System Restore Blank Page. Tried several fixes, none of them worked!

[shassouneh 0]

Hi All,

After a lengthy serach on google, and NTCompatible, I was unable to find a fix that worked for me. First things first, here's a screen shot of what is going on:

 

 

Please note: I am NOT having the "blank Calendar" problem. See the screen shot!

 

That being said, here is a list of things i HAVE tried, none of which have fixed my problem (NOTE: I AM logged in as an administrator (of course).)

 

1.) Restore Registry keys accordingn to Microsoft Knowledge Base articles dealing with "Blank" Calendars. NOTE: I am NOT having a Blank Calendar problem. System Resotre doesn't even GET as far as showing me a calendar

 

2.) Tried regsvr32 for jscript.dll, vbscript.dll, and mshtml by running the following batch file:

 

<Some .BAT File>

 

@Echo Off

regsvr32 jscript

regsvr32 vbscript

regsvr32 /i mshtml

 

</Some .BAT File>

 

On All 3 of them, I got a message that says registered succesfully. I RESTARTED, but still not fixed!!!!

 

3.) Tried Restarting into Safe Mode and trying System Restore

 

4.) Tried Last Known Good Configuration, and trying System Restore

 

5.) Tried to manually check registry keys suggested by Microsoft that have to do with System Restore / Help / Search not working. After a painful set of browsing the registry, all the keys are in place with the right values!

 

6.) NET START (it shows the System Restore Service As Running)

 

7.) Disable / Enable / Restart System Restore Service (through Services under Administrative Tools)

 

8.) Disable System Restore on All Drives. Restart. Enable System Restore on Drives

 

9.) Ran System File Checker as such:

Start -> Run ->

sfc /scannow

 

It ran through, checked everything, and then it did not ask me to repair anything (so I assume everything is OK)

 

10.) SP2: Service Pack 2 comes pre-packaged with my Win XP CD, so I did not install it manually. I have seen various mentions of people trying to un-install SP2 to see if it helps. I am not at all convinced SP2 has anything to do with it, but I just thought I'd mention it.

 

11.) chkdsk /F C:\

C:\ is where Windows resides (my System partition). This of course asks to restart to gain exclusive access to the drive. I restarted, ran CHKDSK, everything is in order

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The only thing i have NOT tried is to do a full-fledged repair. I am reluctant to do this because:

 

a.) It takes too long. The only thing that does NOT work on my machine is system restore

 

b.) Since ONLY System Restore is not working, I do NOT wish to re-install updates. Its far too much trouble to do that just for something as small as system restore

 

Just to be Clear:

 

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional w / SP2

ALL the latest critical updates from Microsoft

 

This has me baffled. I seem to have tried everything short of of a format/repair, but cannot get this to work. Can Anyone help?

 

PS: Sorry if this is in the wrong section, but I could not find a section more suited for this.

[Edited by shassouneh on 2005-12-30 11:50:49]

 

[Edited by shassouneh on 2005-12-30 11:52:03]

 

[Edited by shassouneh on 2005-12-30 11:54:12]

 

[Edited by shassouneh on 2005-12-30 12:29:26]

 

[shassouneh 0]

Could a mod/admin please move this to the right section (if its not in it already) ?

 

10x

 

[Wilhelmus 1]

Try executing this vbs script:http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/olereg.vbs

[Sampson 0]

If that doesn't work, this is Microsoft's take on it: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=301224

 

Or you could just try to reinstall system restore:

 

goto START>RUN> type c:\windows\inf

hit enter and look for the file, SR.inf

right click it and click on Install

insert the XP CD, and complete the instaltion

restart and check now

[shassouneh 0]

Tried to Re-Install System Restore. restarted. Same Problem!

 

Ran the OLE vbs file, it said it fixed it, but same roblem.

 

Looked at the KB article. Cleared out System Restore Points. Disabled Systsem Restore. Rebooted. Enabled System Restore Point. Tries to Run System Restore Point -> Same Problem.

 

Anyone sensing my frustration yet? I wish someone could pull a Jedi mind trick on me to make me feel all better and make this thing go away, hehe

 

Also, I kindly ask that Sampson and Wilhelmus re-read my original post just to make sure I did not miss anything.

 

Thanx for the feedback guys. Much appreciated. Keep it coming...

 

[Relic 0]

Try this, I've yet to find a script this guy writes that doesn't work.

 

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/SysRestoreCalendar.zip

 

Great site, bookmark it. 8)

 

http://www.dougknox.com/

[shassouneh 0]

Originally posted by Relic:

Quote:

Try this, I've yet to find a script this guy writes that doesn't work.

 

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/SysRestoreCalendar.zip

 

Great site, bookmark it. 8)

 

http://www.dougknox.com/

 

I had already tried this. I told it to repair 2 keys, and it did. But it STILL does not work. This is what it looks like when I run it:

 

[Relic 0]

Hmmmm, that sucks.

