Build new HTPC or upgrade my desktop?

[Hi Ho]

It doesn't work. I get the following error no matter which restore point I choose:

"System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer's system files and settings were not changed.

Details:
A Volume Shadow Copy Service component encountered an unexpected error.
Check the Application event log for more information. (0x80042302)

You can try System Restore again and choose a different restor point. If you continue to see this error, you can try an advanced recovery method. For more information, see What is Recovery?"

When I click "Run System Restore" get the following error:

"There was an unexpected error:

Catastrophic failure (0x8000FFFF)

Please close System Restore and try again."

[Jbc223456]

That Volume Shadow Copy error I've dealt with before when trying to use System Restore in Windows 7. To be on the safe side, try clicking the start menu and searching "services.msc" without the quotation marks and then hit enter. Double click the Volume Shadow Copy Service and then navigate to the General tab. There should be an option in that tab that allows you to change the startup type. Try switching it to Automatic (or turn it on if it isn't already), then run System Restore again.

I'm not sure about that Catastrophic Failure error, other than I am pretty sure it is linked to the first error about the VSC.

Hope this helps.

[Hi Ho]

I have done that and the service is set to automatic and it is running and I still get the same results. I'm really beginning to think that something has become corrupt to the point that it is not repairable without a complete format and that is the last thing I wanted to do since all copy protected content in Windows Media Center will then be unusable.

[MaxRat]

If you have a spare drive clone the current install and on the spare try doing a Repair Install...where it saves all the old files...

I say do this on a cloned version just in case it doesnt work you still have the original... I have done trial and error like this before just to see if it worked or not....

[Jbc223456]

You can also try running the Systems File Checker to see if there are any files on your computer that have become corrupted.

Just type in cmd in your "Search programs and files". Right click on the cmd image, and run as administrator. In the command prompt, type sfc /scannow. This will run the Systems File Checker for any corrupt or damaged files and replace them if possible.