Toshiba Equium refusing to do System Restores & Advent query - help

I have a Toshiba L40 with Vista and the new service pack. With both
the service pack and some mobile phone software I installed I wanted
to do a System Restore, but the computer went through the motions and
then said it couldn't for an 'unpecified error' reason or something
like that. I have the right box checked in the System Restore
settings - there is WinRE, Vista and data with a tick in the Vista box
- and I have Norton virus protection. I wondered if it was Norton
that's blocking the restore, but this seems weird as surely they
should work together. I am dithering about doing a clean install but
don't want to, it's a bit nerve-wracking and I'm thinking the Product
Recovery DVD will just set up everything as it was before. I have no
problem writing to the hard disk or anything like that, so what might
the problem be? I am keen to avoid uninstalling the Norton before the
trial 90 days though I'm going to go with AVG afterwards.

I found the SP1 installation a bit of a nightmare with weird behaviour
coming from Media Player afterwards, but it wasn't as much of a
problem as with my dad's Advent 9115. That has a little box in the
bottom right hand corner called OSD, which has a setting of 1 in it.
you can disable it, which I tried to do after installing SP1 as I kept
getting a box come up on the screen reading 'Lag' with an exclamation
mark. What is this OSD for? How can I correct this? I'm doing this
for my dad who only bought his laptop for using eBay and will want to
remain innocent of all these complications. The Advent is currently
restored to before SP1 and not giving the Lag warning.

Thanks for all help.

p.s. Could someone direct me to clear instructions for installing
another version of Windows on a Vista computer so I can use older
software. Does this cause any driver problems? It seems like
something people do and are not discouraged to but I don't want more
complications. I have a Windows 98 CD to use.

 

I would first go to Tosiba.com to ensure your laptop is supported for Vista,
as mine was preinstalled but is not supported. Between Microsoft & Toshiba
the Vista Goat Rope may never end!!!

 

Norton is the prob.
Disable it before attemtping to do a SR.

If you still have probs doing a SR, tap F8 at startup and go into Safe Mode.
Do your SR from there; with Norton disabled!!!

 

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Above is a link for Avast; a free, low resource using, compatible anti-virus

Get rid of Norton ASAP; go to Symantec's website and get their removal tool.
There should also re an uninstall tool in Programs(norton)

 

Pardon me being daft, but I couldn't see how I merely disable Norton.
Any directions? Thanks.