System restore fails

[Peter Richards]

Hi,

This computer _was_ fixed a few weeks ago, but I _think_ the registry
became corrupt somehow; we do have some power outages here lately.

Running XP Pro (Build 2600.xpsp1.020828-1920: Service Pack 1)

After the computer was fixed a few weeks ago, I did a backup, so there
is a good backup on the hard drive.

1. The computer takes a lot longer than usual to boot.

2. I cannot copy or move any file in Explorer, had to use command
prompt to copy files.

3. Any attempt to install an anti-virus installer fails, usually
program execption errors. Also trying to run other programs, they
hang,etc. , and get errors.

4. We did mange to get MS Reg Cleaner onto the computer. It found
errors, but what baffles me is, each time I run it, it finds more
errors, and the file sizes are looking the same (the o/p from Reg
Cleaner - the undo files).

5. We cannot use the 'restore' function, the error message is

"System Restore is not able to protect your computer. Please restart
your computer, and then use System Restore again"

We do this, but the same message.

6. We cannot run Backup either, it just hangs or does nothing.

7. I did try F8 on boot, and the option, something like "use the last
...... ", but no go.

8. The boot log says there are a lot of drivers not loaded ??

Surely there must be a manual method of restoring the registry from
the (good) backup done 2 weeks ago. The backup file has been moved, I
can put it back where it was, not too sure if the Restore stores the
backup location in the registry or somewhere else.

Any ideas please ?

Peter

 

[Yakima Jones]

I can't help you on this, and I have a similar issue on a computer where a
lot of files and folders are missing, but no virus detected, (now two months
later).
The system runs painfully slow. Some programs don't work, but others do.
What I found, is that some of the files that Windows no longer sees, can be
seen in Photoshop's browser. I'm just curious if you have similar findings.
Might be the same problem.
When I tried using Restore, it failed, and on reboot no longer saw any
restore points. Files are disappearing, but I know they are still there.
How about yours???

Thanx

- Yakima

======================================

 

[Peter]

There are no files missing that we are aware of, although the fact
that drivers aren't being loaded may well indicate that.

It seems the file RICHED32.DLL appears in the whatson.log , and we
found out a certain virus (nimda) has to do with that. Tried a tool to
check for the virus, but the advice is to 'turn off' system restore
first, but the computer won't let us do that.

Peter

 

[Peter]

I ran Services.msc , and although Task Scheduler & System Restore
Services were set to automatic, they were not running. Tried to start
them, but they would not start - Error 1068: The dependency service or
group failed to start.

Peter