System Restore is no longer available.

Your quote:

"Start by locating the sr.inf file in the c:\windows\inf folder. "

The sr.inf file could not be found in the Search function. So went to the inf folder and looked through. There is just the sr file, but no sr.inf file. Right clicked on the sr file and the options box did offer to antivirus scan the sr.inf file as one of the many options.

So I guessed that it is the sr.inf file afterall. Clicked on install and it requested for the CD as you had said, and also for the sr.sys file. Put that into Search and again it results in just sr located in c:\winxp\system32\drivers.

Got a bit worried here as system32 is core OS and I don't want to risk screwing up the OS, and better seek more advice before I proceed any further, as I'm unsure if the sr file I'm dealing with is really the sr.inf file that you call for. I do think however, in my computer the sr.inf file is just listed as the sr file.

In both the Searches it appears only as sr. In the first Search looking for the sr.inf file there is only one sr file and no other sr file. In the second Search for the sr.sys again only one sr file appears and no other sr dot something or any other.

I need your advice at this stage. Am I on the right track?

Thanks

Start by locating the sr.inf file in the c:\windows\inf folder. 

Files in the c:\windows\inf folder are sometimes hidden and you may not see the file extension (.inf) so you need to adjust your Explorer setting so you can see all the files in the folder and their extensions, then you will see the sr.inf file.

You may need to adjust your Explorer settings to show hidden files and also to show file extensions (instructions above).

When you right click a .inf file, you will see the usual right click option...  Open, Copy, etc. but since it is .inf file, XP recognizes the .inf file as something you might want to install, so you will see also see a new right click option:

Install

You need to choose that.

Then XP will begin to process the sr.inf file and work on installing it.

Along the way, the installation may stop and ask you to insert your XP installation CD as it needs certain files (that should already be on your system somewhere from the original installation).  The installation will stop and wait for you to tell it where to find the file it wants.

If you are so fortunate to have a genuine bootable XP installation CD with Service Pack 3 on it (most people don't), you could just stick it in and be on your way.  I like to pretend that nobody has a genuine bootable XP installation CD with SP3 on it and make instructions that will still work without one.

Since most people don't have an XP installation CD, you need to type in the path where the files are going to be on your system (as indicated about) so the install looks there instead of looking for some CD you don't have.

Then the installation will be able to find the file, move on a little bit and it may ask you for another file so you have to fill in the path again to "point" to the folder where that file is.

You may be asked for several files as you go along filling in the source path to the needed file one at a time until the installation finishes.  I provided the examples where I believe the needed files will be on your system, so just type that into the source file box so XP will look there to find the file.

Then when you reboot, XP will recognize that SR has just been installed and it will automatically make you a brand new Restore Point so if you look in your calendar after rebooting, you should see on new RP in the calendar.

If for some reason the installation asks you for a file and typing in my suggestion to where the file is supposed to be doesn't work, you can drop out (leave the installation waiting) and search your computer for the file and then when you find it, go back to the installation and point it to where your search found the file.

I supposed it could be possible that for some reason the file the installation needs is just no where to be found on your system.  So, just cancel the installation until you can get the file it needs.

If you tell me what file is needed, I can put it on my SkyDrive and you can download it and save it on your system and start the installation over again by right clicking the sr.inf and choosing Install again.

If SR has ever worked, all the files should really be on your system somewhere.  The installation is going to keep asking you for a CD, but you can just tell it to look someplace else for the files it need by manually filling in the path (something like c:\windows\dllcache) to whatever my earlier post says.

Eventually, the installation will have found all the files it needs and your System Restore will have been reinstalled and you can test it (after a reboot).

Hi Joselbarra

Sorry for the delay. Went away for the weekend. I did get a little apprehensive at your instructions, not being that good on computers and I've never done such a thing before. However, if you'll bear with me, I think it is well worth doing and learning.

Being still a bit confused pls enlighten me the following:

1.  How do I start? What is the first step, the second, and then the third.

2.  No need to repeat what has already been said, just point to it.

3.   How do I abort if I can't find the file, without messing things up, and be able to continue using the computer as usual? Then I should write to you on the file I can't find, and pls tell me what to do from there, how to import it, etc 

Thanks

It just so happens that I have some instructions for that.

If during the SR reinstall, you seem to be missing some file it wants, just abort the installation, tell us what the file you need is, and I can put it on my SkyDrive and you can download it. 

If SR used to work, the files would be on your system somewhere so you might just search your system to find them, and then just "point" the install to the folder where the file is.

Assuming your XP is installed on the C drive of your machine:

As you go through the reinstallation of SR, the reinstallation will ask you for some files as you go along and ask for your XP installation CD.

If you do not have a genuine bootable XP installation CD, you can change the path of where the installer looks for files one at a time as they are needed.  More on that later.

Browse to c:\windows\inf and right click the following file:

sr.inf

Choose Install

If you have cannot see the sr.inf file, configure your system to show hidden files and to show file extensions.

Click Tools, Folder Options, View and enable "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file types" then you should be able to see the c:\windows\inf\sr.inf file.

The installation may ask for files from the c:\windows\inf\386 folder.  That would be your genuine bootable XP installation CD if you have one and the Service Pack installed on your system needs to be the same as the CD you are going to use.

You do not absolutely need a CD to do the reinstall SR since the files must already be on your system some place if SR was ever working before.

If you are asked for a file and you can't find it where I suggest in my example below (it works on my system), you will have to search your hard disk and find where the files are on your system.

If asked for a file and you don't know where it is, leave the installation waiting and click Start, Search and search for the requested file and find it on your system.  If SR ever worked before, the file is already on your system somewhere.

When Search finds the requested file, switch back to the installation and enter the path to where you found the requested file and click OK.  The installation may ask for several files along the way, but you can find them all.

If you still can't find the files, let us know what the file is you need and somebody can upload it to their SkyDrive and you can download it.

Here is how my system works when I reinstall SR when I pretend I do not have a genuine bootable XP installation CD:

When asked for:

sr.sys

Point the install to c:\windows\system32\drivers

When asked for:

srclient.dll

Point the install to c:\windows\system32

When asked for:

filelist.xml

Point the install to c:\windows\system32\restore (or c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386)

If asked for:

xrstrui.exe

Point the install to c:\windows\system32\restore

When asked for:

srframe.mmf

Point the install to c:\windows\system32\dllcache (or c:\windows\system32\restore)

When the installation completes, you will get a message that you need to restart your computer.

Restart your computer and look at your SR calendar.  You should have one new System Checkpoint in your calendar.

The day you think you need System Restore to help you is not the day to find out System Restore doesn't work, so you should test it.

After the reinstallation, manually create a Restore Point, reboot and immediately test the restoration process and be sure you are convinced it works from end to end.