WIN ME System Restore

Hard drive came to me with the Windows sub-directory missing, and no files in root directory. Used Easy Recovery Pro to undeleted the missing root files, but unfortunately no sign of the missing Windows sub-dir.

There are a great number of programmes installed, so I'm trying to get this installation repaired and running again, as original disks are not readily available.

System Restore .CAB files appear to be located in C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE along with loads of files like this one, BKUPVXDLASTLOG.156 etc. The main _RESTORE dir also has these three files, DISKCFG.DAT DISKINFO.DAT and SRDISKID.DAT in it.

I don't believe it's possible to run a System Restore from the DOS prompt - got to be run from Windows environment I think, unless someone knows otherwise...

I have a basic, new Windows ME installation on another drive, so I tried copying just the C:\WINDOWS\ dir and sub-dirs onto the damaged installation. The machine now just about boots up to the desktop, but of course with problems. I had thought that this would perhaps allow operation of System Restore but the programme reports no Restore Points are available. And when I go look in the C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE, it's now empty! I can copy all the original .CAB files back again, but they keep being zapped each time I boot up.

What is zapping out all these files? Looked in System properties in Control Panel, and System Restore is not disabled.

Is there any way I can get System Restore to run and save this installation? Any help would be much appreciated.

G0AOZ.

 

Thanks for your reply Steve.

Well, for whatever reason known only to WIN-ME, the previous Restore Points have now become available. Next part of the puzzle is that Windows goes through the motions of restoring, but once rebooted says "Restoration Was Unsuccessful ". I have a whole string of Restore Points, and none of 'em work.

Is there a log file produced somewhere that will give me any clues as to why a Restore Point was unsuccessful? Or is it merely the fact that the temporarily copied-over Windows dir and sub-dirs are from a "foreign" system?

G0AOZ.

 

Found some further info on this problem...

Looked at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=290700 which states that unless the later SMGR.DLL file has been installed (v 3003) no Restore Points after 8 Sept 2001 will work! Bizarre or what...

So looks like I am at the end of the road on this one.


G0AOZ.

 

Hi G0AOZ, System Restore is not a backup system, it is only really for where some type of "glitch" has occurred installing or removing components, drivers, settings, etc. All information about Restore will tell you it does not function as a backup system.

Like you I would certainly try to use it, but you seem to have major problems with that drive. Run Scandisk (Error Checking) (set to "thorough ") on the drive and you should scan it with an up to date antivirus. Files and folders should not disappear.

Of Steve's suggestions I would try "repairing" first, then the reinstall. You are saying that the installations are on separate HDDs? You may just want to use the new install and have that drive (HDD) as a backup of your old data. I don't think I would trust that drive without full backup.
Once you have a good backup of your data, use that drive for your backup system. If you search these forums for Ghost and maybe Acronis you will see suggestions for backup systems.

Matt

 

Thank you for your thoughts on this one Mattman - they are much appreciated.

Yes, I agree that System Restore is not a backup of any sort. I had hoped that perhaps going to a previous RP just might have "given us back" the missing Windows sub-dirs, etc. But maybe it cannot do that...?

However, the Micro$oft bug in SMGR.DLL looks like it's killed any likelihood of going back to a previous RP regrettably...

Already done several scans for viruses, trojans etc., but none found. The drive has also been thoroughly checked and surface scanned - no bad blocks found.

The owner of the drive stated that he believed there were still some important documents on it somewhere, although they are not to be found in the usual places. Before doing any sort of repair to the drive, I want to find out exactly what files he reckons they are, e.g. .DOC .RTF etc etc., then I will do a final deep scan for them. Only then will I try a WIN-ME repair option, although I now expect ultimately to have to clean the drive completely and start afresh.

No, all the owner's programmes, operating system, data, etc., is all on one partition on one drive. I took a PQDI disk image of this drive, just in case it collapsed on me before I'd got data off, etc. I then put this image onto a new drive, which is the one I've been playing about with. I keep a small HDD here with a basic copy of WIN-ME already installed on it - found it useful to quickly get a copy of a Windows system file to repair another machine when it had gone awol ! I lifted a copy of the whole of the Windows dir and sub-dir system off this drive, and plonked it on my copied drive in an effort to get it going without disturbing or touching the original. Hope that's clear!

I think the guy has already learned his lesson about backing up, but of course he may be too late to get any more data off this one...

Thanks again.

G0AOZ.

 

GOAOZ, thanks for taking the time to explain that, I hope it proves useful to others

As I meant to say, Restore may be like putting a plaster on an abrasion, yours seems to me like major surgery...although, as I said, I would still try it as well.

I have not tried a similar procedure, but I have not found a straight copy of part of the system to work, you either install in place or "migrate" the system so that it thinks it has always been there. With the problems you are finding I think that would be very difficult.

In (possibly) similar situations I have found...I will try the basics like you have done, but set myself a limit. Then it will be on to the next try, as in a repair.
Don't bang your head on it too hard, you will only hurt your head

Matt