snap-in failed to initialize after replacing a corrupted software registry file

[Ricky Gan]

My software registry file got corrupted somehow, and I
was forced to use a one-year old backup of the software
registry from "C:\WINNT\repair". To complicate the
matter, I even installed a parallel installation of w2k
adv server in "C:\WINNT2". Now, I am seeing the
following error when I start device manager, services,
computer management:
'=============================
snap-in failed to initialize
Name: xxxxxxxxx
clsid: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'=============================

I tried to add/remove windows components in control
panel, but an error came up saying it could find
certocm.inf in the path.

Has anyone survived a corrupted software registry
adventure before and encounter similar errors? Please
help. I want to be able to use my MMC snap-ins and also
add/remove windows component, and eventually I want to
reinstall my missing software.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Just an observation; the file
%windir%\repair\software
is an image of the hive at the time the OS was installed, so you'd have to
reinstall all software any way. 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.)

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| My software registry file got corrupted somehow, and I
| was forced to use a one-year old backup of the software
| registry from "C:\WINNT\repair". To complicate the
| matter, I even installed a parallel installation of w2k
| adv server in "C:\WINNT2". Now, I am seeing the
| following error when I start device manager, services,
| computer management:
| '=============================
| snap-in failed to initialize
| Name: xxxxxxxxx
| clsid: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| '=============================
|
| I tried to add/remove windows components in control
| panel, but an error came up saying it could find
| certocm.inf in the path.
|
| Has anyone survived a corrupted software registry
| adventure before and encounter similar errors? Please
| help. I want to be able to use my MMC snap-ins and also
| add/remove windows component, and eventually I want to
| reinstall my missing software.

 

[Ricky Gan]

That's actually one last resort that I've been temped for
the last 24 hours. However, I do have a SSL and many web
sites functioning even at this state of emergency. Do
you know if SSL be functioning without resubmission after
an install on top of the current C:\WINNT directory?

 

[Dave Patrick]

No idea on that. For future reference. If you run
Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Backup, then choose ERD, then if you check
the box for "Also backup....", then the reg will also be backed up to
%windir%\repair\RegBack
leaving the
%windir%\repair\
directory files intact as original installation.

Repair, Recovery, and Restore
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/samplechapters/fndc/fndc_rec_uctu.asp

You'll find them in
%windir%\system32\config

the current_user hive is in
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\ntuser.dat

The last reg backup files in
%windir%\repair\RegBack

and the original as-installed files in
%windir%\repair


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| That's actually one last resort that I've been temped for
| the last 24 hours. However, I do have a SSL and many web
| sites functioning even at this state of emergency. Do
| you know if SSL be functioning without resubmission after
| an install on top of the current C:\WINNT directory?
|