When you open System Properties and select the System Protection tab, the Create button may be grayed out, and the following message is displayed:

As a result, you’re unable to create System Restore Points or configure System Restore.

Resolution

This happens if the Turn off Configuration Policy is enabled in your system, either using Group Policy or through registry edit. For standalone Windows Vista systems, use these steps:

Using the Group Policy Editor

If your edition of Windows Vista includes the Group Policy Editor snap-in (gpedit.msc), follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type gpedit.msc and press ENTER

2. Go to the following branch:

3. Double-click Turn off Configuration and set it to Not configured.

Note: If the above setting is already set to Not configured, set it to Enabled and click Apply. Then revert back the setting to Not configured, and click Apply, OK.

4. Exit the Group Policy Editor.

Using the Registry Editor

1. Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER

2. Navigate to the following key:

3. In the right-pane, delete the value named DisableConfig

4. Exit the Registry Editor.

Registry Fix

To automate the above setting, download srpol-clear.reg and save to Desktop. Right-click on the file and choose Merge.

More Information

If you set the Turn of configuration option to Enabled, the option to configure System Restore on the Configuration Interface disappears. If the Turn off Configuration setting is disabled, the configuration interface is still visible, but all System Restore configuration defaults are enforced, and the Create button is grayed out. If you set it to Not configured, the configuration interface for System Restore remains, and the user has the ability to configure System Restore.

SEE ALSO

System Restore Group Policy restrictions