 

You say your XP CD comes with SP2, what updates are you worried about if you repair XP?

 

None of your programs get changed, just XP gets repaired, and you have SP2 on the CD.

[shassouneh 0]

Originally posted by Relic:

Quote:

Hmmmm, that sucks.

 

You say your XP CD comes with SP2, what updates are you worried about if you repair XP?

 

None of your programs get changed, just XP gets repaired, and you have SP2 on the CD.

 

Well if my understanding serves me right, the repair process does replace DLLs. DLLs that could have been updated when i installed Visual Studio .net 2005. Furthermore, repairing Windows XP, which is essentially INSTALLING Windows XP all over agian (be it on TOP of the current installation) is just OVERKILL given that everything else works BUT System Restore. I would not hesitate if my entire machine is acting up. But when it comes to JUST System Restore, I don't want to go through the trouble of setting up Windows XP, let alone activation!

 

[Wilhelmus 1]

Try executing this .reg file.

http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/vilalas/Restore_sys.reg

Note: If your Windows is installed different folder than C:\Windows,you'll have to modify the file.

[shassouneh 0]

Ok Here's a minor Update. It seems this problem is NOT at all dependent on Jscript.dll and/or VbScript.dll. Here's why

 

1.) I pulled 3 files from the Windows XP CD on to my desktop. Namely: JSCRIPT.DL_, VBSCRIPT.DL_ and EXPAND.EXE

 

2.) I ran expand to expand those files into DLLs as such

expand VBSCRIPT.DL_ VBSCRIPT.DLL

expand JSCRIPT.DL_ JSCRIPT.DLL

 

3.) I copied those files (JSCRIPT.DLL and VBSCRIPT.DLL) into C:\Windows\System32 and I over-wrote the existing ones

 

4.) I re-registered those files

Start -> Run -> regsvr32 jscript.dll [Registered Succesfully, clicked OK]

Start -> Run -> regsvr32 vbscript.dll [Registered Succesfully, clicked OK]

 

5.) I tried to launch System Restore.

 

 

RESULT / Conclusion: The problem has NOT been fixed. I still get that same ugly blank window. I just figured I would mention these steps in case someone with a similar problem would like to give them a shot.

 

[shassouneh 0]

Originally posted by Wilhelmus:

Quote:

Try executing this .reg file.

http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/vilalas/Restore_sys.reg

Note: If your Windows is installed different folder than C:\Windows,you'll have to modify the file.

 

My windows is indeed installed in C:\Windows.

 

I ran the file, and let it change the registry.

 

Result: Same blank window!

 

 

Thanx for all the suggestions and feedback everyone. Even though this problem has not yet been resolved, I appreciate all feedback that has been put on the table thus far.

[shassouneh 0]

UPDATE:

 

On a hunch to try ALL possible recommendations by Microsoft, I figured I'd give this one a go. STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM however.

 

This is what I tried

[shassouneh 0]

Another Update:

 

I just ran Norton WinDoctor 2006 off of a CD. It found a bunch of ActiveX/COM errors which I told it to fix.

 

Still a blank window though :-\

[Wilhelmus 1]

1)

Can you right-click the SR page?

Do you get standard IE pop-up menu (Back, Forward,View Source, etc.)

 

2)

Have you tried to uninstall IE from your computer?

 

3)

Open IE/Explorer, and type: res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe/start.htm to address bar and press Enter. Do you get any page or just error?

 

4)

Start->Run:cmd

Type these:

regsvr32 /U srclient.dll

regsvr32 srclient.dll

 

5)

Start->Run:cmd

Type these:

regsvr32 urlmon.dll

regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll

regsvr32 Msjava.dll

regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll

regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll

regsvr32 Mshtml.dll

regsvr32 Browseui.dll

regsvr32 Shell32.dll

 

6)

Download and install this:

Windows Script 5.6 for Windows XP and Windows 2000

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...;DisplayLang=en

 

7)

Reinstall IE:

Start->Run->"%systemroot%\inf"->Right-click ie.inf->Install. You'll need XP CD.

[peterh 1]

Have you considered this to be a graphics problem rather than a System Restore problem. Update your graphics card drivers, could be a bug in rendering the calendar properly.

 

[shassouneh 0]

Happy new year everyone. Got any resolutions lined up? My new year's resolution will be 1024 x 768

 

 

Now down to business.

 

Wilhelmus, I decided to go through your list step by step. Here are my findings.

 

 

Originally posted by Wilhelmus:

Quote:

1)

Can you right-click the SR page?

Do you get standard IE pop-up menu (Back, Forward,View Source, etc.)

