System restore will not work for me. Please help.

[Marinresident]

I'm having a problem with the window that opens when making a selection of a list of items to upload either from desktop or photos library (the window looks different and functions differently) so I want to do a system restore to a few days ago when that window was fine. 

The system restore fails. The error window says it may not be completing because of antivirus software running. I don't have any running that I know of. Is it difficult to do a system restore in advanced settings? I'd like to do the system restore in regular settings as I don't know much at all about computers. How can I tell if antivirus is running? I disabled everything I could see on my laptop. By the way, I don't pay for anything and Microsoft firewall is turned off. Please help.

[Echo_Lake]

@Marinresident
Thank you for posting on the HP Support Community.

I have a few troubleshooting steps we could try to fix the issue:  

Firstly, let's check and Turn off antivirus protection in Windows Security (by Microsoft )

1. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings (or Virus & threat protection settings in previous versions of Windows 10).
2. Switch Real-time protection to Off. Note that scheduled scans will continue to run.

If System Restore does not work, use the following steps to make sure System Restore is enabled and active.

1. Save any open files and close all open programs.

2. In Windows, search for restore, and then open Create a restore point from the results list.

3. In System Properties on the System Protection tab, select your hard drive, and then click Configure.

   

   The System Protection for Local Disk window opens.

4. Click Turn on system protection, and then click OK.

   

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

[Marinresident]

I apologize. I did not know your reply was here. I think I already may have tried this but I will try it today. Thank you for helping. I will reply again after I have tried your suggestion. Thanks!

[Marinresident]

First, I have Windows 7. Second, I did all that. System Restore continues to fail saying it may, may, may, not for sure, may be that antivirus software is running. I don't believe any is running. I thought I disabled it all.

So, if it isn't antivirus software preventing System Restore from working, what is?

[Echo_Lake]

@Marinresident
Thank you for posting back. 

I appreciate your efforts to try and resolve the issue. This looks like a corrupted restore point or path which is failing to load the system restore.
Performing system factory recovery will reload the Windows operating system and this will create a new system restore point. 

Click here to Perform an HP System Recovery (Windows 7)

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution