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NejiD

6 Posts

4310

October 31st, 2007 19:00

repairing registry file

Hey everyone I'm kind of upset that I can't chat with a Dell person simply because my warranty has expired, so I'm hoping someone can help me out here. Randomly my computer shut down on me, and I tried to re-start, but I got an error message about a corrupted Registry File. I managed to get a Windows CD from a friend so I could repair it, but I'm having a problem copying one of the files I need, it won't let me. The specific command line I'm using is: copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak Then I get a "The file could not be copied" message, even though I didn't have a problem with the other ones. Any suggestions? Or should I just give up, use linux to recover any info I need and just re-format? thanks! ND

NejiD

6 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

My windows came on my Dell. I have no idea if that means it's OEM or not.

NejiD

6 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

Sorry for soundings so...questioning. I just don't want to do something that I can't reverse to my computer.

mombodog

12.7K Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

Are you refering to this method?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us  Did you read the warning?
 
" Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives."
 
Here is the proper way to repair the registry on a OEM installation of XP.
 
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

Connect your non-bootable hard drive to another computer, as a secondary drive and boot into windows. If you can see your data on the drive, back it up Now, then follow the rest of these instructions.
 
Open Windows Explorer.  Click on Tools|Folder Options|View.  Check the box beside "Show hidden files and folders".  Apply your change.
 
Navigate to the d:\System Volume Information folder ( d: represents the crashed drive letter).
You will see a folder named something like _restore{.........}  the dots represent an alpha-numeric sequence.
In this folder you will see folders named RP0....RPnn.  Find the one with the highest number.
These are your System Restore points.  In the highest numbered folder you will see a folder named snapshot.  In this folder are registry hive files which you need to recover your system:
_registry_user_.default
_registry_machine_security
_registry_machine_software
_registry_machine_system
_registry_machine_sam
Create a subdirectory; i.e, d:\Windows\TMP. Copy these files to the TMP subdirectory.  Rename them:
default
security
software
system
sam
Note:  Be sure to lose the period (.) in the file named _registry_user_.default
Delete the files in the d:\windows\system32\config subdirectory with the same names.
Copy the d:\windows\tmp files to the d:\windows\system32\config. subdirectory.
Put your drive back in its original system.  Your system should start normally.  If you get the same error go back and choose another folder ( RPnn-1) and repeat the procedure.
 
EDIT:  If you are denied access to any folders you will have to take "Ownership" of the folders first.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
 
 
 
If this recovery Procedure fails to work you must reinstall Windows.
 


Message Edited by mombodog on 10-31-2007 03:48 PM

Jman30

25 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

when you type copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak then you trying to copy the corrupted file over the backup. that command should likely be turned around. You can also do the reapir install using the cd pressing enter after the CD loads to install Windows agree to the license agreement and then hit R to do the repair install. You'll at least have Windows and all your files to backup and you can use it till it dies again then format

NejiD

6 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 That's how I'm going about this, so when it comes time to delete that particular file, just skip over it? But when it comes to repairing, just go right ahead?

Jman30

25 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

Sorry read your post wrong but mombodog is right with the warning that is posted you can go here http://www.myfixes.com/articles/system it will do the system restore from recovery console and does work on Dell systems

Jman30

25 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

Your error is the 3rd one listed  those different lines are different errors. This is doing the system restore from recovery console it should fix the registry.

mombodog

12.7K Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00


 


Message Edited by mombodog on 10-31-2007 03:33 PM

NejiD

6 Posts

October 31st, 2007 19:00

The error message I got didn't refer to the hive at all, are those the right steps?

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