[Resolved] System Restore not working? Use Safe Mode

**tquinn** · 13th June 2009

When I've tried to use XP system restore, more often than not XP will go through the motions (too quickly), and after the reboot XP reports that it was unable to restore that point and I should try another. Sometimes I'm lucky to find any point that works.

Searching this site, I finally found a message at the end of a thread where someone said that Microsoft told them to use Safe Mode, because drivers might be in conflict with the restore point, and Safe Mode turns most of them off.

So far, I've found that all restore points I've tried have worked if I use Safe Mode. So I thought I'd post that discovery here with a clear title on the thread, so that it will be easier to find if someone else has the same problem.

To enter Safe Mode, reboot the computer, and as the operating system is starting to load, just keep pushing the F8 key until you get a screen that allows you to run in Safe Mode. Select that and hit enter. You may then get another screen that asks what operating system you want to load, and just select XP. The system will load, and may even give you a popup message at the end telling you what to do if you want to go directly to the System Restore screen and select a restore point.

Good luck.

Evan Omo · 14th June 2009

Thanks for the advice Terry. I am sure many people will read this thread.

surferdude2 · 14th June 2009

That's good info Terry and will surely be helpful to many.

It may also be helpful to note that if the system can't boot to a Windows session, even in Safe Mode, it may be possible to get to a Safe Mode with Command Prompt session. In that case the user can run the following command to get to the System Restore function:

Type C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe and press Enter.

All the best, Dude

**tquinn** · 14th June 2009

Thanks for the extra information, Surferdude. I sure didn't know that.

surferdude2 · 14th June 2009

As they say on TV, "But Wait, There's More"...

You can use the Recovery Console when the system will not boot to any other mode and sort of run System Restore from there. Here's how:

Boot to the Recovery Console and follow these instructions:

Type cd \ and press Enter
Type cd system~1\_resto~1 and press Enter
Type dir and press Enter
You will then see a list all the restore points folders like RP1, RP2,...
Type cd rp# {where # is the next to the last restore point number } and press Enter. (Example: If there are 6 Restore Points, choose RP5 to predate the problem.)
Then type cd snapshot and press Enter.
The command prompt should now look like this, c:\system~1\_resto~1\rp5\snapshot
Type: copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system and press Enter.
Type: copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software and press Enter
Type exit and press Enter.

NOTE: If you get an access denied error when doing the above procedure, then do the following at the Recovery Console command prompt:

Type cd \ then press Enter
Type cd windows\system32\config then press Enter
Type ren system system.bak then press Enter
Type exit press Enter

When the PC reboots, direct it back into the Recovery Console and you will now have access.

If you still cannot get access to the SR files in the recovery console then your SAM files are corrupt. That will likely require a new install.

And an even better method!

If you have an alternate operating system, such as a BartPE or Linux live-recovery CD or another installation (parallel or dual-boot) of Windows, that has access to the NTFS file system, you can perform the file copying from there using copy/paste, without having to use the Recovery Console and manually typing commands.