How to restore older Registry?

[macx]

I THINK that may be the problem.

Put in an unlabeled data CD I found in my files (I had recorded it
some time ago) and it wouldn't open.

Then the Task Mgr wouldn't quit when I tried to quit the task.

THEN I got a msg something about the registry being modified
from the Spyware Guard, asking to allow or block something.
I tried to select Block, but it wouldn't "take"

I had to force quit to get away from that window.

Upon restarting, all my XP apps can't be found or opened,
the icons are there but they're all listed as ending in ".lnk"
and Properties says they're all LNK type files - ????

Will going back to an older Registry fix that, or ???

And, I've forgotten how to do that.

Thanks for any advice!

Really stuck without my XP!!

 

[smore9648]

Have you ever exported your registrY settings before? If so, hopefully you known where you stored it.

If you did export/backed up your registry then all you have to do is import the registry.

You can try doing a restore point also, or if all fails reboot hit F8 and try LAST KNOW GOOD CONFIGURATION

 

[macx]

How do I do a restore point?

I've tried the LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIG twice to no avail.

I did a search for Registry and didn't see anything that looked
like a backup, although I thought I'd done it with one of the
security apps.

Still stuck.

 

[macx]

I can't seem to make any progress -
I've tried downloading a REG file called
WinXP_EXE_Fix and another one called
RegSupremePro_setup but something
won't let me open any kind of exe file.

I've found some sites that go into great
detail on how to restore the LNK to EXE
but I'm afraid it's way beyond my abilities.

If I just reinstall XP, will that work?

Will it wipe out all the other applications I've
installed, or just re-do the XP itself?

I suppose it will destroy everything in the
Program Files?

I do have a list of the other applications, so
I could reinstall everything if I had to.

Thanks for any help!

Got to get this fixed.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Take a look HERE for how to do a system restore.

Please let us know if that helps.

Regards Howard

 

[macx]

Tried that,

hit OK after msconfig,

got a window saying that Windows can't open that file
because it doesn't know what program created it.

Same result as when I tried to open those registry fix apps.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Sounds like you need to run a Windows repair as per this thread HERE.

Regards Howard

 

[macx]

I have a WD Disc Utility CD, put it in, the computer won't open the
utility.

Tried the memory test, computer won't open it either.

So, will try going right to the XP disc.

Wish me luck!

(Later)

Well, my luck continues.
Can't find the sleeve with the Product Code,
and can't open My Computer / Properties to get it.

Any way otherwise to get the Product Code?

(Later Still)

Tried the Repair thing. Booted from the XP disc,
things went along well until it just got a start on
installing Windows and Devices.

Got to rundll32.exe and Windows couldn't install it (!?),
got the same window saying it couldn't without
the program that created it.

NOW what!?

I couldn't do anything but force quit and, of course
when I restarted and booted, Windows isn't installed
now so it went right back to trying to install Windows
and Devices and ended up right back at the same
spot and same hangup.

Am I just totally screwed?

Would there be any point in trying a clean install
rather than a repair?

At least most of my files are on another drive.

If I do a clean install, I suppose it wipes out my
internet browser and all my bookmarks, and all
my security applications, etc, ??

There MUST be some way around this!??

Getting mighty discouraged.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

It`s not looking good I`m afraid.

I don`t think you`ve much choice but to reformat and reinstall.

Reformatting will erase everything on the hard drive.

Regards Howard

 

[macx]

That's the conclusion I've come to also.
thankfully I've got most of my long term stored data,
pics,video, etc, on a physically separate drive.

I'm going to try something that I did the last time
this happened, to 98Se, just when I was building
my current machine.

Physically remove the drive, hook it to the old
computer, and try to remove some of the non-
application files, my internet browser with
all my bookmarks, and my resume files (I use that
frequently as I'm a contract type worker on
power plant construction jobs, and have to spread
it around when I look for the next job.)

Worked before. As long as I leave the corrupted Registry
alone, I hope I won't have any migration of the problem
to the other computer.

Times like this I kick myself for building another Windows
machine when I "could have had a Mac" for the same $,
with few of these types of malware problems if any, and
easier to do lots of things with, like video. Started on
Mac years ago, both daughters & wife have em, no
comparison with ease of learning & use, not to mention
this kind of crap.

Oh, well.

Thanks everyone for all the efforts at assisting me!!!