registry items

I run an issues scan for the registry every couple of days and always save to file before 'fixing' (which always ends up to be deleting). Several questions:

1. What types of problems would I see if there's a registry problem? I know there's no definitive answer - I'm just looking for a general overview.

2. There would be nothing 'bad' in putting some of those registry items back, correct?

3. I'm using Windows XP, so to do the above, I would go to the folder where they're located, rt click on the batch/date I'm interested in, and click on "merge" at the top of the drop down list, is this correct? I've never done this and registry stuff makes me nervous, so forgive me if this is a 'well duuuhhh' question. :blink:

4. This is pretty much the last thing I'm trying before either taking the computer in to the shop or wiping and reinstalling Windows. Is it appropriate? too stupid for words? :lol: something in between?

sonsie

Yes, that is how to merge the backup registry items.

What is the problem with your computer?

What is the problem with your computer?

Unfortunately, lots of things, but I don't know what they have in common or are directing me to. In November I had many of the same problems - after several days of a tech working on it in the shop that built it/sold it to me, and trying everything down to loading a different OS, the conclusion was they didn't know what was causing the problems, they'd tested everything testable, but that it might be a motherboard going out since the probs were sporadic, and also because twice I got a screen saying something about loading netbios defaults. Most of the time, the computer didn't produce the same problems in the shop that they did at home.

So I bought a new computer...this one!

?kerio personal firewall ? GUI cannot connect to service? (only sporadically and only tvguide. Never had a problem before)

Computer won?t perform a check disk on C. Get a popup saying ?Windows was unable to complete the disk check.?

When I tried to run one with Fix-It, it ran, but said I needed to run a chkdsk with F (which windows wouldn't do). I tried again today and it said "Unable to access disk"

System has performed 2 dumps of 535MB each within 1 day (about a week ago)

Fix-It has a diagnostics which I tried and a couple of areas passed, but when I got to motherboard and memory tests, the computer crashed immediately and each time I got a screen that said "Driver_IRQL_not less_or_equal" and some other things like - if this is the first time you've seen this screen, then reboot. If you've seen it before...I don't remember, something about netbios.

Tried to run Fix-It diagnostics yesterday and got lots of errors which didn't show up except in the app event log

system error log errors: Delayed Write Failed (LOTS of these for several days, now - a couple times a day

Warning - Event Source: PlugPlayManager The service "CiSvc" vetoed a target device change request

file system structure on disk is corrupt and unusable; please run chkdsk (but it won't run one)

Error code 000000d1, parameter1 c0300000, parameter2 000000ff, parameter3 00000000, parameter4 19a91096

The server {72C2714F...} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

application event log errors: can't unload registry files

content scan could not be completed on C (getting this one at regular intervals)

Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper. Bought this computer in mid-December and kept an old HD which went out in mid-January, so I replaced it, so I now have a HD 3 mos old and one 2 mos old. Is it possible that there's a problem with configuration (on 2 separate computers) that's causing HDs or motherboards to be going bad quickly (if that's what's happening)? The actual day-to-day functioning - opening documents, being online, etc. - is, in general, ok.

Also, is it worth putting back the registry items that I've deleted since Mar 6 and risk muddying the waters?

sonsie

What is Fix-It?

Have you tried a chkdsk /r? I'm not finished reading your post. I just didn't want to forget to ask.

If I were you I wouldn't put back the registry stuff.

When did your recent problems start? Is it worth it to do a System Restore?

What OS?

And what type of security software are you using?

Fix-It is a utilities program from Ontrack that performs chkdsk, defrag, disk snapshot, registry cleaner, fixer, editor & defrag, diagnostics, system monitor and explorer, crash-proof, virus scanner, several data recovery programs, and several other tasks of that sort. I only use a handful of them. (Not a bad little piece of software, btw, and I think I only paid $15 for it.)

Have to confess - I've never run a chkdsk /r and don't know what it is. I'm guessing the "r" isn't for 'repair' because it seems that would be the same as 'fix'. The problem is that the computer refuses to do a chkdsk. However, somone on another forum suggested I use the recovery console and gave me a link to webtree.ca which gives instructions. I chose not to do that at that time, and today decided I would, but wanted to see about the registry situation first. It makes me nervous to mess around in unknown (to me) areas - always afraid I'll mess something up, and even worse, that I won't be able to get back online for help. Think it's safe? Have to access it in that area between a reboot and Windows.