 

I indeed do get a standard IE pop-up menu. See screenshot:

 

Quote:

2)

Have you tried to uninstall IE from your computer?

 

No I have not. However, I don't see that I should. See step 3 below!

 

Quote:

3)

Open IE/Explorer, and type: res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe/start.htm to address bar and press Enter. Do you get any page or just error?

 

Well THAT seems to have worked. This LAUNCHES system resttore's blank window, AND asks if its ok to run this ActiveX control since it is trying to communicate with something else. See screenshots.

 

Asks For Permission

 

If permission granted, it seems to load

 

Quote:

4)

Start->Run:cmd

Type these:

regsvr32 /U srclient.dll

regsvr32 srclient.dll

 

5)

Start->Run:cmd

Type these:

regsvr32 urlmon.dll

regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll

regsvr32 Msjava.dll

regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll

regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll

regsvr32 Mshtml.dll

regsvr32 Browseui.dll

regsvr32 Shell32.dll

 

They all register fine EXCEPT Msjava.dll where i get:

 

 

NOTE: Even though they registered, I STILL get a blank window.

Quote:

6)

Download and install this:

Windows Script 5.6 for Windows XP and Windows 2000

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...;DisplayLang=en

I am unable to download this. This requires "Windows Advantage Validation" which fails on my machine for some reason. I am running a legal copy of Windows, but I am not interested in getting this to work. Do you happen to have an alternate download link (I am trying google now).

Quote:

7)

Reinstall IE:

Start->Run->"%systemroot%\inf"->Right-click ie.inf->Install. You'll need XP CD.

 

In light of the partial progress in step 3 (please review it above), I am hesitant to do this step. Please confirm whether or not this step is necessary.

[shassouneh 0]

Originally posted by peterh:

Quote:

Have you considered this to be a graphics problem rather than a System Restore problem. Update your graphics card drivers, could be a bug in rendering the calendar properly.

 

NO i have not considered this to be a graphics-related issue. I am running the latest drivers from ATI (I was preppign this machine for a ghost). Also, I have made some slight progress by getting system restore to start in an IE window, so I am convinced this is not a graphics issue.

 

That being said, I thank you for your input/suggestion, and I am open to any suggestions. Please do keep them coming. I appreciate ALL input.

[Relic 0]

Have you tried just making a shortcut to system restore on your desktop? I just went into my C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore folder, then sent rstrui.exe to the desktop as a shortcut.

 

I had problems before with the Help and Support getting to System Restore, so I just made myself a shortcut to restore.

 

Have you tried repairing the help files?

 

I dunno why I didn't think of that before?

[shassouneh 0]

Originally posted by Relic:

Quote:

Have you tried just making a shortcut to system restore on your desktop? I just went into my C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore folder, then sent rstrui.exe to the desktop as a shortcut.

 

I had problems before with the Help and Support getting to System Restore, so I just made myself a shortcut to restore.

 

Have you tried repairing the help files?

 

I dunno why I didn't think of that before?

 

That was one of the first things I had tried. Didn't work btw.

 

I am reluctant to try to repair help files since this problem seems WAY to pathetic to go through sucha thing. However, how do I do it? I'm willing to try it in the interest of having tried everything (short of a format or a windows repair).

 

[Relic 0]

Doug Knox again. I don't know if it will help, but I do know it won't hurt.

 

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/fixwinxphelp.vbs

[shassouneh 0]

Originally posted by Relic:

Quote:

Doug Knox again. I don't know if it will help, but I do know it won't hurt.

 

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/fixwinxphelp.vbs

 

Ran It. It said it has fixed the damage done when I ran Easy Clean something (which i did NOT. I don't even have that thing installed). STILL A BLANK SCREEN!

 

PS: Help/Support was working fine. I only tried this in the interest of not leaving any possibilities untouched.

 

[shassouneh 0]

Minor update:

 

Downloaded and Installed Windows Script 5.6. Rebooted.

 

STILL A BLANK SCREEN

 

[Relic 0]

Originally posted by shassouneh:

Quote:

Originally posted by Relic:

Quote:

Doug Knox again. I don't know if it will help, but I do know it won't hurt.

 

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/fixwinxphelp.vbs

 

Ran It. It said it has fixed the damage done when I ran Easy Clean something (which i did NOT. I don't even have that thing installed). STILL A BLANK SCREEN!

 

PS: Help/Support was working fine. I only tried this in the interest of not leaving any possibilities untouched.

 

Yeah, like you, I'm kinda grasping at straw here......

[shassouneh 0]

Hey guys. Here's a thought. I run Spybot Search & Destroy occasionally. It has some sort of bult in IE protection that is supposed to block spyware (see atachment below). Perhaps this is somehow related? I would guess it might be, but the fact that i CAN run System Resotre Using IE (see # 3 above) kind of contradicts it.