How to restore input after registry enum deletion?

[Art in VT]

I'm trying to restore keyboard, mouse, and/or touch pad input on a
Dell laptop running XP Home where the registry was hacked and most of
the enum values were deleted (honest, not mine!). A copy of the
registry was exported into My Documents, but apparently because of
NTFS, permission is not granted for access to the file when the drive
is taken out of the laptop and used as another drive on a desktop.
With the drive in the laptop, it boots up just fine, even getting
wireless connection, but nothing I've tried (including hooking up an
external USB keyboard or a different USB mouse) allows the computer to
accept input of any kind. The keyboard works fine in the BIOS Setup
Screens so its not the keyboard itself. Any suggestions for how I
might be able to recover use of the keyboard, mouse and/or touch pad?
Is top-loading XP Home the only solution?
Thanks for any suggestions/information you can post.

 

[Quaoar]

I'm trying to restore keyboard, mouse, and/or touch pad input on a
Dell laptop running XP Home where the registry was hacked and most of
the enum values were deleted (honest, not mine!). A copy of the
registry was exported into My Documents, but apparently because of
NTFS, permission is not granted for access to the file when the drive
is taken out of the laptop and used as another drive on a desktop.
With the drive in the laptop, it boots up just fine, even getting
wireless connection, but nothing I've tried (including hooking up an
external USB keyboard or a different USB mouse) allows the computer to
accept input of any kind. The keyboard works fine in the BIOS Setup
Screens so its not the keyboard itself. Any suggestions for how I
might be able to recover use of the keyboard, mouse and/or touch pad?
Is top-loading XP Home the only solution?
Thanks for any suggestions/information you can post.

Yep. Do a repair install if you can

Q

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Art,

First try System Restore. System Restore restores system files and the
registry.

All About System Restore in WinXP
http://bertk.mvps.org/

 

[Art in VT]

Hi Bert,
Thanks for the reply, but as mentioned the computer does not
recognize any type of input past the BIOS Setup screens - no keyboard,
no mouse, no touch pad. This means I can't do a system restore.
I did try F8 at boot-up and selected "last know good
configuration" with no improvement in the situation
Safe Mode offers no improvement in input performance either.
Ideally i'd like to simply run the drive off another computer,
and copy the necessary information into the registry file while the
drive is not the boot drive, but gaining access to the files is
problematic to say the least.
I may try converting the drive over to FAT32 with Partition
Magic and see if I can have access to the files this way, copy back
the *.reg backup file, then change back to NTFS before trying to boot
off the drive again.
I don't have an XP Home CD so want to try what I can before
laying out $80. + for software that is otherwise already there.
Thanks,
Art

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Bert,
Thanks for the reply, but as mentioned the computer does not
recognize any type of input past the BIOS Setup screens - no keyboard,
no mouse, no touch pad. This means I can't do a system restore.
I did try F8 at boot-up and selected "last know good
configuration" with no improvement in the situation
Safe Mode offers no improvement in input performance either.

Are you able to enter Safe Mode?

Ideally i'd like to simply run the drive off another computer,
and copy the necessary information into the registry file while the
drive is not the boot drive, but gaining access to the files is
problematic to say the least.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

I may try converting the drive over to FAT32 with Partition
Magic and see if I can have access to the files this way, copy back
the *.reg backup file, then change back to NTFS before trying to boot
off the drive again.
I don't have an XP Home CD so want to try what I can before
laying out $80. + for software that is otherwise already there.

You could try contacting the manfuncturer of system and ask them for an
install CD.
It may be less expensive.

Thanks,
Art

 

[John]

NTFS, permission is not granted for access to the file when the drive
is taken out of the laptop and used as another drive on a desktop.

How do I set Folder Permissions in XP Home?
Setting File permissions on XP Home
1. Click on the start button
2. Then run
3. Type shrpubw
4. Chose the folder whose permissions you want to change and give the
share a name
5. Click next, now you can chose custom if you want to have full
options.

Quick Tip: In order to set file permission in windows XP Home, the file
system must already be converted to NTFS. For more information on how
to convert your file system, click here.
CONVERTING FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/convertfat.mspx

 

[John]

Dell laptop running XP Home where the registry was hacked and most of
the enum values were deleted (honest, not mine!).

