WinXP SP1 registry error message

[Bob & Tammy Shasteen]

I am experiencing a maddening problem with a machine that I just
re-installed clean with WinXP SP1, and not much else except maybe OfficeXP,
Quicken, Norton AV & Print Shop. (from what I've read it has something to do
with corruption of the registry). After installing WinXP & the programs
mentioned above, I am getting a registry error message on every boot. The
message reads: "One of the files in the registry database had to be
recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
A couple of weeks ago it was so bad that I could only get my desktop to go
into Windows Classic mode, & I was starting to get spontaneous reboots. I
did a repair install, all was well for 2 weeks or so, then & last night I
got a BSOD with the same error message upon rebooting (while Norton AV was
running a system scan, & nothing else). If I don't get a decent solution in
a couple of days I'm going to do another hard disk format & reinstall (all
my data's backed up thank God). I would appreciate any help that anyone can
offer, my sanity is on the line. I may even try to install Norton
Systemworks & run its registry checker, even though I've heard mixed reviews
about almost all registry repair software. I really have been giving serious
thought to buying a Mac next round if this is what Windows users have to
look forward to, I very seldom hear of the Mac owners I know having this
many problems!!

 

[Dick Kistler]

I am experiencing a maddening problem with a machine that I just
re-installed clean with WinXP SP1, and not much else except maybe
OfficeXP,
Quicken, Norton AV & Print Shop. (from what I've read it has something to
do
with corruption of the registry). After installing WinXP & the programs
mentioned above, I am getting a registry error message on every boot. The
message reads: "One of the files in the registry database had to be
recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was
successful."
A couple of weeks ago it was so bad that I could only get my desktop to go
into Windows Classic mode, & I was starting to get spontaneous reboots. I
did a repair install, all was well for 2 weeks or so, then & last night I
got a BSOD with the same error message upon rebooting (while Norton AV was
running a system scan, & nothing else). If I don't get a decent solution
in
a couple of days I'm going to do another hard disk format & reinstall (all
my data's backed up thank God). I would appreciate any help that anyone
can
offer, my sanity is on the line. I may even try to install Norton
Systemworks & run its registry checker, even though I've heard mixed
reviews
about almost all registry repair software. I really have been giving
serious
thought to buying a Mac next round if this is what Windows users have to
look forward to, I very seldom hear of the Mac owners I know having this
many problems!!

When I get this sort of problems, it is usually, dust in the machine, a
loose
cable, or problems with the power supply. Possibly also an intermittent
memory
problem. Don't always assume that the problem is caused by Microsoft.

Once upon a time, I had continual random BSOD's and it was fixed by putting
all the usb devices that needed power from usb on a powered hub.

Dick Kistler

 

[Bob & Tammy Shasteen]

thanks for the reply to my query. I had been doing some troubleshooting with
my DVD burner & swapping cables in & out, I may check to make sure
everything is connected good & solid. Also I just replaced my power supply
shortly before doing the XP reinstall, I may check those connections. I've
never heard of this causing that kind of problems, what is the relation
between loose connections & registry error messages? Are the BSODs & the
registry error messages related? Also is it worth me just doing another
clean install first, since I don't have that much on my machine? Thanks in
advance.

 

[Dick Kistler]

thanks for the reply to my query. I had been doing some
troubleshooting with my DVD burner & swapping cables in & out, I may
check to make sure everything is connected good & solid. Also I just
replaced my power supply shortly before doing the XP reinstall, I may
check those connections. I've never heard of this causing that kind
of problems, what is the relation between loose connections &
registry error messages? Are the BSODs & the registry error messages
related? Also is it worth me just doing another clean install first,
since I don't have that much on my machine? Thanks in advance.

No real cause and effect here. Just almost always whenever I get random
unexplained BSOD's, registry errors, can't read/write memory, it turns
out to be hardware. A lot of problems could have at their root a loose
IDE cable. Remember also that the 80 conductor IDE cables used on the
hard drives today are very fragile.

Dick Kistler

 

[Bob & Tammy Shasteen]

this evening when I restarted my PC not only did I get the registry error
message, but my machine started in Windows Classic desktop, & no other
option was available (like it did before the repair install). I powered my
PC down with the intention of wiping it clean & reinstalling XP; I unplugged
my USB printer & the RF adapter to my Personal Cinema's remote. When I
restarted the PC to copy some files to my laptop the desktop problem was
gone. The RF adapter is a fairly new piece of HW added, could this be the
culprit? I was also wondering if you could tell me if you might think that
Norton Utilities' registry scanner might find a boo-boo & fix it safely? I
may hold off on the reinstall, swap out my HD IDE cable with a new one (are
the round ones worth investing in), & leave the RF adapter unplugged & see
if the problem disappears. I would appreciate any feedback you can provide,
please reply, thanks.

 

[Dick Kistler]

this evening when I restarted my PC not only did I get the registry
error message, but my machine started in Windows Classic desktop, &
no other option was available (like it did before the repair
install). I powered my PC down with the intention of wiping it clean
& reinstalling XP; I unplugged my USB printer & the RF adapter to my
Personal Cinema's remote. When I restarted the PC to copy some files
to my laptop the desktop problem was gone. The RF adapter is a fairly
new piece of HW added, could this be the culprit?

Don't know, but how is the RF adapter powered? If it is powered from
the usb port, you may have found it. Do you have a high power
usage(hard drives, all slots full, high end video card, all usb ports used,
peripherials powered from usb, etc)? Video cards and TV
tuner cards are particularly heavy power users. Also some usb
perpherials use the max(500 ma/port) that usb allows. You can
check power usage in the device manager for the usb devices.

I was also

wondering if you could tell me if you might think that Norton
Utilities' registry scanner might find a boo-boo & fix it safely?

Possibly, but I wouldn't try to fix the registry unless I was absolutely
sure that was the problem. If you do try it, be sure to back up the
registry before you start messing with it. I don't have any problem
editing the registry manually, but am not really confident with
using a program to clean it up automatically.

I

may hold off on the reinstall, swap out my HD IDE cable with a new
one (are the round ones worth investing in), & leave the RF adapter
unplugged & see if the problem disappears. I would appreciate any
feedback you can provide, please reply, thanks.

I haven't got much experience with the round cables. My experience
with digital signals says that they can't work as well as the flat ones
because of crosstalk. However, I did buy one because I needed a
cable with more distance between the HD plugs. It has worked
with no problem. Be sure to get one with a way to pull the
cable plugs out without pulling on the wires.

Dick Kistler

 

[Bob Shasteen]

I've got a powered USB 2.0 hub that I'm not using currently, I may run all
my non-powered devices through that... wish me luck....