open restore point dialog c#

Question

I am trying to open the restore point dialog from C# like

I'm using the following code:

Process.Start("SystemPropertiesProtection"); 

and from cmd:

public static string ExecuteCMD(IEnumerable<string> commands,
                                bool inBackground, 
                                bool runAsAdministrator ,
                                bool WaitProcessForExit)
{
    try 
    { 
        Process p = new Process();
        p.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";

        if (commands.Any())
        {
            p.StartInfo.Arguments = @" /C " + string.Join("&&", commands);
        }

        if (runAsAdministrator)
        {
            p.StartInfo.Verb = "runas";
        }
                    
        if (inBackground)
        {
            p.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
            p.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
        }
        else
        {
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardInput = true;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
            p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        }

        p.OutputDataReceived += (sender, e) => { MessageBox.Show(e.Data); };
        p.ErrorDataReceived += (sender, e) => { MessageBox.Show(e.Data); };
        p.Start();

        if (WaitProcessForExit)
        {
            p.WaitForExit();
        }
        
        return "";//  p.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    { 
        FRM_MSG f = new FRM_MSG();
        f.ShowDLG(" ",
                  ex.Message + "\n" + ex.StackTrace.ToString(),
                  FRM_MSG.MSGIcon.Error,
                  FRM_MSG.BTNS.One,
                  new string[] { "Ok" });
        throw ex;
    }
}

Executor.ExecuteCMD(new string[] { "SystemPropertiesProtection" }, true, false, false);

and even create shortcut to create restore point like this:

and open this shortcut with:

Process.Start(RestorePointShortcutFilePath);

but they always open three tabs and don't open the restore point tab

How do I open restore point dialog like shown on first image which has 5 tabs and not 3 tabs, my OS is Windows 7 64 bit? Thanks.

Answer 1

The issue that you're seeing is because of the File System Redirector which is occurring because you're running your program as 32-bit on your 64-bit OS. Therefore, you're executing %windir%\SysWOW64\SystemPropertiesProtection.exe (ex: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SystemPropertiesProtection.exe).

There are a few ways to avoid this issue. Uncheck "Prefer 32-bit" (Project => <project name> Properties => Build => uncheck 'Prefer 32-bit'). Compile as x64, or check if your application is running as 32-bit on a 64-bit OS. If so, set the appropriate fully-qualified filename.

The documentation states:

32-bit applications can access the native system directory by substituting %windir%\Sysnative for %windir%\System32. WOW64 recognizes Sysnative as a special alias used to indicate that the file system should not redirect the access. This mechanism is flexible and easy to use, therefore, it is the recommended mechanism to bypass file system redirection. Note that 64-bit applications cannot use the Sysnative alias as it is a virtual directory not a real one.

---

Try the following:

Create a new Windows Forms App (.NET Framework)

Add an Application Manifest to your project

Note: This is used to prompt the user to execute the program as Administrator.

• In VS menu, click Project
• Select Add New Item...
• Select Application Manifest File (Windows only)
• Click Add

In app.manifest, replace

<requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false" />

with

<requestedExecutionLevel  level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="false" />

---

Add the following using directives:

• using System.IO;
• using System.Diagnostics;

private void OpenSystemPropertiesProtection()
{
    string filename = System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("windir"), "System32", "SystemPropertiesProtection.exe");

    //environment variable windir has the same value as SystemRoot
    //use 'Sysnative' to access 64-bit files (in System32) if program is running as 32-bit process
    //use 'SysWow64' to access 32-bit files on 64-bit OS

    if (Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem && !Environment.Is64BitProcess)
        filename = System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("windir"), "SysNative", "SystemPropertiesProtection.exe");
    
    Debug.WriteLine($"filename: {filename}");

    ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(filename);
    startInfo.UseShellExecute = true;
    startInfo.WorkingDirectory = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(filename);

    Process.Start(startInfo);
}

Resources:

• File System Redirector
• Running 32-bit Applications

Answer 2

Use ShellExecute to execute the command.

ProcessStartInfo info = new ProcessStartInfo();
info.FileName = "SystemPropertiesProtection";
info.UseShellExecute = true;

Process.Start(info);

I have tested this on Windows 11, but it will probably also work on Windows 7. Be aware that Windows 7 has reached end-of-life back in 2020. It shouldn't be used anymore.