Missing hive file data recovery

[Freshman]

Hope you can cast some light on this.....
w2k laptop that reports to have missing or corrupt hive file and therefore
cannot boot, not even safe or last know good. Have a replacement HDD
arriving but need to get myDocs of old HDD. Can boot up into Recovery
console but this doesn't allow me to copy anything from the disk. Have not
yet run chkdsk /p but I expect hits will not fix the prob. Any suggestions
for ways of removing the data without buying expensive recovery software??

Many thanks

Martin

 

[Dave Patrick]

You didn't mention the hive, if the software hive is corrupt, it may be
possible to rename the software hive found in;
%windir%\system32\config\software
to software.old
then copy the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback
as
%windir%\system32\config\software

If that fails you can copy/ use the file
%windir%\repair\software
This file is an image of the hive at the time the OS was installed, so you'd
have to reinstall all software. This being the case you might just as well
blow it away and start a new install. (note: this would at least allow you
to start the OS to make any necessary backups prior to wiping the drive.)

Else if the system hive, and assuming you already tried LKG, It may be
possible to rename the system hive found in
%windir%\system32\config\system
to system.old
then rename
%windir%\system32\config\system.alt
to
%windir%\system32\config\system

You can also try using the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the
original-as-installed system hive from
%windir%\repair\system
to
%windir%\system32\config\system
You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the
original OS install.


To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%

 

[Freshman]

I didn't mention that there are no backups either, sorry.
I hasten to add that this was not my laptop!!
The only form of backup used was copying files to a zip drive.
There is no regback in the repair folder, so I assume that no system state
backup was ever done.
I will check for the other files, but I think the cupboard was either bare
or 3 years out of date
so it may have to be back to installation version.

If I boot up with the new HDD and have the old HDD attached will I get
access or will I be locked out.

Techent suggests chkdsk /p as a fix. How rigourous is this?
Is there any risk to the data
Thanks for your suggestions. Will have a bash.

Regards,
Martin Avery

You didn't mention the hive, if the software hive is corrupt, it may be
possible to rename the software hive found in;
%windir%\system32\config\software
to software.old
then copy the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback
as
%windir%\system32\config\software

If that fails you can copy/ use the file
%windir%\repair\software
This file is an image of the hive at the time the OS was installed, so you'd
have to reinstall all software. This being the case you might just as well
blow it away and start a new install. (note: this would at least allow you
to start the OS to make any necessary backups prior to wiping the drive.)

Else if the system hive, and assuming you already tried LKG, It may be
possible to rename the system hive found in
%windir%\system32\config\system
to system.old
then rename
%windir%\system32\config\system.alt
to
%windir%\system32\config\system

You can also try using the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the
original-as-installed system hive from
%windir%\repair\system
to
%windir%\system32\config\system
You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the
original OS install.


To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

Hope you can cast some light on this.....
w2k laptop that reports to have missing or corrupt hive file and therefore
cannot boot, not even safe or last know good. Have a replacement HDD
arriving but need to get myDocs of old HDD. Can boot up into Recovery
console but this doesn't allow me to copy anything from the disk. Have not
yet run chkdsk /p but I expect hits will not fix the prob. Any suggestions
for ways of removing the data without buying expensive recovery software??

Many thanks

Martin