I remember having this happen to me some time back. I still don't know why, but I booted into SafeMode and was able to do the System Restore. You might give that a try and see if it works for you.

Mlou, restoring a computer to factory defaults is a bit time consuming but once done you can be very pleasantly surprised. As noted, gather all your program CDs and save any pertinent data. Then double check to ensure you have it all. If this is XP you only need to install SP3 afterwards, no need for SP1 or SP2. After that there are currently about 107 updates to install which depending on the speed of your computer and internet connection may take 90 minutes or so. You might consider downloading SP3 beforehand and burning it to a CD, that way it can be installed with the internet connection disabled for protection. I also keep Microsoft Security Essentials on a thumb drive to be installed after SP3 (it will not work without SP3) so that once I connect again I am relatively safe. Which ever anti virus program you use try to have it saved already so it can be installed soon after re-installing Windows. Have the internet connected during the initial install so it is found and set up.

it probably has it all stored on a separate partition on the hard drive, you should have been prompted to create your discs as soon as you got the pc. If you have not done that yet I would suggest doing that asap then you will have the discs should you ever need them. That info should be in your information from the manufacturer. But you can just google your model and look it up online. You an also google how to make recovery discs for windows 7 and also how to make an image of your system. Windows 7 has all those options built in now. Windows 7

yes I did the custom install, and now have FF7.01. Some of the toolbar settings have carried through, most have not...only 3 add ons came through. Do you know of any way to find the list of add ons that I had so I can just hopefully enable them? I sure hate the thought of going through all that again. Things like this are what makes me say I live in the land of "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT." But that would be too easy wouldn't it. thanks for your guidance...