Restore point not completing

Today, right after login, I got a white window "just a moment" with few icons at the bottom right (speaker, accessibility and keyboard), looking like a frozen update. 3 attempts later, in repair, after diagnosis no repair was possible. In repair, I finally decided to restore to the latest point, which didn't work either : restore not being able to replace the file E:\Photo Library\desktop.ini with error code 0x80070780.

Windows System is in C drive ... why replacing a file in E drive. E:\Photo Library\ folder does not exist anymore. In addition, C is the only drive clicked in restore point settings.

Why is restore trying to replace a file in E drive when system is in C: drive ? How can I be sure to not face the same problem when I'll have to restore system ? So far I've never been successful using restore, this E drive file being always the problem. How can a desktop.ini file in E drive being used in creating a restore point ?

Thanks

You can use the attached batch script to reset taskbar corner overflow Icons in Windows 11, hopefully this will resolve your problem.

I may not have been understood ... Taskbar is not the problem I was not able to complete a restore point because a file to restore on another drive (E: drive) could not be replaced.

You said few icons at the bottom right (speaker, accessibility and keyboard), looking like a frozen update so i thought these icons are on Taskbar notification area that we can try to fix.

If the system restore point not completing because of Desktop.ini file we can delete it and try again.

jguy said:

I may not have been understood ... Taskbar is not the problem I was not able to complete a restore point because a file to restore on another drive (E: drive) could not be replaced.

Click to expand...

System Restore was a great idea, that has never worked very well.
Third party backup software, is by far the best way to give your computer... a way to undo... changes.

Macrium Reflect and AOMEI Backupper, are two examples that have free versions.
Personally, I like Macrium Reflect better.






Quickie Macrium picture guide...


Macrium Reflect User Guide...

Macrium Notes:
1. A full OS image backup will be approx. 1/2 the size of the total "used space" on the C:\ drive.
2. Backing up takes about 75 seconds for every 20GB of "used space" on the C:\ drive.

Full tutorial...

Ghot said:

System Restore was a great idea, that has never worked very well.
Third party backup software, is by far the best way to give your computer... a way to undo... changes.

Macrium Reflect and AOMEI Backupper, are two examples that have free versions.

Click to expand...

I said it once, I'll say is again, anyone "trying" to explain away System Restore, while espousing Macrium or "alternative" backup programs, do not understand the real issue.

System restore usually works fine and is often the quickest and easiest solution. Always worth trying first, as you did.
If you got the message while in the recovery environment, winpe allocates drive letters differently which might account for the reference to partition E.

Dru2 said:

I said it once, I'll say is again, anyone "trying" to explain away System Restore, while espousing Macrium or "alternative" backup programs, do not understand the real issue.

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Well then, what is THE real issue?

There can be any number of reasons leading to System Restore Points falling over.

I found them to be so unreliable that I gave up using them years ago. Image backups coupled with good data management are far more reliable than System Restore Points.

The main point about system restore points is you can quickly wind back a few days without losing data.

A restore of an image backup can cause you to lose new data which is why I keep data separate from C drive.

For some, an image restore can take some time, but this issue is virtually eliminated with Rapid Delta Restore in paid version of Reflect.

So do not assume all proponents of image backups do not understand "The real issue".

cereberus said:

I found them to be so unreliable that I gave up using them years ago. Image backups coupled with good data management are far more reliable than System Restore Points.

Click to expand...

THIS



I've found over the years that planning ahead a bit, opens up a whole bunch of other options.
Personally... I try to keep the total "used space" on my Windows drive, under say 50GB.
For large program or games... I just install them on a storage drive, and just put their shortcuts on the Windows drive.
For programs like Office, don't save all your files in Windows Libraries, save them in separate folders on a storage drive.
Do the same with pictures, music, media, etc.
Windows Libraries are fine for say a business computer, but for a personal computer, you will need more storage space.

This makes backups and restores from backups... very quick.
So quick, that System Restore is no longer needed or even useful.


Lastly, even when used properly, it fails more than 50% of the time anyway.





This is the system I use, yours will be different ofc.

C:\ = Windows installation (approx. 40GB total)
D:\ = Downloads
E:\ = Page File

F:\ = copies of installed programs, texts, guides, copies of bookmarks, large program installations (like games)
G:\ = Backups of Windows
H:\ = all my media (pics, music, movies, help videos, etc.
I:\ = all my TV series

The 8TB drive is just an exact copy of the 4TB drive, made with Karen's Replicator on a daily schedule.







You will naturally have to come up with a system that works for you.
The only over-riding scheme I would aim for is keep the total size of the Windows installation... small.
Keep good backups of Windows.
Make sure your storage is backed up with whatever method works best for your hardware.

@jguy

Your question is certainly an interesting one. I don't have a solution for you unfortunately. But I too, find the whole E drive issue very odd.

Only as a reminder, before attempting to use a 'Restore Point', temporarily disable any AV/Malware protection you may be running. Otherwise, it will not complete.

I wish you the best.

@jguy


There was a similar post 3-4 days ago on Ten Forums.
I think the problem had been caused by One Drive.

Check the first and last posts, here...

jguy said:

Today, right after login, I got a white window "just a moment" with few icons at the bottom right (speaker, accessibility and keyboard), looking like a frozen update. 3 attempts later, in repair, after diagnosis no repair was possible. In repair, I finally decided to restore to the latest point, which didn't work either : restore not being able to replace the file E:\Photo Library\desktop.ini with error code 0x80070780.

