WARNING! Got a Worm From Registry Mechanic!, Now I can't open Windows (98SE)

[macx]

Saw the ad for Registry Mechanic on the main page of another large computer forum (is that what's being
advertised on this Forum also!?), thought it should be a good idea to have that as it was advertised on the forum and therefore obviously approved, and highly rated
by PCWorld.

Downloaded it, paid for it, installed it and ran it.

Then computer restarted and it required my product
code to start Windows.

Typed in product code, but says it's invalid.

I called MS Support, they first gave me 2 different
product codes to try to unlock Windows, neither worked.
Then transferred to a Tech who said I had gotten a worm with Registry Mechanic which was the reason I was unable
to access Windows.

They worked with me for over 2 hours, including going
back to and installing a backup registry created the day
before this Registry Mechanic was installed, but I am still
being blocked from starting Windows.

They are going to work with me more tomorrow.

Further, the Tech said emphatically that such tools
should not be used on the registry, that it would
only lead to problems, even without such a worm.

A MOST unhappy experience from what should have
been a trustworthy source!

 

[iss]

hmmmm. when you say it required to to type the product code what code are you referring to? the product code for registry mechanic or windows?

 

[macx]

Sorry, should have clarified.

When the computer restarted after installation,
it opened the Windows Setup Wizard where you
type in the Windows product code.

The code that came with the SE updates ~3 yrs
ago and worked up till now was the one that the
Wizard (or actually the worm per the MS Tech)
says is invalid.

MS Supt also gave me 2 other codes - must be
"master" codes or something - to try to gain access
to Windows but it said those were also invalid and
it refused to open Windows. This was after they
checked my product code and some little code on
the inner lens of the 98SE Update CD (that I hadn't
even realized was there) to verify it was valid
and not a bootleg copy. It is a valid product code
per their info.

 

[StormBringer]

I've used Registry Mechanic quite a bit and never encountered anything like that. Sounds like you may have deleted some keys pertaining to product key info or something when you were fooling around with reg mechanic.

Reg Mechanic, while more friendly than just using regedit, is still a powerful tool and can cause serious damage if you aren't careful.

 

[macx]

All I did was download & install & run it.

It came up with a number of I believe they were
called serious and medium problems (wording?)
which it recommended by "fixed" which I did.

That's all I did - nothing more.

I first ran the free version, "fixed" what it found,
no problems. Of course, to "fix" everything it
found, you have to buy the full version.

It's after I ran the full, paid-for version that this
problem surfaced.

It certainly wouldn't call a needed part of the system/registry/whatever a serious or medium
problem and recommend deleting it?

 

[meatologist]

System Restore !

 

[RealBlackStuff]

meatologist

read the post!
Restore on a W98? Nah..

 

[meatologist]

oh ya. oops.

soz