Corrupt Registry Restored, can't log in

[treyhunsucker]

Ok, so I somehow managed to corrupt the registry on my hp laptop, it's running xp pro

I followed the steps from this site:

http://forums.cclonline.com/showthread.php?t=1183

to do a "manual style" system restore from the recovery console

Now when the pc boots up, whether it be safe or normal mode, it loads a hp background, then loads a blue background that says "Microsoft windows xp" off center to the right a bit and the mouse works. It just sits there forever and never continues.

I've tried restoring from different restore points all with the same results. any ideas?

 

[linney]

This is what your link is loosely based on. It maybe more appropriate to try the fuller recovery version?

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

That (digitalwebcast) is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.


From the Recovery Console you could also just try ChkDsk /r


If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[sjs1717]

you may need to do a windows repair(similar to re-installing)
Hopefully you backed up your hd prior to this issue



Steve
We're doing this stuff for the wealth and fame right?

 

[treyhunsucker]

Ok here is a list of my steps:

1. blue screen of death
2. used a winxp media center edition cd to boot into the recovery console, but it couldn't load the c drive
3. used bart's pe to run chkdsk /r and /p on drive c to get it working again. I was then able to access all the files on drive c
4. I then copied the system and software files out of the system restore folders into c:\windows\system32\config and then thats when i got the problem described above.

The problem is that I don't have a winxp pro cd, only the media center cd but no license for the media center cd.

any other ideas?

 

[linney]

I am not sure what you mean by this comment, "only the media center cd but no license for the media center cd".

Have you lost the Product Key? Is it written on any packaging that came with the CD, or on any label stuck on the Computer?

Replacement of CD or Product Keys.

To replace a CD or Product Key, you must contact PSS. To locate the appropriate phone number for your product, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

326246 - How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326246&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

If the Snapshots of the Registry that you have been copying out of various Restore Points are not solving your problem, perhaps you should also check things like your RAM and hard drive.

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that is bootable to thoroughly check the condition of your drive.

There is one other location on your machine that should hold your original Registry (from day 1, or your last system state backup) and that is the C:/Windows/Repair folder, but like I said, that is going to take you back to day 1 if you copy that into your currently messed up Registry.

If you are being stymied due to Licensing problems, the only suggestions I have about that are the obvious ones.

 

[treyhunsucker]

Like I said in my first post, the laptop is running xp pro. I don't have an xp pro cd. My desktop is running xp media center, thats why I have the xp media center cd. Therefore I can't install xp media center because I only have one license.

Please next time read the posts instead of blindly posting.

 

[linney]

Sorry, I was trying to show you how to get a CD or Product Key for your laptop. Does the Laptop have a Recovery Partition, is it an OEM that requires you to create a Recover CD or use a supplied Recovery CD, can you, if the latter is true, get a replacement Recovery CD from the manufacturer?

You are fast approaching the point of where a repair install, or clean install will be necessary.

Did you try the second lot of suggestions, not related to Licenses, I included?

 

[treyhunsucker]

What I'm looking for is a way to not have to reinstall. In the end that may be my only option but I would like to avoid it if possible.

I have resolved several issues to get where I'm at and confident that it can be fixed w/o the reinstall.

It just seems like you're posting to be posting, to feel important or something. In the end, every window's problem can pretty much be resolved by a reinstall. I am a tech, I come here to talk to other tech's that might have an idea that I haven't thought of.

I don't come here to have some person post generically in hopes of guessing the right answer to get credit for fixing it.

 

[wolluf]

Did you back up original registry files before you copied one's from system volume information?

After running chkdsk from Bart, did you try booting normally before you replaced the registry files? (because problem may have just been corrupt filestore, not corrupt system files, so after chkdsk has repaired filestore, system may have been viable).

Did you restore a full set of registry files - ie,

Sam (_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM)
Security (_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY)
Software (_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE)
System (_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM)
Default (_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT)

If you didn't, then I would. If no good and you have originals, then I'd try putting them back, possibly running chkdsk again before trying to boot (btw, I frequently use something like this method to recover customer's machines, and ALWAYS back up originals first. I also started just replacing the file mentioned on the blue screen, but found sometimes full set is required).

If still no good, have you added/removed any hardware/software between the 'back up' registry dates and when the problem occurred?

 

[linney]

I don't come here to have some person post generically in hopes of guessing the right answer to get credit for fixing it".

Well you certainly put me in my place, although, the bit about wanting credit was wrong.

Nevertheless, I am a stubborn and persistent poster, not easily offended, with one main desire, to help others.

Was this earlier comment from me of any use to you?

"There is one other location on your machine that should hold your original Registry (from day 1, or your last system state backup) and that is the C:/Windows/Repair folder, but like I said, that is going to take you back to day 1 if you copy that into your currently messed up Registry".

Don't let me upset you, just ignore my generic posts and guesses, most people do.

 

[bracadar]

linney...you glory hound...haw..haw..haw

 

[treyhunsucker]

wolluf,

Yes I tried to run chkdsk and then reboot before restoring those files but no luck. it did find and fix a ton of problems though.

I also backed the original registry files up but no luck putting them back either.

I didnt' restore all the files you suggested, I just did software and system. I'll restore them all and see if I have any success. Thank you for your post

I'm just going to ignore linney's generic glory hound posts

 

[linney]

You ignored this one too, which is what you are considering doing now.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

 

[treyhunsucker]

well linney, if I had already restored 2 of the 5 files suggested by wolluf don't you think I would know how to restore them all?

 

[linney]

So what is the state of play now? We are all hoping you get this problem solved. Did restoring all the mentioned files work? If after several attempts at using registry files from various restore points snapshots, including the first run ones in the repair folder, and not having success, that will bring us back full circle to requiring a repair install and a CD and product key to achieve it.

I do feel your frustration, but there is no magic solution, just the things which have been covered in this thread or the dreaded re-install.

You could look into the bios and try setting that to safe defaults. Removing various pieces of hardware sometime works too.

What was the error number and description of the blue screen that you are seeing or saw previously?