December 30, 2009

How to manually restore the Windows XP registry. File c:\windows\system32\config\system missing or corrupt

Filed under: Fixes, Technology — Tags: , , , — SpaCeTraNce @ 4:19 pm

The Scenario: Due to various reasons you may want to manually restore the registry from one of the restore points. I have used this because of viruses or because I just couldn’t get a computer to boot and suspect that the problem is in the registry. Sometimes this will fix the “File c:\windows\system32\config\system missing or corrupt” error but not always. IF the problem is related to a virus then you can almost guarantee that the virus has also infected the restore points. So this fix will NOT get rid of any viruses but it will sometimes bring the computer back to a usable state so that you can manually remove the virus.

The Warning: This is a very advanced fix. I am not responsible if you break your computer. This is for MY reference therefore if you use it you are on your own.

The Fix: Boot your computer into either the recovery console OR another boot disk. I use ActiveBoot, it is an excellent utility disk. It has saved my butt many of times. Once you are at a command prompt you need to do a couple of things.
First you need to backup the current registry files by renaming them. I like to rename them to filename.bak. Then you need to copy the files from a restore point to the location where the registry lies.
Technical information:
Files are located in C:\windows\system32\config
The Files are(they have no extension): system , security , sam , software and default.

The Fix(continued):
1. Naviagate to a Restore point.
a. C:
b. cd “system volume information”
c. dir /a:hs
Make note of the listed directory that begins with “_restore{”
d. cd _restore{number found from step c}
e. dir
Make note of a resore point that you want to recover from. I like to choose one from about a week ago.
f. cd RP
g. cd snapshot
At this point you are in a the directory for which you will copy the registry files from.
2. Backup old registry:
a. ren c:\windows\system32\config\system system.bak
b. ren c:\windows\system32\config\software software.bak
c. ren c:\windows\system32\config\security security.bak
d. ren c:\windows\system32\config\sam sam.bak
e. ren c:\windows\system32\config\default default.bak
All old registry files have been backed up to to files with the .bak extension.
3. Copy restore point registry files to correct place.
a. copy _registry_machine_sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
b. copy _registry_machine_security c:\windows\system32\config\security
c. copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software
d. copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system
e. copy _registry_user_.default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Now reboot the computer and it will start using the old registry. You may see a brief screen that says something like, “Performing recovery”. Then the computer will be back up.

Obviously any programs that you have installed after the date of the backup that we used will no longer be installed. The files will be there but the program will not be installed.

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December 11, 2009

Add/Remove Programs has Huge Empty Space

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — SpaCeTraNce @ 2:16 pm

Occasionally a user will open Add/Remove programs on Windows XP and in the list will be a HUGE empty space that is pages and pages long. This happens when a entry in the list is corrupt. To Fix it download and install CCleaner. Open CCleaner and click on the “Tools” button on the left side.

You will then be brought to a screen with the Add/Remove Programs list. Go back to the Add/Remove Programs applet in your control panel and make note of the last item before the blank space.

Now switch back to CCleaner and highlight the item that is after the entry you just made note of. Click the “Delete Entry” button.

Now when you go back to your Add/Remove Programs applet in your Control Panel all should be well.

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September 29, 2009

XP vs. 7 – Comparing the Commercials

Filed under: Technology — Tags: , , , , — SpaCeTraNce @ 11:09 am

With the release of the new Windows 7 commercial I took a trip down memory lane. Most Windows users love XP and have kicked and screamed at trying to switch over to Microsoft’s XP predecessor, Vista. On September 11th, on T.V. screens across the nation and possibly the world, Microsoft started it’s newest advertising campaign by reintroducing Kylie. Microsoft displayed, for the whole world to see, her newest slide show and her take on Windows 7.

Quite honestly the commercial is cute but probably didn’t do much attention grabbing for most users. It seems to play more on fixing Vista apparent release issues then giving us any serious things to chew on. I’m amazed that they let Kylie’s slide that says, “With Windows 7 the OS is great again.” It seems like they are admitting to the past operating systems(OS) were not so great?!?!

Now compared to the first commercial that was broadcast for Microsoft’s XP operating system, the Windows 7 commercial has a completly different marketing target. The Windows XP commercial seems to target both the business users and the home users. Most of the characters are dressed in their nine-to-five suits but there is also the element of Windows Movie Maker and Windows Media Player functionality to appeal to the recreational computer user.

My conclusion: The Windows 7 commercial is cute but seems to admit to past failures and doesn’t seem to target any serious users or showcase any real function. The Windows XP commercial gives the impression of speed and functionality. Microsoft is going to really have to give Windows users something new that they will want. People don’t like change. People love XP even though it is really old it is still loved. It is still loved because of its small footprint, ease of use and stability. Windows 7 is the next step after Vista… people don’t like change but it is comming and resistance will be futile at some point.

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