SERIOUS REGISTRY PROBLEMS -- PSE HELP ME!! 1

[sciclunam]

Hi,

I desperatly need help. I ran a Registry cleaning software on a friend`s PC to remove void entries. I JUST MADE IT WORSE!

Now, when the welcome screen appears and he chooses any one of the two users the computers tries to log on but all of a sudden it says "Logging Off" and takes us back to the welcome screen!!! We cannot login!

I even tried in Safe Mode. The same happens even with the ADMINISTRATOR user. We have a backup of the registry but how can we run it if we cannot even log in?!

Can we bypass the logon screen? Or maybe load the hardisk as a secondary hd on another pc and load it from there?

Greatly appreciate your help..I`m desperate and don`t know what to say to my friend

 

[bcastner]

First, you hit F8 when the machine starts early and often to try to reach the Boot selection menu. Choose Safe Mode, and try to do a system restore.

You reach System Restore through Start, All Programs, System Utilities, System Restore. Pick a restore point prior to your registry cleaning.

If no joy,

Microsoft offers a repair method:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307545

There is a plain english version that is easier to follow here:

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

Let us know how things sort out.

Bill

 

[bcastner]

I should note: If you can access XP through Safe Mode, look to see if your registry cleaner has a "rollback" or "backup" method. Almost all do. Try that first before a system restore.

 

[sciclunam]

Hi,

I am amazed by your fast response! Thanks.

The thing is that when I chose Safe Mode, the Welcome screen to choose a user to log in still came and the problem is we cannot login Windows with neither profile!

It remains on the Welcome Screen. if we amange to login I think we can resolve it as we have a backup of the registry prior to the 'cleaning'.

Also I tried to run the oringinal XP cd on bootup. I chose the option to Repair Windows installation or something in those lines. We were promted for an Administrator password.

Guess what...the person who sold us the pc never gave it to us! Is there any default password for the administrstor password which is worth trying?

 

[bcastner]

The default Administrator password is to hit the Enter key, meaning there is no password.

If you really get desperate, as you do need to use Recovery Console to repair the registry, see Daniel Petri's notes of what to do if you lose your Administrator password:

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

I am 79% certain that an in-place or R(epair) install using the XP CD will not resolve your problem.

I would reset the password using Dan Petri's links, and use Recovery Console to restore the registry. Use my "plain english" second link above as printed instructions.

Keep use advised.
Bill

 

[sciclunam]

Thanks for all your help and useful links.

I will certainly keep you posted. I shall try it asap but not today...here it`s nearly 5:00am and I`ve been up all night beacuse of this problem. Need some rest!

Dan Petri's article says that the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (v030426) will only reset the local administrator's password (e.g. the one found in the local computer's SAM). To reset a password of a domain administrator (or any other user for that matter) you must perform the routine that is described below..."

Does this mean the Administrator User or is he referring to the BIOS password..because YES even the BIOS password is unknown. In fact next Monday we'll try to contact the seller for the passwords.

Also, if we manage to log in the system do we need to do a System Restore to a point before the mishap or by double clicking on the backup of the registry we took earlier will put it in place.

Thanks once again...off to bed!

 

[linney]

This may help.

308402 - 'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308402&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

If you can get a 2000 CD that Recovery Console can enter XP without a password due to a bug in XP.

http://www.briansbuzz.com/w/030213/

 

[bcastner]

Local Administrator password is different from,
Domain Administrator Group Member password, and different from,
BIOS password.

While you sleep, because you will need to be well rested to tackle this, specify the exact make and model of your machine. Often the BIOS password can be reset.

Ignore anything in Petri's article dealing with Domain passwords, they are irrelevant to your situation.

But, to be honest, it is very unlikely that a registry cleaner would affect a BIOS password.

You could have an issue if SP1 was installed, and then in using a Restore Point removed. There are several possibilites.

Set you machine to download this overnight, and in the morning burn it to a bootable CD. It includes a BIOS password tool, as well as a simple way to make the Administrator password blank or empty:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[davik]

Call Microsoft tech. for $35. It might be your only option. I'm new with XP too. It kind of sucks, doesn't it?

 

[bcastner]

davik,

You may be surprised what a user Forum can do for free.

 

[sciclunam]

Yes I am amazed what such forum can do and as you said it's FREE!

Now, some points:

The BIOS password in unknown not because of the registry cleaner. We just noticed that the supplier of the computer store set it and did not tell us about it! On Monday we'll ask him for it. In my case I do not need to access BIOS, I just want to know it because it makes no sense to own a pc and have an unknow BIOS password.

Now, the recovery cd (I assume this is the same Windows XP installation CD) asks for an Administrator password...again unknown! Is Petri's article speaking about this password?

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

Yes, Petri's article speaks to the issue where the Administrator password does not work.

But, if I received a machine from a retail outlet with a set BIOS password that they reserved or could not remember I would return the product immediately.

I would not mess with the Windows password or anything else. Back to the store it goes.

Merry Christmas,
Bill

 

[linney]

A typical password set by the store would be the Store's name.

 

[sciclunam]

Yeah and that`s what we'll do, tomorrow we`ll give the store a ring for it.

Linney, I tried the store's name password as that's what I thought also.

 

[bcastner]

I do not know the make/model of your box, but sometimes this can help:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/

See the discussion about the Cmos Password tool.

 

[sciclunam]

Hi bcastner,

The PC carries the BRAND of the store as many stores here assemble pc`s themselves. The BIOS is AWARD.

 

[sciclunam]

Hi,

I'm back. I followed the article suggested above

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

We managed to get in Windows but the restore points described were not there! The only restore point was the current one. Before we copied the files as described, there were plenty of restore points. What do you think I shall do now?

Shall we install the WINDOWS PROFESSIONAL upgrade
once we're in again? double clicking on the registry backup we previusly took did not help. It looks like a FORMAT is on the way!!!


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[linney]

You have performed the first part of the recovery using the Recovery Console and are now in Windows itself, is that correct?

To see the files in the System Restore folders you must make sure that all Hidden files are shown and that System files are shown too. You must have the correct Security Permissions to access this folder too.

If there has been an almighty ****up and these files are gone for good, but left you with some working version of Windows, can you not rebuild from there rather than formatting and reinstalling?

 

[sciclunam]

Hi,
Yes I performed the first part, managed to make the folder visible and accessible BUT the only restore point is that of the current time! Before this process, I manged to log once, and there were more restore points. I was wondering whether copying back the files mentioned in the article would bring back the restore points or not. I mean are they stored in the folders I copied ie: c:\....security, c"\...sam etc...?

What do you think I shall do at this point?

Regards

Mario

Getting married in Malta?
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http://www.TheWeddingSite.com