Corrupt Registry Repair Questions

[Svengali]

I need to repair/replace a corrupt registry file in order to recover from a
c000021A fatal error. The machine will not boot under any of the boot
options under F8. It seems that Recovery Console is my only hope. I would
like to prevent wiping my drive.

I wanted to use the method from:

KB307545 Article: A How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents
Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

However, it specifically warns against using this method with OEM-installed
versions of XP, which is what I have.

So, I want to know what my options are. I believe that I have a copy of the
registry that I backed up a while back. Can I just copy this over the
existing registry file? I have access to the corrupt drive through my
desktop. Also, I am thinking of making a Recovery Console Boot CD, since I
didn’t have the Recovery Console installed as a boot option. Will this make a
difference with using this approach, since the Recovery Console is not on the
machine? I am thinking running Recovery Console from CD will circumvent the
reason given in the warning - creation of new user accounts and passwords
that prevent logging back into Recovery Console

Since I have access to the drive via my desktop, are there any other save
recovery options that I have? Thanks.

 

[Brian A.]

I need to repair/replace a corrupt registry file in order to recover from a
c000021A fatal error. The machine will not boot under any of the boot
options under F8. It seems that Recovery Console is my only hope. I would
like to prevent wiping my drive.

I wanted to use the method from:

KB307545 Article: A How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents
Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

However, it specifically warns against using this method with OEM-installed
versions of XP, which is what I have.

So, I want to know what my options are. I believe that I have a copy of the
registry that I backed up a while back. Can I just copy this over the
existing registry file? I have access to the corrupt drive through my
desktop. Also, I am thinking of making a Recovery Console Boot CD, since I
didn’t have the Recovery Console installed as a boot option. Will this make a
difference with using this approach, since the Recovery Console is not on the
machine? I am thinking running Recovery Console from CD will circumvent the
reason given in the warning - creation of new user accounts and passwords
that prevent logging back into Recovery Console

Since I have access to the drive via my desktop, are there any other save
recovery options that I have? Thanks.

Try a restore at a command prompt first.
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

Otherwise

How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/en-us

Description of the Microsoft Windows registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/en-us

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[John John]

You can use the Windows XP SP2 setup diskette set, or you can slipstream
SP2 into your Windows XP CD, this password error has been corrected with
that later diskette set or with SP1 and later.

Error message when you log on to Recovery Console in Windows XP: "The
password is not valid"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308402/EN/

Note that not all OEM installations suffer this problem, it depends on
the method used or the Sysprep version used to prepare and install
Windows on your machine.

John