my computer will no longer do a system restore. I am using windows XP.1 person needs an answerI do too

my computer will no longer do a system restore. I am using windows XP.Any specifics please? Any error messages? Or will the system restore just not change any settings?

What is your system make and model?What is your XP Version and Service Pack?Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation: McAfee, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!, MSE, Defender, ZoneAlarm, PC Tools, Comodo, etc.What is the issue you are having that you think System Restore will remedy (or are you just practicing)?Some Anti Virus tools will "protect" your system so much that they will not allow a System Restore to work properly. For example, if you are running any Norton/Symantec products, you may see a message like this:Restoration Incomplete. Your computer cannot be restored...It is such a popular Symantec problem (well, I'll be polite and call it an "undocumented feature"...), they wrote an article about it:http://service1.symantec.com/support/sharedtech.nsf/pfdocs/2005113009323013Depending on what you are using for malware protection, you may have to disable the product(s) temporarily, do the System Restore and then turn the products back on again when the System Restore is complete.Sometimes you will need to boot your system in Safe Mode and while your protection programs are not running, then do the System Restore. Microsoft hints in some of their articles that if System Restore fails to restore your computer, boot into Safe Mode and then execute the System Restore. That works for some configurations.Sometimes System Restore is so afflicted or the Restore Points are suspicious, the best option is to just reinstall your System Restore. Doing so will delete any old Restore Points, but sometimes this is the only way to fix a broken System Restore. You don't have to reinstall XP, just the System Restore part.That may leave you with your original unspecified problem that you hope System Restore will correct (using a System Restore is usually not equivalent to fixing the problem though).Give those ideas some consideration if they apply to you. Sometimes malicious software will afflict your System Restore to prevent you from finding and removing the malicious software. It would much rather fool you into thinking that you have to repair or reinstall your XP when that is not necessary.No matter what you are using for malware protection, I would do this and only then begin to troubleshoot any remaining issues:Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware detection programs then resolve any remaining issues:Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/These can be uninstalled later if desired.When the scans run clean, reboot, test and we can fix any other issues.Do, or do not. There is no try.I need YOUR votes and points for helpful replies and Propose as Answers. I am saving up for a pony!

I am using windows xp media center edition version 5.1 service pack 3.I have reinstalled system restore which has wiped out the restore points but now it works but only restore to todays date. I was trying to rectify after getting several error messages but unfortunately I didnt write them down. It was something to do with run time error? I already ran a malwarebytes scan and it said it didnt detect any. I use CA security centre for virus scans.any other suggestions gratefully appreciated.

Well, it is good that you got SR working again. When you reinstall, SR deletes all the old RPs so things are working as designed.If SR was broken enough to need reinstalling, it was really broken and sometimes malicious software will do things like that to make you believe you need to use a Restore Point, perform a Repair Install, or just give up and totally reinstall your XP when you really never need to.Once you get an infection, it is sometimes a wise idea just to whack all the old Restore Points anyway in case the infection got inside them, then make a brand new one that you know is clean.If you got an infection, it sounds like CA let you down, but no anti software seems to be know about everything, so it is good to have more than one.The free MBAM and SAS are respectable, good, free real time (right now) scanners. SAS may just find a bunch of tracking cookies, but I would still use it.When MBAM and SAS run clean, that would be the time to look at your other issues. Sometimes there are some little infection leftovers that need to be removed manually.Try to explain what the something to do with run time errors say exactly and also when you see them (what are you doing when you see them) and then decide what to do next. Sometimes they say things like cannot run. cannot find, cannot open, error loading, etc.Do the best you can to relay the messages you see.When things are all cleaned up, you should test your SR and make sure it really works (or fix it). Do, or do not. There is no try.I need YOUR votes and points for helpful replies and Propose as Answers. I am saving up for a pony!