Windows System is in C drive ... why replacing a file in E drive. E:\Photo Library\ folder does not exist anymore. In addition, C is the only drive clicked in restore point settings.

Why is restore trying to replace a file in E drive when system is in C: drive ? How can I be sure to not face the same problem when I'll have to restore system ? So far I've never been successful using restore, this E drive file being always the problem. How can a desktop.ini file in E drive being used in creating a restore point ?

Thanks

Click to expand...

in my experience I dont care what version of windows etc using the restore point is like playing russian roulette. It works or it doesnt. Mostly it it useless. I have had succesful restores but also gone to use it and there was NONE found thing you know. Hence the reason I do daily backups of my entire main drive. Heres something to know I found out after time. When windows does an update it erases any rstore points you have. So everytime it updates you need to do a new restore point. and also sometimes even if you run a restore point to happen daily using the windows Task Scheduler after an update it will remove your task.

cereberus said:

I found them to be so unreliable that I gave up using them years ago. Image backups coupled with good data management are far more reliable than System Restore Points.

Click to expand...

No truer words were ever spoken. If one is 100% depending on system restore to get them out of a jam, they are sitting on a time bomb.

cereberus said:

I found them to be so unreliable that I gave up using them years ago.

Click to expand...

And I find it extremely reliable! Maybe cause I know how to use it for its intended purposes.

Oh, and you can tell me a million times it sucks, I'll just say a million and one it doesn't if used properly.

Peace

Thanks to everybody !

To me, doing a system restore from Repair environment (Windows was freezing so it could not be started) was useless and has always been in the past. Restoring when windows run seems much more reliable.

Learning from the past that restore point was not reliable, years ago, I bought AOMEI backupper and I had a week old AOMEI full backup, but going back a few days was not be the first option, it was my last option. System restore is supposed to be much easier (it should be) and we do not lose any data.

How did I solve the problem ? As repair environment restoring C: drive was blocked by an E:\Photo Library\desktop.ini file that doesn't exist anymore, I decided to create one then try system restore. Some didn't understand that I could not have windows running. So, I started the computer with a rescue disk, created a E:\Photo Library\desktop.ini file and then I was able to successfully do a restore point from the windows repair environment.

How can deleting a user file in a data disk make restoring point in C: drive not working ? As I understand, nobody has a clue other than software bugs. I have to agree saying that system restore is not reliable and it's not the first time I face that.

@Ghot[/USER] I'm not using oneDrive and problem was in E: drive not C: drive. I already used the separate disks for OS and Data but with large HDD backup price going down and potential sync problems that comes with multiple drives, I decided to stick to a large C: Drive, including everything I cannot lose (I have a larger drive for things easier to restart like flight sim). No sync problems, easier management for multiple backups, etc ... I would not return to multiple drives.

Dru2 said:

And I find it extremely reliable! Maybe cause I know how to use it for its intended purposes.

Oh, and you can tell me a million times it sucks, I'll just say a million and one it doesn't if used properly.

Peace

Click to expand...

Or more likely, you have just been lucky.

Just because it works for you, stop saying those who say it is unreliable do not know how to use it.

I have been using them since XP and it is Russian Roulette whether it works reliably. You do a disservice to the experienced users here suggesting they do not know how to use it properly.

If you are so clever and know something we do not, we would welcome a tutorial from you!

cereberus said:

Or more likely, you have just been lucky.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been lucky quite a few years now. In fact, every time I use it, it works, so yeah.... it must be luck. I'm probably the only one on the planet that's gotten it to work. Yeah, that's it

But yes, it can fail, but it's usually associated with something that's rendered it ineffective. If create a restore point for say a GPU driver install, then later Decide you don't want the driver after and decide to delete registry strings, folders, and files, and then say... oh, wait, I can just do a system restore, it's probably going to fail because of all the weird removal procedures. If you just leave the driver and its files and folders as is and System Restore to remove said driver and all its entries, System Restore will work without complaint.

Also, you can't wait 3 months later and decide you want to restore to a certain point because those restore points will most likely be gone.

Dru2 said:

Yeah, I've been lucky quite a few years now. In fact, every time I use it, it works, so yeah.... it must be luck. I'm probably the only one on the planet that's gotten it to work. Yeah, that's it

But yes, it can fail, but it's usually associated with something that's rendered it ineffective. Again, knowing what it does and how to use it

Click to expand...

What a pathetic response - bye bye.

jguy said:

Learning from the past that restore point was not reliable, years ago, I bought AOMEI backupper and I had a week old AOMEI full backup, but going back a few days was not be the first option, it was my last option. System restore is supposed to be much easier (it should be) and we do not lose any data.

Click to expand...

For clarity, I think we need to know what's a "System Restore" to you? What app or service do you use to attempt a "System Restore"?

I ask becasue what one thinks it "System Restore" can be something completely different. I've seen people confuse "Reset this PC" to "System Restore".

Also, as I've said thousands of times... System Restore is NOT a backup too, and Microsoft never created it to be that. So if you're using it as a "backup" program. You're using it wrong, and it's going to severely disappoint you.

BTW, I had a thread on it here, and surprise, even there "cereberus" was the only one poo-pooing on it. Most acknowledged it works

BTW, the slowness I spoke of there, disappeared and never happened again.


Thanks.

cereberus said:

What a pathetic response - bye bye.

Click to expand...

Yeah, you said the same in my thread about System Restore when I killed your FUD there.

Have a good day :)