Think of the system registry as the database for all your system settings,
installed software, options, and basically anything else that is not stored
in a folder. The registry contains hives and within those hives are keys
that contain information. Corruption can occur when either keys are deleted
or data is incorrectly modified in the registry. This can cause strange
behavior and in some cases Windows XP to fail during initialization.
It is unfortunate that you can't use System Restore. I would try booting
the system in safe mode and then try System Restore in that mode. Sometimes
that does work. You should run full virus and anti-spyware scans. No
guarantees you will find any malware, but malware has been known to cause
bizarre system behavior.
Unless anybody else has some good suggestions, you should be thinking about
backing up your personal data (while the system is still functioning) and
doing the old format and new system install.
"rvdsr" wrote:
> I tryed system restore,went back up to two months and each time it said no
> can do!!Im sorry but im not much of a comp.wizz.what does that mean (registry
> entry got corrupted)
>
> "Mr Cat" wrote:
>
> > Maybe a registry entry got corrupted. Suggest you try System Restore using a
> > restore point prior to this problem. 
> >
> > "rvdsr" wrote:
> >
> > > I dont know what I did but I now have hundreds of icon on my desk top !!!when
> > > i delete them they reproduce when I start up the computor again.they say copy
> > > of--bio..OR copy of copy...or copy 19 of mem..how do I stop this???????????