Restore cannot restore

RobF

unread,

Apr 10, 2009, 3:01:50 PM4/10/09

to

Failed restoration:
After a completed evolution, i.e. reboot, this showed, something
apparently installed on the selected restore point(date): "Software
Distribution Service 3.o." Cannot restore.
I don't know what this refers to. Can I somehow find the culprit and destroy
it? I appreciate your advice.
--
RobF
Address invalid

Terry R.

unread,

Apr 10, 2009, 4:39:28 PM4/10/09

to

The date and time was Fri Apr 10 2009 12:01:50 GMT-0700 (Pacific
Daylight Time), and on a whim, RobF pounded out on the keyboard:

Hi Rob,

Googling Software Distribution Service ran across this:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&tid=d71a7ee6-09e1-4683-83cd-951f388a488e&cat=&lang=&cr=&sloc=&p=1

You may find others.

Terry R.
--
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

db

unread,

Apr 10, 2009, 5:17:09 PM4/10/09

to

most of the time
anti virus programs
block the system
from being restored.

so you might try
disabling them and
try to initiate a restore
point again, preferably
from safe mode.

another method to
repair the system is
via a "repair installation"

a repair installation will
replace missing or corrupted
system files with genuine
ones from the cd.

then the process will delete
all the old restore points,
since they may have faulty
system files

and create a brand new one.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>

"RobF" <w...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:xIMDl.16567$qO1....@newsfe13.iad...

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Apr 10, 2009, 8:29:34 PM4/10/09

to

"Software Distribution Service" merely points to something installed via
Automatic Updates (e.g., Defender definitions; critical security updates;
etc.). The fact that you cannot select/use that particular Restore Point
probably has nothing to do with what was installed.

Start here: http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

RobF

unread,

Apr 11, 2009, 12:23:34 PM4/11/09

to

My original post didn't appear in OE6 or in thunderbird (happens sometimes),
but your helpful replies did. Many thanks Terry R., db, and PA Bear.
--
RobF
Address invalid

RobF

unread,

Apr 11, 2009, 2:49:17 PM4/11/09

to

Was advised to try safe mode - it worked ! The box is livelier now. Thanks
again to all responders.
--
RobF
Address invalid

"Terry R." <F1...@NOSPAMpobox.com> wrote in message
news:u2SSvxhu...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

