Corrupt Registry?

[betsy]

I'm running XP Home SP2 on one of three networked Dells. Computer was
sluggish, especially opening IE7 so I installed Uniblue's SpeedUpMyPC
and it definitely ran faster. Surfing on that high, I stupidly
installed their RegistryBooster and think it may have scarfed up some
OS registry entries. I used the RegistryBooster restore feature, but
it didn't work. I tried a system restore and it didn't work.

The computer boots and seems to operate fine, but what when I go into
My Computer and try to enter the C drive, I get the flashlight and some
head scratching for at least 60 seconds before it opens. Also, IE
update will not only not update, but I can't get the computer to
acknowledge the downloader install and I'm in an endless cycle of
missing or corrupt files. I've seen a message telling me I need to
reinstall COM + Event System and that my Networking settings have
become corrupt. A system scan with Network Diagnostics gives me WMI
Errors.

My Computer Guy tells me I need to wipe the hard drive and do a clean
install of the OS and reinstall all my programs. Obviously I'd
really like not to have to reinstall all my programs. Does anybody
have any advice on how to proceed from here? Can I do a repair install
with the Reinstallation CD without affecting my data or programs?

Thank you,
Betsy

 

[DL]

Whether you can undertake a none destructive restore would depend on the
options with your Dell recovery cd's
Perhaps check your Dell documentation, or Dell FAQ's for your model/tag#

The various 'speed up' and registry cleaner apps are frought with danger,
for the end user, unless they know how to recover when it goes wrong.
Presumably you tried a system restore to a date priior to installing this
app?

 

[Zub Zero]

Hi,
I have a dell computer. I hope that your computer came with all the
CD's. You will need the disks that say-
1.Operating System - reinstall CD -- Microsoft_WINDOWS_XP HOME EDITION
disk
2.Reinstall DELL Tools System Software disk
3.Drivers and Utilities--DELL Dimension tm Resource CD disk if you
have a dimension computer or same disk without dimension on it

Now if you have these disks you are half way there. But did you try to
do a SYSTEM RESTORE first? Is the computer that you are using now? Or
is it another computer?

If your on the computer with this problem.
1. Insert the disk labeled OPERATING SYSTEM disk into the CD-ROM tray.
2. let the computer run till a box pops up- What do you want to do?
3. There is a option to re-install windows components there.
4. Select the option that fits your needs.
5. The CD-ROM disk will then re-install what ever you chosen to
re-install.

Good luck and have a Merry Christmas!

Whether you can undertake a none destructive restore would depend on the
options with your Dell recovery cd's
Perhaps check your Dell documentation, or Dell FAQ's for your model/tag#

The various 'speed up' and registry cleaner apps are frought with danger,
for the end user, unless they know how to recover when it goes wrong.
Presumably you tried a system restore to a date priior to installing this
app?

Thanks in advance

 

[betsy]

Thanks for the response. Yes, I did the system restore first one and
then two days prior to the software install to no avail. I'll check
the CD and also the Dell FAQ's as you've suggested. Thanks again.

 

[betsy]

Hello Zub,

I have only two pertinent disks - the Reinstallation CD for the OS and
the Dimension ResourceCD with the drivers and diagnostics.

And yes, I tried the system restore and it didn't work - wouldn't work.
The problems are on the computer I'm using now (Moe). Curly and Larry
are upstairs so are not as easily accessible.

Have you ever done a reinstall and been able to keep your programs?

Thanks,
Betsy

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Betsy,

If the problem was registry corruption System Restore would have replaced
the registry and repaired the corruption.

I would suggest scanning for infection before preforming a clean install.

Virus and Spyware removal and prevention steps:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/spyware.html


Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[betsy]

The System Restore didn't work. I tried twice using different restore
dates and neither would work - I received a "no can do" response.

I'm using NAV and AVG and have scanned for infection and nothing has
shown up on either. But I'll check out your link.

Thank you for your response!
Betsy

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Betsy,

There's a good chance NAV is the cause of the System Restore failure.
Uncheck "Turn on protection for my Symantec product" should allow System
Restore to function.

Message: "Restoration Incomplete. Your computer cannot be restored . . . "
when you run Windows System Restore
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sharedtech.nsf/pfdocs/2005113009323013

Here are some troubleshooting steps to take when System Restore fails to
restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Zub Zero]

Hello,
Sorry but due to the holiday. I had to leave but now that I
am back.
Yes- I was able to save all my programs. I inserted the OPERATING
DISK. After it was detected and ran on its own. I chose the option to
re-install windows components. It is one of the choices listed there.
So go upstairs and get the boys downstairs.OK?
Good Luck!

Hi Betsy,

There's a good chance NAV is the cause of the System Restore failure.
Uncheck "Turn on protection for my Symantec product" should allow System
Restore to function.

Message: "Restoration Incomplete. Your computer cannot be restored . . . "
when you run Windows System Restore
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sharedtech.nsf/pfdocs/2005113009323013

Here are some troubleshooting steps to take when System Restore fails to
restore:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

Thanks in advance

 

[Zub Zero]

By the way- Always burn any programs you do not want to lose to a
disk. This way in the event that something goes wrong. At lest you
have copies that you can re-install later at your earliest
convenience. Good Luck again.

Hello,
Sorry but due to the holiday. I had to leave but now that I
am back.
Yes- I was able to save all my programs. I inserted the OPERATING
DISK. After it was detected and ran on its own. I chose the option to
re-install windows components. It is one of the choices listed there.
So go upstairs and get the boys downstairs.OK?
Good Luck!



Thanks in advance

Thanks in advance

 

[Zub Zero]

Hello,
Do you happen to notice a dell icon in the lower corner by
the clock?
If so-PLEASE do the following.
1. Click on the E Red/Blue icon.
2.Run a Maitance check
#. Then run a security check.
That will fix most of the problems from there.
OK?
Good Luck!

By the way- Always burn any programs you do not want to lose to a
disk. This way in the event that something goes wrong. At lest you
have copies that you can re-install later at your earliest
convenience. Good Luck again.


Thanks in advance

Thanks in advance