Repairing a broken System Restore in XP

It's not uncommon to have System Restore broken in Windows XP. You get a message that tells you it can't be completed, even though it seemed to go through the process properly.

The most common problem is interference by Norton Security products. Just Turn off Product protection in Norton, Run your system restore, then turn product protection back on in Norton.

If you don't have Norton Security or A/V, you may need to reinstall System Restore. Here's how you do that:

1. Click Start, Run and type %Windir%\INF
2. Locate the SR.INF file. If you have configured Windows Explorer to hide known file extensions, the file may show up as SR. To see the file extensions for all file types, then try this:

• On the Tools menu in My Computer, click Folder Options.
• Click the View tab.
• Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.

3. Right-click the SR.INF file, and then click Install
4. Windows will reinstall System Restore, and may prompt you for the Windows installation source path. Point to %Windir%\ServicePackFiles folder, or insert your slipstreamed Windows XP (matching the Service Pack level of your system.)
5. System Restore core files will be reinstalled. Restart Windows when prompted.

Or you can reinstall System Restore using the following command line:

rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %Windir%\Inf\sr.inf

after running a command line.

Good luck!