| The date and time was Fri Apr 10 2009 12:01:50 GMT-0700 (Pacific
| Daylight Time), and on a whim, RobF pounded out on the keyboard:
|

~~~~~~~~~~~snip

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Apr 11, 2009, 2:50:21 PM4/11/09

to

Your thread in Google Groups archive:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/thread/806a5ddb3202c437/89516c9ff5c9d17c

What was the problem, Rob, and how did you resolve it?

If you accessed this newsgroup via the free MS newsserver, I'm pretty sure
you'd find your post & thread. While some newsservers delete posts after 24
hours, posts on the MS newsserver are available for a minimum of 90 days.

Setting up Outlook Express to access Microsoft newsgroups
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

RobF

unread,

Apr 11, 2009, 3:01:50 PM4/11/09

to

Thanks again for the good advice and for the link to the OE site, which i've
just brought up. Prob with restore overcome with safe mode, as I mentioned
below at about the the same time you were posting this one. I'll see if the
michaelstevens page explains the prob with OE6. In the past. I've found
"lost" threads in google groups. Tedious of OE to vex me like that.
--
RobF

Address invalid
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABe...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uHSiyZtu...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Apr 11, 2009, 3:14:16 PM4/11/09

to

So System Restore was available in Safe Mode?

Is a Norton or Kaspersky application installed? Has a Norton or Kaspersky
application ever been installed (e.g., a free-trial version preinstalled on
the machine when you bought it)?

Click on the following link to open WinXP General newsgroup in OE:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

RobF wrote:
> Thanks again for the good advice and for the link to the OE site, which
> i've
> just brought up. Prob with restore overcome with safe mode, as I mentioned
> below at about the the same time you were posting this one. I'll see if
> the
> michaelstevens page explains the prob with OE6. In the past. I've found
> "lost" threads in google groups. Tedious of OE to vex me like that.
>

Terry R.

unread,

Apr 11, 2009, 5:59:45 PM4/11/09

to

The date and time was Saturday, April 11, 2009 11:49:17 AM, and on a

whim, RobF pounded out on the keyboard:

>> Was advised to try safe mode - it worked ! The box is livelier now. Thanks
>> again to all responders.
>

You're welcome Rob.

RobF

unread,

Apr 12, 2009, 12:14:49 PM4/12/09

to

Yes, PA, sys restore was available in safe mode, and it succeeded.
Kaspersky - I think I D/L'ed a one time scan app, removed long ago. Had
Norton, just 1 or 2 utilities, also long gone, nothing of either on HDD at
present.
Will click on the new group link you gave. Had not thought of looking into
that group.
I think I didn't answer your question of yesterday, when you wrote what was
the prob - you meant the prob that induced me to collapse on the bosom of
sys restore. It was slowness of response in loading apps; freaky mouse
behavior, scroll bar not budging and then spooling fast, other weirdness;
failure of web sites and OE to end; others that I've forgotten.
BTW, I tried to set today, after the success of yesterday, as a restore
point. Windows wouldn't have any part of it. Spat back at me something about
no system change today, or something like that. Is there a way to negotiate
with MicroSoft (this box) cleverly to accept a date?
--
RobF
Address invalid

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABe...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:O7WIpqt...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Apr 13, 2009, 11:25:34 AM4/13/09

to

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

1. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saaving it to your desktop:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

2. Double-click on the file saved in #1 above to run the tool.

3. Reboot.

4. Download/run the Kaspersky removal tool per the instructions on this
page: http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279463 (Make certain you
reboot after running the tool.)

5. Test the availability of System Restore in normal (Windows) mode.

RobF wrote:
> Yes, PA, sys restore was available in safe mode, and it succeeded.
> Kaspersky - I think I D/L'ed a one time scan app, removed long ago. Had
> Norton, just 1 or 2 utilities, also long gone, nothing of either on HDD at
> present.
> Will click on the new group link you gave. Had not thought of looking into
> that group.
> I think I didn't answer your question of yesterday, when you wrote what
> was
> the prob - you meant the prob that induced me to collapse on the bosom of
> sys restore. It was slowness of response in loading apps; freaky mouse
> behavior, scroll bar not budging and then spooling fast, other weirdness;
> failure of web sites and OE to end; others that I've forgotten.
> BTW, I tried to set today, after the success of yesterday, as a restore
> point. Windows wouldn't have any part of it. Spat back at me something
> about
> no system change today, or something like that. Is there a way to
> negotiate
> with MicroSoft (this box) cleverly to accept a date?
>

> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>> So System Restore was available in Safe Mode?
>>
>> Is a Norton or Kaspersky application installed? Has a Norton or
>> Kaspersky
>> application ever been installed (e.g., a free-trial version preinstalled
>> on
>> the machine when you bought it)?
>>
>> Click on the following link to open WinXP General newsgroup in OE:
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
>>
>> RobF wrote:
>>> Thanks again for the good advice and for the link to the OE site, which
>>> i've
>>> just brought up. Prob with restore overcome with safe mode, as I
>>> mentioned
>>> below at about the the same time you were posting this one. I'll see if
>>> the
>>> michaelstevens page explains the prob with OE6. In the past. I've found
>>> "lost" threads in google groups. Tedious of OE to vex me like that.
>>>

RobF

unread,

Apr 13, 2009, 12:20:51 PM4/13/09

to

A/V is Avast, P A, current, auto updates, complete scan Sunday. Have Malware
bytes and spybot, also spyware blaster. Zone Alarm 7.0.483.0. I ran the
Norton removal tool some time ago, will run again. Thanks for the Kaspersky
tool, will do. Sys Restore available in normal mode. I set a point this
A.M., no backchat from the restore app. All's well now, thanks again.
--
RobF
Address invalid

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABe...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:u7e$dwEvJH...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

| What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now and is your
| subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
Defender)?
| What third-party firewall (if any)?
|
| 1. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saaving it to your desktop:
| http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
|
| 2. Double-click on the file saved in #1 above to run the tool.
|
| 3. Reboot.
|
| 4. Download/run the Kaspersky removal tool per the instructions on this
| page: http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279463 (Make certain you
| reboot after running the tool.)
|
| 5. Test the availability of System Restore in normal (Windows) mode.
|

**********snip

************snip

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/thread/806a5ddb3202c437/89516c9ff5c9d17c
| >>>>
| >>>> What was the problem, Rob, and how did you resolve it?
| >>>>
| >>>> If you accessed this newsgroup via the free MS newsserver, I'm pretty
| >>>> sure
| >>>> you'd find your post & thread. While some newsservers delete posts
| >>>> after
| >>>> 24 hours, posts on the MS newsserver are available for a minimum of
90
| >>>> days.
| >>>>
| >>>> Setting up Outlook Express to access Microsoft newsgroups
| >>>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
| >>>> --
| >>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
| >>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

***snip

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Apr 13, 2009, 12:30:30 PM4/13/09

to

Is Spybot Tea Timer enabled?

RobF wrote:
> A/V is Avast, P A, current, auto updates, complete scan Sunday. Have
> Malware
> bytes and spybot, also spyware blaster. Zone Alarm 7.0.483.0. I ran the
> Norton removal tool some time ago, will run again. Thanks for the
> Kaspersky
> tool, will do. Sys Restore available in normal mode. I set a point this
> A.M., no backchat from the restore app. All's well now, thanks again.
>

RobF

unread,

Apr 13, 2009, 2:49:12 PM4/13/09

to

I D/L'ed Tea Timer, P A. It appears in programs list. I think I did not
activate it - not sure where to look to verify this. S&D help no help, IE -
hardly ever use it, except for XP updates - S&D shows in IE6 addons, but not
specifically tea timer. I never knew what it's for, anyway.
--
RobF
Address invalid

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABe...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:%23rGkyUF...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Apr 13, 2009, 2:56:13 PM4/13/09

to

HOW TO disable Tea Timer (if enabled):
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=32409

NB: If you don't fully understand what Tea Timer does and how it does it,
leave it permanently disabled.

RobF wrote:
> I D/L'ed Tea Timer, P A. It appears in programs list. I think I did not
> activate it - not sure where to look to verify this. S&D help no help,
> IE -
> hardly ever use it, except for XP updates - S&D shows in IE6 addons, but
> not
> specifically tea timer. I never knew what it's for, anyway.
>

RobF

unread,

Apr 14, 2009, 12:05:20 PM4/14/09

to

Found it, P A. TT was disabled and I left it so. I was familiar with AumHa,
but not malwarehelp.org, which was linked from there. Grateful for your
pointers.
--
RobF
Address invalid

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABe...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:u2C9mrGv...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...