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System Restore is unable to complete Restoration

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This article helps you resolve the problem where System Restore is unable to complete restoration and terminates.

Original product version:   File Based Write Filter
Original KB number:   2390760

Symptoms

System Restore is unable to complete restoration and terminates with the following error:

This restoration is incomplete. It was interrupted by an improper shutdown. You should undo this restore or choose another restore point.

Cause

The System Restore and the combination of File Based Write Filter (FBWF) with Registry Filter cannot be used at the same time. System Restore is unable to restore to an earlier point in time correctly with Registry Filter enabled.

Resolution

FBWF and Registry Filter must be disabled for system restore to work properly:

  1. FBWF and Registry Filter should be disabled anytime System Restore is used to create a restore point or restore the system to an earlier point in time.

  2. System Restore should be disabled when FBWF and Registry Filter are in use.

Using Registry Editor (Go to start, Run, type Regedit.exe, press enter) create the following regnodes if not present, or if present set the values as outlined below to disable FBWF & Registry Filter in order to create a restore point or restore the system to an earlier point in time.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RegFilter] "Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FBWF] "Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\srservice] "Start"=dword:00000002

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr] "Start"=dword:00000000

Conversely set the following Registry Keys as appropriate to enable FBWF and Registry filter and disable System Restore:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RegFilter] "Start"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FBWF] "Start"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\srservice] "Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sr] "Start"=dword:00000004

Important

This step directs you to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.

Adding these registry keys can be done several ways. You can use RegEdit, as shown in the example below. Alternatively you can also use Registry Entries (.reg) files to remotely distribute registry changes to several Windows-based computers. When you run a .reg file, the file contents merge into the local registry. Therefore, you must distribute .reg files with caution. The following article provides advanced information on the Registry with several editing methods described, including Regedit and .reg files:

Windows registry information for advanced users

Example using Regedit:

  1. Click on the Start menu, Select Run...

  2. Type: Regedit

  3. Press the Enter key or click OK.

  4. Add the following keys to the Software section of the Registry:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\Windows Embedded POSReady] "Version"=(REG_SZ)"2.0"

More information

Registry Filter provides functionality required to persist specific registry values when connected to a Network Domain and FBWF is enabled and protecting the system volume. FBWF correctly disables the System Restore service and it is in fact disabled in POSReady by default. Running Sysprep on the POSReady runtime or invoking System Restore manually can enable the System Restore service.