Windows 2000 - how to create a "last known good configuration?"

[usenetdg]

On rare occasions, I've had unexpected problems with my Windows 2000
computer on startup.

When I had Windows 98, I'd use scanreg/restore to bail me out if
nothing else would when I'd get into those situations, but I know that
option is not available in Win2000.

So far as I know, the "last known good configuration" option is the
best one to take. But from what I've read, this "last known good
configuration" isn't automatically created; I have to create it. And
using the option when I've been in trouble hasn't worked.

So how do I create a last known good configuration? How do I use it
when I need to?

And is there any better and easier means of protecting myself that
works as effectively as scanreg/restore did in Windows 98?

 

[Trax]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

|>On rare occasions, I've had unexpected problems with my Windows 2000
|>computer on startup.
|>
|>When I had Windows 98, I'd use scanreg/restore to bail me out if
|>nothing else would when I'd get into those situations, but I know that
|>option is not available in Win2000.
|>
|>So far as I know, the "last known good configuration" option is the
|>best one to take. But from what I've read, this "last known good
|>configuration" isn't automatically created; I have to create it. And
|>using the option when I've been in trouble hasn't worked.
|>
|>So how do I create a last known good configuration? How do I use it
|>when I need to?
|>
|>And is there any better and easier means of protecting myself that
|>works as effectively as scanreg/restore did in Windows 98?

Use ERUNT http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
It's better than XP's restore, as you can run it from an outside
application.

Someone took the time to write up how to use it...
http://www.pcug.org.au/~boesen/ERUNT/ERUNT.htm

 

[Dave Patrick]

There is no system restore in Windows 2000. You can 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
%systemroot%\repair\RegBack
leaving the
%systemroot%\repair\
directory files intact as original installation.

Then archive the files in
%systemroot%\repair\RegBack
These would, in effect, be registry restore points.

You can replace registry hives from within the recovery console by copying
the files from your archive to;
%systemroot%\system32\config

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. At
the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or 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. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. 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: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%

--

Regards,

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

| On rare occasions, I've had unexpected problems with my Windows 2000
| computer on startup.
|
| When I had Windows 98, I'd use scanreg/restore to bail me out if
| nothing else would when I'd get into those situations, but I know that
| option is not available in Win2000.
|
| So far as I know, the "last known good configuration" option is the
| best one to take. But from what I've read, this "last known good
| configuration" isn't automatically created; I have to create it. And
| using the option when I've been in trouble hasn't worked.
|
| So how do I create a last known good configuration? How do I use it
| when I need to?
|
| And is there any better and easier means of protecting myself that
| works as effectively as scanreg/restore did in Windows 98?
|

 

[sherwindu]

I thought you can use the Emergency Repair Disk with Registry backup to do this task. Check your
help descriptions of this to make this backup on a floppy disk. I
can't say this will help if your system is really hosed, but it's easy to do and may work.

Sherwin D.

 

[sherwindu]

I also had the impression that the last working configuration is automatically saved for
you, and this is useful on booting problems. You can select a restore from your startup
menu.

Sherwin D.

 

[Emilio Caiulo]

I thought you can use the Emergency Repair Disk with Registry backup to do this task. Check your
help descriptions of this to make this backup on a floppy disk. I
can't say this will help if your system is really hosed, but it's easy to do and may work.

Sherwin D.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Looking in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select
you'll find the D-Word values for
"Current"=dword:00000001
"Default"=dword:00000001
"Failed"=dword:00000000
"LastKnownGood"=dword:00000002

CurrentControlSet is volatile and will always be an image (at boot) of
what's defined in ControlSetx where x = the value of "Current"

Choosing last known good boots the system with the control set that last
successfully booted your system. Control sets contain system configuration
information such as device drivers and services.

--

Regards,

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

:
|I also had the impression that the last working configuration is
automatically saved for
| you, and this is useful on booting problems. You can select a restore
from your startup
| menu.
|
| Sherwin D.