Thanks to reader lian who sent me this link to a Microsoft KB article about the disappearing restore points in Windows Vista when you dual boot. It seems that Microsoft has posted a way to correct the registry entries to eliminate the error in Vista that indicates there are no restore points available on dual boot systems. The article from MS states:

SYMPTOMS

When you use the System Restore feature in Windows Vista, you receive the following message:

No Restore Points have been created on your computer’s system disk.

Additionally, only the most recent backup files from Windows Vista Complete PC Backup are available. Earlier versions of the backup files are unavailable. You experience this problem if you are running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 on a computer that is also configured to run an earlier Windows operating system.

KB926185 dated January 31, 2008 provides information on how to modify the registry entries to prohibit the loss of restore points created by Windows Vista. The procedure corrects the following:

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you start the computer by using the earlier operating system, such as Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Server 2003. In this situation, the earlier operating system deletes all the restore points that were created in Windows Vista. The earlier operating system also deletes all Complete PC Backup files except the most recent version of these backup files.

One word of caution. Anytime you modify the Windows registry you may experience additional problems. It is also advisable to make a backup copy of the registry information before proceeding. Use at your own risk.

Comments welcome.

Microsoft KB article is located here.

Tags: microsoft, vista, dual boot, windows xp, cause, solution, problem, registry, modification