How long is long :)
Do you mean to create a restore point or to restore from one ?
It can take several minutes to restore.

It depends on the size of your C/drive as the SR takes up 15% when full so it is going to take a long time to load,

If your computer is running OK you can turn the SR off then back on again and create a new restore point,

You will notice the difference in SR loading it will load very fast but as time goes on it will get slower and slower as more restore points are added.

Hope this helped,

Steps to turn off System Restore

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the System Restore tab. {Protection for Vista}
3. Click to select the Turn off System Restore check box. Or, click to select the Turn off System Restore on all drives check box. {unpick The drive you want to turn off}
4. Click OK.
5. When you receive the following message, click Yes to confirm that you want to turn off System Restore:
You have chosen to turn off System Restore. If you continue, all existing restore points will be deleted, and you will not be able to track or undo changes to your computer.
Do you want to turn off System Restore?After a few moments, the System Properties dialog box closes.

Steps to turn on System Restore

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the System Restore tab. {Protection for Vista}
3. Click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box. Or, click the Turn off System Restore on all drives check box.
4. Click OK.
After a few moments, the System Properties dialog box closes.

Not trying to Hijack the thread but on Vista I only have restore points that go back 24 hours not well into the past like XP

Wondered if yours were the same

Cheers
mick