Restore registry problems Options

[nkradmin]

Can't boot XP
Got this message when booting:
The system can't load structure (file) %systemroot%\system32\config\software
It is possible damaged or not possible to write to

I have use every alternativ on F8 when booting whitout success.

Then I build UBCD and used the Registry Restore Wizard Tool.
There is many previous state I can use, but they failed with this message:

Copying "default" to "default.regresbak1".
Success!
Deleting "default".
Success!
Copying "_REGISTRY_USER_.default" to "default".
Success!
Copying "sam" to "sam.regresbak1".
Success!
Deleting "sam".
Success!
Copying "_REGISTRY_MACHINE_sam" to "sam".
Success!
Copying "software" to "software.regresbak1".
Failed!

Restoration failed.

Can anyone help me? Is there another way UBCD can fix the local registry?

[rdsok]

First a quick note...

UBCD is a boot CD that is DOS based
UBCD4Win is a boot CD that is Windows based

Don't call UBCD4Win simply UBCD or you will likely get someone that is trying to help you confused and they may give you incorrect information.


Ok... about the registry and some possible solutions. Note that there is no one correct answer for this problem because there can be a number of actual possible causes of a corruption and therefore several possible solutions. Repairing a Windows system is almost an art form so when a tech is working on one.. they will often base what procedure they choose from the way the system acts. This is not something that can be taught.. it just take time for them to learn it. The following should only be attempted by a very advanced or expert user... if not performed properly you could be in worse shape than you are now. If you aren't at least a very advanced user.. I recommend you take your system to an expert if you value your data at all.

I would first recommend that you attempt to backup any important files before you proceed. Anything you do at this point, where you are changing the system could actually lead to a more corrupt system and by performing the backup you at least help insure that you don't loose it all. Once you've take any steps you can to safeguard the information then proceed.

Since this is commonly caused by file or disk corruptions, I'd first suggest that you run a CHKDSK on the drive to help correct these. Often a minor disk error can be resolved and actually may allow the system to boot without any further work. You may also want to use some of the Disk tests to verify the SMART status of the drive to make sure that it isn't simply a failing drive to start with.

Next try the Registry Restore Wizard again... if that doesn't help... try running the Regedit Remote or even the EZ PC Fix utilities... these can also gain you access to a registry file that may be backed up in the System Restore directory.

You may also be able to manually replace the registry file if the System Restore point isn't also corrupted. First you would want to manually backup the current registry files found in the ...

[Windir]\system32\config

folder where [Windir] is the name of your Windows directory whether its named Windows or WinNT etc. If it exists... copy the SOFTWARE file to a safe location or use a different name such as SOFTWARE.OLD. Repeat this process for the SAM, DEFAULT, SECURITY and SYSTEM registry files.

Next go into the System restore directory ( if it exists... only ME, XP and 2003 version of Windows have this ) and locate the latest SR point. The following is what my system currently has but yours will be different...

System Volume Information\_restore{987E0331-0F01-427C-A58A-7A2E4AABF84D}\RP392\snapshot

find the file named _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE and copy it to the location [Windir]\system32\config as SOFTWARE... again try to start your system. Repeat this process for the SAM, DEFAULT, SECURITY and SYSTEM registry files.

At this point, if it starts, I would recommend that you use the System Restore feature ( if it has it ), restore to the last SR point so that the complete restore point is being used instead of just the registry parts. Then proceed to Windows update to reapply any updates that may have been installed after the SR point you had chosen.

[nkradmin]

Thank you for your answer and sorry about the UBCD and UBCD4Win confusion. This is new for me.


Yesterday I restored all files that I need.

I have run Antivrus (Dr.Web)no deteced files and Ad-Aware (just som cookies).

I have tried to do a CHDSK but it want run after I answered the question.
I Tried to run RegCleaner (do not open), RegEdit (show only regedit on UBCD4Win), RegEdit (Remote) want open Error: Registry Access error IOCTL-call from the program is not rigth.

I cant find the EZ PC Fix utilities in the startmenu.

I can use registry restore wizard but it failed on "software".

So I tried manually, but now somthing new happend. I can copy but I can't paste!
It looks like I don't have access to write to C: I tried to write to B: RAM disk and E: (USBdisk) but I can't write to none of them. I tried another filemanager. The same happend there. This is strange because yesterday I copied files from C: to E:

If i rigthclick a folder and choose properties I can see the folder is checked for writeproteced. If I unchecked writeproteced and clikc Use and OK it dosent matter. The folder is writeproteced next time I open it. All the folders are the same.

