Mouse doesn't work after completing 1st part of system restore

[Guest]

Windows crashed and I could only use safe mode. I went through the 1st part
of system restore from the Microsoft help section and when I got to the part
where you type exit and windows restarts, my pointer and mouse no longer
work. They are frozen, so I cannot complete the steps to the system restore.
I am a neophite in this area, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I
am using a Dell 4550 and the USB mouse that came with the computer.

 

[Bob I]

Navigate the menus with the keyboard. Tab key, spacebar, arrow keys,
enter key.

 

[Guest]

Navigate the menus with the keyboard. Tab key, spacebar, arrow keys,
enter key.

 

[Guest]

I tried navigating with the tab, arrow and spacebar, but when I enter any of
the items in control panel, I get the message "windows cannot access the
specified driver, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate
permissions to access them. What do I do now?

 

[Bob I]

Are you logging on as the Administrator?

I tried navigating with the tab, arrow and spacebar, but when I enter any of
the items in control panel, I get the message "windows cannot access the
specified driver, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate
permissions to access them. What do I do now?

:

 

[Guest]

Yes

Are you logging on as the Administrator?

 

[Bob I]

OK, where, or what are you actually trying to get to. What program are
you trying to run?

 

[Guest]

I was following the steps in a windows crashed I can help article by Charlie
White and I was in the recovery console. These same steps are the ones
Microsoft help gives you also. I had typed
md c:\windows\tmpcopy c:\windows\system32\config\system
c:\windows\tmp\system.bak copy c:\windows\system32\config\software
c:\windows\tmp\software.bak copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam
c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak copy c:\windows\system32\config\security
c:\windows\tmp\security.bak copy c:\windows\system32\config\default
c:\windows\tmp\default.bak delete c:\windows\system32\config\system delete
c:\windows\system32\config\software delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security delete c:\windows\system32
\config\default
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system copy
c:\windows\repair\system\software c:\windows\system32\config\software copy
c:\windows\repair\system\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam copy
c:\windows\repair\system\security c:\windows\system32\config\security copy
c:\windows\repair\system\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
Then you are supposed to type exit and windows will restart and then you
begin the rest of the instructions given. I got as far as exit, windows
restarted and then the mouse froze and I can't get into anything because I
get the windows cannot access message

Sorry this is so long, but I don't know how else to explain the mess I've
gotten into.

 

[Bob I]

I understand it is somewhat a mess, but now what was it you were going
to do AFTER it restarted? When you begin the rest of the instructions
given, what was the next "step" you were going to do?

 

[Guest]

Here's the next 6 steps from the article. I, of course, haven't been able to
do any of this.

You are great to help me like this and I so appreciate it.

Part 2
Here's where you'll copy the saved registry files from their backed up
location by using System Restore. This folder is not available in Recovery
Console and is normally not visible -- Microsoft is protecting you from
yourself by hiding it from you and locking it away from you. But we have the
keys. Before you start this procedure, you'll need to change several settings
to make that folder visible:

1. Start Windows Explorer.

2. On the Tools menu, click Folder options.

3. Click the View tab.

4. Under Hidden files and folders , click to select Show hidden files and
folders , and then click to clear the Hide protected operating system files
(Recommended) check box.

5. Click Yes when the dialog box is displayed that confirms that you want to
display these files.

6. Double-click the drive where you installed Windows XP to get a list of
the folders. If is important to click the correct drive.

 

[Bob I]

OK to do Step 1 thru 6

1. Press Windows Key + E
2. Hold Alt down, tap T then tap O, release Alt
3. Hold Shift, press Tab, release Shift, press Right Arrow
4. Tab until you are in Advanced Settings, then Down Arrow to "Show
Hidden", press Spacebar to tick it, Arrow down to the "Hide Protected",
and Spacebar to remove tick.
5. Use Arrow and Spacebar on the Yes button. Then Tab to and Space on OK.

6. Now Arrow down to the drive Icon, Right Arrow to expand folder structure.

At this point follow what steps you can using the keyboard. Post back if
you need more directions.

 

[Guest]

Hi Bob
OK I got through the steps until I tried to open the system Volume
Information. Here are the instructions on what I'm supposed to do, but since
my mouse doesn't work, I can't right click to follow them.


"7. Open the System Volume Information folder. This folder appears dimmed
because it is set as a super-hidden folder. If you're using the FAT32 file
system, this will be easy. If you're using NTFS, it won't let you open the
folder, but here's how to get around that: Right-click on that system volume
information folder and select Sharing and Security. Then click the Security
tab. Click Add, and then in the box that's labeled "Enter the object names to
select," type the name of the user that's at the top of the Start menu --
that's probably you"
Anyway, make sure you type the name the way it's listed there on the Start
Menu. I made the mistake of typing my first name only and it wouldn't let me
in. Type first and last name if that's how it's written on the top of the
Start menu. After you've typed that in, click OK a couple of times and
finally that monster will let you in.

OK. Now here you are, in the inner sanctum where only the high priests go.
Be not afraid, all ye who enter here. As Microsoft so eloquently puts it:

NOTE : This folder contains one or more _restore {GUID} folders such as
"_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}".

8. Open a folder that was not created at the current time. You may have to
click Details on the View menu to see when these folders were created. There
may be one or more folders starting with "RP x under this folder. These are
restore points.

9. Open one of these folders to locate a Snapshot subfolder; the following
path is an example of a folder path to the Snapshot folder:

C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}RP1Snapshot

From the Snapshot folder, copy the following files to the C:\Windows\Tmp
folder (you can use your mouse, you're in Windows now, remember?):
_registry_user_.default
_registry_machine_security
_registry_machine_software
_registry_machine_system
_registry_machine_sam

 

[RalfG]

Getting in way late on this but the subject says system restore yet what you
describe here is about the recovery console instead. Continuing on the path
you chose should be easier if you get yourself a basic PS2 keyboard and
mouse to work with instead of USB.

Did you try to use XP System Restore (Accessories-System Tools) to fix the
problem before you resorted to the recovery console? It would have been the
least troublesome fix, assuming it works. It might still be an option even
now. If Windows still crashes after that, the "Last Known Good" selection
from the Safe Mode startup menu would be the next choice. If that fails you
are left with the options of either doing an in-place reinstall of Windows
if you have Windows CDs or an OEM System Recovery if you have a recovery
partition or recovery discs from the computer manufacturer.

 

[Bob I]

The "right-click" (or Context Menu key) on the keyboard is between the
right hand "WinKey" and the Righthand CTRL key. (Looks like a little menu)

 

[Guest]

Ok, I'm in the snapshot folder in system information and I'm told to:

From the Snapshot folder, copy the following files to the C:\Windows\Tmp
folder (you can use your mouse, you're in Windows now, remember?):
_registry_user_.default
_registry_machine_security
_registry_machine_software
_registry_machine_system
_registry_machine_sam

I know I can right click and arrow down to "copy" but how do I copy these
files to the C:\Windows\Tmp folder from here without a mouse. I don't know
how to get the files to the Tmp folder. I know this is probably a silly
question and you're asking yourself, by now, why you started helping me, but
you have been so great .....I just want to get this nightmare over with.
Thanks