.
(After creating the shortcut,drag it to the Start button,let it rest for a moment, the Start menu will open,then drag it to the upper section and release.)Rename if you like.
Hope this helped a little.

Pete.

Tried all that you said - Not only could I not find "rstrui.exe" in any of the folders you mentioned but I noticed that i didn't even have "I386" folder. Anyway i pulled out my
XP installation disk to see if i could find it and did - extracted it but also had to find "srrstr.dll" which i did and copied that one to - nothing - want on the web - found out that i didnt even have "SR.inf - found that and ran it - well now at least i have "Restore" in my System Tools. but when i run it all i get now is "System Restore is not able to protect your computer. Please restart your computer, and then run System Restore Again." So I guess it just go at it a little each day (Burn Out) and maybe someday i will be able to use it once again :) - Thanks Pete for the Suggestions - your help is greatly appricated - and if you have any more suggestions - they will be welcomed.

Jim

Hi Jim,

I'm glad I was of some help.
So you don't have the I386 folder at all? either in \ServicePackFiles or C:\ ?
Actually you can copy that folder from the XP CD to your harddrive,that way,
if you need some files for repair,you refer to that folder,rather than to the CD.

Anyway,you did well.And man, do I know about "BurnOut".
Many times I just have to leave the problem if it's not too critical and get back to it later.
You can only spend so much time on a certain problem.

I came up with some links: One looks promising
Interesting hack to install/repair System Restore,
in this case meant for Win2003 Server,but there is no reason
why you could not use it to instal or repair SR in XP.
http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/sysrestore.htm

Good info from Kelly's Korner
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_restore.htm

Another site for excellent info re SR
Main :http://bertk.mvps.org/
Two links from this site:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srarticles.HTM

Hope this will give you something to work with.

Pete