System Restore is no longer available.

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).

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

You almost have it - things are getting a little lost from previous posts...

With XP the default configuration is to NOT show hidden files and folder and to HIDE file extensions for known file types.

When you are browsing the folder, you need change those settings so you can see everything:

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.

Make sure to make the adjustments to see the file extensions so you will be more comfortable - it will work.  Get that working first so you can see the extensions or things are not going to look right if you can't see the file extensions.

Once you are able to see the file extensions, things will make more sense.

(I'll wait here for you to get that part working)......

Now that you have hidden files and folders showing and file extensions showing...

There are actually two sr files in the folder but they have different extensions.

sr.inf  (you DO want this one)  <<---*!*!*!*

sr..PNF  (you don't want this one)

When installing, and it asks for files, if you have to use the Search function, you will also have to adjust the Advanced Search options to search system folders and search hidden files and folder, but my hope is that you will not have to search for the files it wants.

Most XP installations go into the c:\windows folder, but it sounds like yours is installed in the c:\winxp folder, so everywhere I say c:\windows, you must substitute c:\winxp

The first file it will ask for is indeed sr.sys. 

On most systems, that would be in the c:\windows\system32\drivers folder. 

On your system, it will be in the c:\winxp\system32\drivers folder so when asked for sr.sys, point the installation to c:\winxp\system32\drivers instead.

You do not have to do any searching - just pointing by putting the correct path to the needed file in the box every time the install asks for a file.  It will go a little bit more and stop and ask for another file.

Here is the list of things it will ask for, but everyplace you see c:\windows, you need to replace that with c:\winxp to get it to work on your system

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)

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.

When you get SR working again, I would run MBAM and SAS to be sure your system is reasonably clean of malicious software.

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 and immediately test the restoration process and be sure you are convinced it works from end to end.

Hi Joselbarra

Greetings of the day!  Its a great day!  Yes, I did it, or more correctly, you did it!!.

Followed your instructions throughout, and I've got SR back and tested it OK.

There's no end of thanks to you. The understanding and patience you have shown is like no other. Over the years, about once or twice a year I have come to these colums to seek help, but there has never been anyone like your commitment. Without your attributes and knowledge I would not have had a solution to my SR problem. Credit must be given where it is due.  I hope others read this and try to emulate you for the good of us all.

I believe some malicious malware/virus has done me in and disrupted my system and created several problems.

Just one thing for your archives:  "When asked for:

"srframe.mmf

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

Before this step, it asked for the xrstrui.exe file, which I also placed in the C:\WinXP\system32\Restore folder. And then carried on to success.

I do have another problem that I would very much like you to attend to it too. But I don't know how to put it up for your attention. Pls advise.

Thanks so much.