Is there a way around this so I can try to fix it manually?

First a quick note...

UBCD is a boot CD that is DOS based
UBCD4Win is a boot CD that is Windows based

Don't call UBCD4Win simply UBCD or you will likely get someone that is trying to help you confused and they may give you incorrect information.


Ok... about the registry and some possible solutions. Note that there is no one correct answer for this problem because there can be a number of actual possible causes of a corruption and therefore several possible solutions. Repairing a Windows system is almost an art form so when a tech is working on one.. they will often base what procedure they choose from the way the system acts. This is not something that can be taught.. it just take time for them to learn it. The following should only be attempted by a very advanced or expert user... if not performed properly you could be in worse shape than you are now. If you aren't at least a very advanced user.. I recommend you take your system to an expert if you value your data at all.

I would first recommend that you attempt to backup any important files before you proceed. Anything you do at this point, where you are changing the system could actually lead to a more corrupt system and by performing the backup you at least help insure that you don't loose it all. Once you've take any steps you can to safeguard the information then proceed.

Since this is commonly caused by file or disk corruptions, I'd first suggest that you run a CHKDSK on the drive to help correct these. Often a minor disk error can be resolved and actually may allow the system to boot without any further work. You may also want to use some of the Disk tests to verify the SMART status of the drive to make sure that it isn't simply a failing drive to start with.

Next try the Registry Restore Wizard again... if that doesn't help... try running the Regedit Remote or even the EZ PC Fix utilities... these can also gain you access to a registry file that may be backed up in the System Restore directory.

You may also be able to manually replace the registry file if the System Restore point isn't also corrupted. First you would want to manually backup the current registry files found in the ...

[Windir]\system32\config

folder where [Windir] is the name of your Windows directory whether its named Windows or WinNT etc. If it exists... copy the SOFTWARE file to a safe location or use a different name such as SOFTWARE.OLD. Repeat this process for the SAM, DEFAULT, SECURITY and SYSTEM registry files.

Next go into the System restore directory ( if it exists... only ME, XP and 2003 version of Windows have this ) and locate the latest SR point. The following is what my system currently has but yours will be different...

System Volume Information\_restore{987E0331-0F01-427C-A58A-7A2E4AABF84D}\RP392\snapshot

find the file named _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE and copy it to the location [Windir]\system32\config as SOFTWARE... again try to start your system. Repeat this process for the SAM, DEFAULT, SECURITY and SYSTEM registry files.

At this point, if it starts, I would recommend that you use the System Restore feature ( if it has it ), restore to the last SR point so that the complete restore point is being used instead of just the registry parts. Then proceed to Windows update to reapply any updates that may have been installed after the SR point you had chosen.

This post has been edited by nkradmin: Aug 22 2006, 05:38 PM

[rdsok]

I've already covered the basics... its sounding like your problem is more indepth than that.

[hilander999]

The last (only other) Time copy & paste was reported not working, it boiled down to a bad slipstream of XP SP2 that has some old windows files in it. Not sure why this happened as the user was vague on the how & why, but did report that after starting over with a clean XP install & new slipstream it worked without a problem.



Use the search engine if you want to read that thread, should be easy to find. (IMG:http://www.ubcd4win.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[pcuser]

I was going to reply here earlier but I thought rdsok covered more than I would've. I've ran into this problem more than once and I've found 2 problems that can cause it. The first is that the software hive doesn't exist in the config folder and creating a "dummy" file called "software" will take care of the problem. Second is if the software hive/file does exist but is corrupted and chkdsk needs to be ran on the filesystem.

Let me know if you need more details.

Tom

[Jotnar]

I've had success with the Microsoft Regsitry Repair Tool before. Basically it just modifies the files you would use for a recovery console and attempts to fix the registry hives if it can. Did you by any chance have the Recovery Console installed on your machine?

Cheers

[bhunji]

Here's a boot plugin that uses the utility Jotnar posted.

once in the recovery console select the drive and it autoruns the utility.

Windows Recovery Console - Registry Repair
http://rapidshare.de/files/24947178/WindowsRCRP.cab.html