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Get the fix for the error  <strong>The parameter is incorrect</strong> on <strong>Windows</strong><strong> 7</strong>.
<h2>About "The parameter is incorrect"</h2>
[kbintro]
<h3><span id="Description_and_Symptoms">Description and Symptoms</span></h3>
The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.
<h3>Symptom 1: "The parameter is incorrect" error screen when System Restore is started</h3>
This articles details steps that you can follow to fix <strong>The parameter is incorrect error</strong> that appears when you run <strong>System Restore</strong>. The most common cause for this error is hard drive failure, damaged system files, or configuration errors.

This error usually appears on Windows 7 systems with SP1 (Service Pack 1) installed:

<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/system-restore-parameter-is-incorrect-screenshot.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3397 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/system-restore-parameter-is-incorrect-screenshot.jpg" alt="Screenshot of The parameter is incorrect" width="483" height="102" /></a>
<h2>Causes of this Error</h2>
This error has been known to occur as a result of one of the following causes:
<h3>Cause 1: Outdated version of Windows</h3>
The most common cause of this error is an outdated version of Windows. If that's the case, the user should install the hotfix to fix the error.
<h3>Cause 2: Incorrect decimal symbol setting</h3>
On languages and locales other than English(US) this error may occur if the decimal symbol is set to a value other than "."(dot).
<h3>Cause 3: System files are corrupt</h3>
Another possible cause of this error is a corrupt or missing system file. This may happen because of disk write errors, power outages or virus attacks.
<h2>Fix The parameter is incorrect</h2>
<h3>Fix #1: Install Windows 7 Hotfix</h3>
<p class="warning">You must have Windows 7 SP1 installed to run this Hotfix from Microsoft.</p>
Follow these steps to install the Hotfix and fix the error:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2569601">Download the Hotfix from Microsoft</a></li>
 	<li>Open the .exe file and run the file</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #2: Change the decimal symbol setting</h3>
This problem can occur if the decimal symbol is not set to '.' (dot). This is common in languages and locales other than English (United States), such as German (Germany).
To change the decimal symbol setting, follow these steps:
<ol class="sbody-num_list">
 	<li>Open <strong class="uiterm">Control Panel</strong>, click <strong class="uiterm">Clock, Language, and Region</strong>, and then click <strong class="uiterm">Region and Language</strong>.</li>
 	<li>Click the <strong class="uiterm">Formats</strong> tab, and then click <strong class="uiterm">Additional settings</strong>.</li>
 	<li>In the <strong class="uiterm">Decimal symbol</strong> field, type <strong class="uiterm">.</strong> (dot), and then click <strong class="uiterm">OK</strong> two times.</li>
 	<li>Restart the computer.</li>
</ol>
Note: Some third-party software may cause changes to the runtime locale of the computer and override the setting in Control Panel.

[caption id="attachment_4635" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/Decimal.png"><img class="wp-image-4635 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/Decimal-1024x720.png" alt="Decimal setting in Control Panel" width="980" height="689" /></a> Decimal setting in Control Panel[/caption]
<h3>Fix #3: Run sfc</h3>
<p class="info">To learn more about running sfc on Windows 7 systems, <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/sfc/">read the sfc guide</a>.</p>

<ol>
 	<li>Click <strong>Start</strong> and type <code>command prompt</code> in the search box to open Command Prompt</li>
 	<li>Right-click on Command Prompt</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Run as administrator</strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-cmd-run-as-administrator.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2446 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-cmd-run-as-administrator.jpg" alt="Windows 7 - Run Command Prompt as Administrator" width="388" height="95" /></a></li>
 	<li>When Command Prompt has loaded, type:
<pre>sfc /scannow</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4637" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/sfc4.png"><img class="wp-image-4637 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/sfc4.png" alt="sfc utility results screen" width="800" height="600" /></a> sfc utility results screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #4: Run chkdsk</h3>
<p class="info">To learn more about running chkdsk on Windows 7 systems, <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">read the chkdsk guide</a>.</p>

<ol>
 	<li>Click <strong>Start</strong> to open Command Prompt</li>
 	<li>Make sure you run Command Prompt as Administrator: right-click on the item and click <strong>Run as administrator</strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-vista-command-prompt-run-as-administrator.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2443 size-full" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-vista-command-prompt-run-as-administrator.png" alt="Windows Vista - Run Command Prompt as Administrator" width="391" height="114" /></a></li>
 	<li>When Command Prompt opens, type:
<pre>chkdsk c: /r</pre>
Replace <code>c:</code> with the letter of the drive where Windows 7 is installed</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4638" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/chkdsk.png"><img class="wp-image-4638 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/chkdsk-1024x768.png" alt="chkdsk utility results screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> chkdsk utility results screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #5: Run the PC in Safe Mode</h3>
To bypass the Parameter is incorrect error given by System Restore, you can try to run your computer in Safe Mode and try to restore a restore point from this mode.

To do so, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Remove any peripherals from your computer</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer and press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key before the Windows 7 logo appears</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Safe Mode</strong> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Open System Restore and follow the wizard to restore a previously created restore point</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_1826" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/03/advanced-boot-options-repair-computer-windows-vista-on-gateway.png"><img class="wp-image-1826 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/03/advanced-boot-options-repair-computer-windows-vista-on-gateway.png" alt="Advanced Boot Options in Windows Vista on a Gateway" width="980" height="650" /></a> Advanced Boot Options in Windows Vista on a Gateway[/caption]
<h3>Fix #6: Perform a clean boot</h3>
You can also try and perform a clean boot of your Windows 7 system and then run System Restore again to check if the Parameter is incorrect error appears again.

To do so, follow these instructions:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot your Windows 7 system</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li>
 	<li>Type <code>msconfig.exe</code> in the search box</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>msconfig</strong> from the search results list</li>
 	<li>At the <em>General</em> tab, uncheck the <strong>Load startup items</strong> from the <em>Selective startup</em> radio button</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Service</em> tab, check <strong>Hide all Microsoft services</strong> and then click <strong>Disable all</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>OK</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Restart</strong></li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4639" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/Msconfig-utility-screen2.png"><img class="wp-image-4639 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/Msconfig-utility-screen2-1024x592.png" alt="Msconfig utility results screen" width="980" height="567" /></a> Msconfig utility results screen[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/sfc/">sfc</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li>
</ul>
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