LKGC question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Debbie Graham
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Debbie Graham

I have asked this question before but haven't had any positive results. I
just had to use the LKGC and it was like from a year or so ago. I read
where the ControlSets have something to do with it. I have 3 of them
ControlSet001, ControlSet002 and ControlSet003. Do I have too many? Which
one would be the right more recent one? When I use it the way it is now, it
makes most of my programs useless and have to reinstall them.


Debbie
 
These registry keys are basically the system's hardware profiles.

Changes made in Device Manager are stored here, and also changes to Local
Services.

Most PCs I've seen have : -

CurrentControlSet
ControlSet001
ControlSet003

....and NOT a ControlSet002 !!

But you're right, in that they're are 3 of them.

ControlSet001 is an exact copy of CurrentControlSet, and ControlSet003 is a
backup.

You will find that whatever changes you make to either CurrentControlSet or
ControlSet001 will be immediately reflected and reproduced automatically in
the other set. While the last set, ControlSet003, does not change.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Why is it you think LKGC *is* messed up??

The Last Known Good Configuration does have something to do with the
Hardware Profile stored in : -

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CurrentControlSet

The data contained within this registry key is actually stored in a single
file on your system called : -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system

(no extension), and it is a backup of this file contained within the folder
: -

C:\WINDOWS\repair

....that replaces the old copy when you choose the LKGC option after
pressing the [F8] key at boot.

The only way LKGC will not work is if there is no "system" file in the
"C:\WINDOWS\repair" directory!

If you feel that you want the ability to backup / restore the WinXP
registry files, you could do worse than download and read through the
documentation of the free application - ERUNT.exe Available by clicking on
the link below :

http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe

Also, I would learn how to install / use the Windows Recovery Console
(install by inserting the XP cd and typing "D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons"
into the "Run" box on the start menu) - where [D:] is the drive-letter of
your cd-rom drive.

Look up "Recovery Console" in the WinXP Help and Support Center.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
I have asked this question before but haven't had any positive results. I
just had to use the LKGC and it was like from a year or so ago. I read
where the ControlSets have something to do with it. I have 3 of them
ControlSet001, ControlSet002 and ControlSet003. Do I have too many? Which
one would be the right more recent one? When I use it the way it is now, it
makes most of my programs useless and have to reinstall them.
Click to expand...

No, you don't have too many control sets and the Last Known Good
Configuration that you used was *not* from a year ago... unless the
computer ran for a whole year without being rebooted. If the computer
boots properly today and if you turn it off tonight, today's boot
configuration (right after a user logs on) will be the Last Known Good
Configuration the next time the computer is booted. Consult the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select to know which control set is the LKGC.

John
 
That's just it John. I used the LKGC last year sometime and just used it
again a few days ago and it's the same exact
configuaration from a year ago. My graphics card drivers (ATI) is non
existent, my AVG antivirus had to be reinstalled my new printer install had
to be installed all over again, plus a few other programs of mine.
Something is wrong, I should not have the same configuration now as I did a
year ago.

Debbie
 
Also I just found this, under ControlSet001 my ATI driver and graphics card
stuff is there but under ControlSet002 it isn't. So is the ControlSet002
that keeps loading for me when I use the LKGC? How do I fix it?

Debbie
 
What does the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select key tell you? Which
Control set is the LKGC and which is the current?

There is something else wrong with the machine, unless programs run as
services or rely on certain drivers (some like AV software do, but most
don't) programs don't or should not record anything in the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM key and using a different Control Set should
not affect installed software.

John
 
Well... ControlSet003 is the Default and Current Control Set, it is the
one that is used to normally boot the computer, it is the one that was
used to boot the machine and the one that is currently being used.

The LKGC is booting using ControlSet002.

ControlSet001 is a Failed Control Set, it is no longer used for
anything, don't compare the LKGC set to this one.


Here is a little test that you can do:

Create a phony key in the CurrentControlSet. Phony keys hurt nothing,
the system just ignores them. Right click on the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet and select New->Key. Name
the new key Banana Bread, with a name so out of place like that you will
remember that the key is a phony one that will be safe to delete at any
time after your test is done.

Now look in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003 key and you will
see the same Banana Bread key. The CurrentControlSet is a symbolic link
to the ControlSet003 that was used to boot the machine, changes made in
the CurrentControlSet are reflected in the Control Set used to boot the
machine. Look in the other Control Sets (001 & 002) and you will not
see any Banana Bread, ControlSet002 is the one used to boot to the LKGC,
you will not see any Banana Bread there.

Now, leave the phony key in place and reboot the machine normally and
then look at the Control Sets again. You will still see Banana Bread in
the Current and in the 003 Control Sets but now you will also see Banana
Bread in the ControlSet002, the LKGC control set. This little exercise
clearly demonstrates how the control set used to boot the machine is
copied over to the LastKnownGood control set after a user successfully
logs on.

John
 
Just tried your little test and it doesn't show up in the ControlSet002, so
what does that mean?


Debbie
 
Yes, if there was and is still Banana Bread in the control set that was
used to boot Windows (003) it should have been copied over to the LKGC
control set (002) when you rebooted. If it isn't copying over then the
Windows installation is borked.

You could check the permissions on ControlSet002 and make sure that the
System account has full control on it and that the permissions inherit
to the child objects. If the permissions look fine then the only thing
that I can suggest is that you do an in-place upgrade (repair install)
of the operating system or that you flatten and rebuild the box.

John
 
We don't know which key you are reading the information from but the
system is shown to have full control on the key and its subkeys so it's
probably not a permission problem. I think that the kind of problems
that you are having call for an in-place upgrade at the least.
Personally, I would flatten the box.

John
 
Rebuild from scratch, format and do a clean install. As in 'flatten'
this old house and build a new one. Or rebuilding after a hurricane
flattens the neighbourhood...

John
 
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