Restoring registry, computer will not start 2

[nshenry03]

I needed to remove Norton Internet Security, and after trying about everything, one forum suggested deleting all files in the registry named norton, symantic, liveupdate, & livereg. I made sure to do a backup of the registry before beginning. It is now sitting on the desktop, but when I try to boot windows I get the error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM

The computer is a XP Home, and I only have XP Pro disks to work with, does anybody have any suggestions of how to fix this mess I've gotten myself in?

 

[G0AOZ]

Try running System Restore to take the computer back to a previous good date...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[nshenry03]

can I run system restore using a xp pro cd as the boot disk for an xp home computer?

 

[linney]

It may not be possible to launch System Restore, although you might be able to do so from Safe Mode, but probably not.

This following procedure will allow you to access Restore Points and fix your problem.

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

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.

You don't say how you backed up your Registry, this program is a handy tool for such an exercise.

Registry Backup and Restore for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

The only thing you can do to Home with your XP Pro CD is upgrade it to Pro. It will however allow you to load the Recovery Console.

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

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

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

This might offer a few more suggestions to you.

Cannot logon to winxp...losing lots of valuable documents
thread779-975236

 

[wolluf]

1. Have you tried 'last known good config' from the Safe Mode menu? (tap F8 key before/during windows starts to load).

2. You can restore the registry hives from where system restore keeps them. You need access to the hard drive - so something like BartPE (see linney's link) or slaving the drive in another machine (or a parallel install would do it - but a bit long winded - better doing a repair).

The registry hive files are in \windows\system32\config:-

sam
security
software
system
default

The system restore backups are in \System volume Information in folders like:-

\System Volume Information\_restore{DBA0BBCB-A3EA-4494-AB37-23CB0DE9E357}\RP861\snapshot
and are called:-

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT

Its best to copy a full set - so rename existing (eg, add .bak to filename), copy the backups and then rename them to proper names.

btw - Norton have a 'remove' utility on their website for when it doesn't uninstall properly.

 

[nshenry03]

thank you very much wolluf and linney. I am back to the system before trying to erase N.A.V. w/ the registry keys.

I was able to boot to the recovery console w/ the xp pro cd, from there i backed up the c:\windows\system32\config\(files listed)

I then copied the files from the c:\System Volume Information\_restore...\RP...\snapshot\(files listed)

again thank you very much