If you have i386 ( about 500mb ) on the drive, you have all that is
needed to reinstall XP.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting, in 10 minutes or less.
http://www.aade.com/XPhint/XPrecovery.htm

Damaged Registry Repair and Recovery in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318159
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

 

[Art in VT]

Hi Bert,
Yes, I can get the computer to start in safe mode but by then
the keyboard, mouse, and touch pad have become lost to XP Home so all
I can do is use the power button to shut back down again.
I didn't think I'd be able to gain ownership of the file since
I can't be "logged on to the computer with an account that has
administrative credentials" either because:
1) with the drive in the notebook, I have no access to keyboard input
to follow the steps outlined, or
2) with the drive attached to a desktop as Drive Z (for example) I'm
not logged on as any of the users the NTFS on that drive recognize.
(plus the Desktop is running XP Pro - wouldn't you know)
I'm also hesitant to gain ownership of the folder the registry
backup file is in, since I would have to "Replace owner on
subcontainers and objects " Here I want to allow the original owner
access to the folder (having said that, I guess I could simply change
it back when done).
I think the easiest way will be to follow your suggestion to
see if I can wrestle an install CD from Dell. I was hoping to avoid
them all together as I have had very frustrating dealings with them on
too many occasions.
Thank you very much for your help and suggestions,
Art in VT

 

[Art in VT]

Hi John,
Thanks for the reply. This sounds like a very fast way to
gain access; thanks! I will give this a try when I have the laptop
here again. The owner, darling daughter, headed back out with it in
frustration at not being able to restore it as easily as we had hoped.
This procedure sounds like it may make it "that easy" .
For reference, the drive is already setup as NTFS. I thought
the barrier to access came from it being NTFS, and that converting it
to FAT32 (with Partition Magic) would bypass that barrier. I hoped to
convert it back to NTFS when finished restoring the registry (the
source of the problem to begin with). I think I've grown too used to
"work-arounds". Using shpubw sounds like a direct route, for a
change.
Many thanks again,
Art in VT

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Bert,
Yes, I can get the computer to start in safe mode but by then
the keyboard, mouse, and touch pad have become lost to XP Home so all
I can do is use the power button to shut back down again.

Have you tried a generic PS2 mouse or keyboard? If you can either of
these to work in safe mode, then you should be able to run System
Restore.

I didn't think I'd be able to gain ownership of the file since
I can't be "logged on to the computer with an account that has
administrative credentials" either because:
1) with the drive in the notebook, I have no access to keyboard input
to follow the steps outlined, or
2) with the drive attached to a desktop as Drive Z (for example) I'm
not logged on as any of the users the NTFS on that drive recognize.
(plus the Desktop is running XP Pro - wouldn't you know)

You should be able to access the notebook drive attached to a desktop
system and logged on with administrator privileges using the article
provided.

I'm also hesitant to gain ownership of the folder the registry
backup file is in, since I would have to "Replace owner on
subcontainers and objects " Here I want to allow the original owner
access to the folder (having said that, I guess I could simply change
it back when done).
I think the easiest way will be to follow your suggestion to
see if I can wrestle an install CD from Dell. I was hoping to avoid
them all together as I have had very frustrating dealings with them on
too many occasions.

From what I understand it is getting harder to get install CD's from
Dell these days.

Thank you very much for your help and suggestions,

You're welcome Art.

 

[Art in VT]

Hi Bert,
Unfortunately, the laptop (a Dell Inspiron 8600) doesn't have
any PS2 ports. I tried a different USB keyboard and also different
mouse. With the keyboard, it recognized it as new device, but still no
luck with the OS seeing input from it. No difference with a new USB
mouse.
Since the laptop is no longer in warranty, Dell (bless their
little hearts) won't supply an install CD. I could understand if they
wanted to charge a nominal fee for it, but not providing it at all is
about what I've come to expect from Dell (but that's the start of
another story . . . )
I will try the method you provided the link to when I have the
computer's drive hooked back up to my desktop.
I'm also going to see what results I get in the meantime when
I restore a backup up the drive I made (in the non-working state) to a
different spare drive I have hooked up to the desktop and try to gain
administrative rights to the registry backup file on it.
Thanks for your perseverance in providing help with this. It
is greatly appreciated! I've come to the conclusion, though, that
computers are obsessive compulsive training devices, and that I am now
well trained.
Thanks again,
Art in VT

 

[Bert Kinney]

LOL - Keep us posted Art.

 

[Art in VT]

As a follow-up to this dilemma, Dell was unwilling to provide
a restoration CD (even for purchase) for the laptop since it was no
longer under warranty. They suggested I go out and purchase a copy of
XP, the same OS that was paid for, and installed on the laptop when
purchased. Now that's not customer service. It also seems to be very
difficult to purchase on eBay as the listings keep getting pulled.
My daughter ended up formatting the drive and reinstalling XP
from scratch, since we did have a backup of the drive that the
documents, graphics, music, email, and other data could be restored
from.
My thanks (and hers) to all who offered advice and links to
more information for this. I think she has also learned not to hack
the registry on a hit-or-miss basis!
Being young again might have its drawbacks . . .
Art in VT

 

[Bert Kinney]

Thanks for the feedback Art.

This really stinks on Dell's part. : - (