I had similar thoughts about not restoring any registry items - it would probably just confuse the issues.

The problems started March 6th, and I can almost pinpoint the time because in my post to another forum I mentioned that they'd started 3 hours earlier. Course, the actual causing event may have occurred hours or even the day before.

I thought of doing a system restore a day or two after the problems started, but when I accessed it, it was turned off. I also thought about using my Norton GoBack, but it was inexplicably empty.

I'm using Windows XP - sp2

Security: Ad-Aware, MS Antispyware, ewido anti-malware, Norton Antivirus, and Kerio Personal Firewall. The first thing I did was a full scan using each program, as well as a couple of online scans. Came out clean, which I figured would happen. I'd rather have a bug. <_<

Just now when I was looking for a log, I found a loose file in Local Settings > Application Data. The type of file is "Configuration Settings" and there's not much info. The name is a bunch of capital letters, dashes and numbers, and under "view" it shows "Root Entry", followed by lots of capital letters that don't spell anything, with lots of rows of "y"s, also. That's followed by another grouping that looks the same, then towards the bottom there's small letters and symbols, along with the abbreviations "auds" and "vids" and rows of "y"s. That's followed by another grouping that's very similar, if not identical. The "created" date is Feb 23 and the "modified" date is Mar 3.

Another application someone linked me to was Lavalys Everest Home Edition - a diagnostics program. I ran it again either this morning or yesterday, but can't find it. Will keep looking.

EDIT: ok, ran another scan with Everest. I sure hope that if there's a problem that they spell it out like: ERROR, or YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH... because there's no way I could figure it out in amongst 1-2MB of data that it spits out. So - assuming they spell it out, then I have no problems with computer, motherboard, display, multimedia, storage, network, directX, devices or benchmark testing of memory. oh, one thing I'm unsure of, at the end it had a small section titled "DEBUG - VIDEO BIOS", and then one more line titled "DEBUG - UNKNOWN", and then under it: Monitor EMC0309: Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]. Does that mean there's a problem? That would make some sense based on an error I got on the first day this all started: "Warning - Event Source: PlugPlayManager The service "CiSvc" vetoed a target device change request.

sonsie

Are you in a hurry with this? You could just try a few steps at a time.

I would suggest to do a sfc /scannow before doing anything else. It will check all of your system files, and if any of them are corrupted or missing it will replace them.

Have your installation CD ready, but don't insert it until prompted to do so.

start > run > (type) cmd.exe > (click) ok > at the command prompt type: sfc /scannow (there is a space after sfc)

Are you comfortable with starting out this way? Or do you want to jump right in? It's up to you.

Keep us posted! :)

P.S. I love your signature. ;)

Holy crap! Sounds like we have plenty of issues to address!

?kerio personal firewall ? GUI cannot connect to service? (only sporadically and only tvguide. Never had a problem before)

Before when? When it was still on the old computer, or when you first got the new computer?

System has performed 2 dumps of 535MB each within 1 day (about a week ago)

Ouch! However, that shouldn't actually be alarming, because you have your computer set to do a complete memory dump, instead of just a small or kernel memory dump. So theoretically, every time your computer crashes, Windows will write a half-gig of info as a .dmp file. If you have frequent crashes (which apparently you do) you may want to set your dump to small for the time being, so that your HD doesn't fill up with those. To do that, right-click My Computer, select Properties, click the Advanced tab, click Settings (under Startup and Recovery), and under Write debugging information, change Complete Memory Dump to Small Memory Dump. That will speed up your recovery from crashes, and not consume a bunch of HD.

...Computer won?t perform a check disk on C. Get a popup saying ?Windows was unable to complete the disk check.?

When I tried to run one with Fix-It, it ran, but said I needed to run a chkdsk with F (which windows wouldn't do). I tried again today and it said "Unable to access disk"...

...file system structure on disk is corrupt and unusable; please run chkdsk (but it won't run one)

Error code 000000d1, parameter1 c0300000, parameter2 000000ff, parameter3 00000000, parameter4 19a91096

The server {72C2714F...} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

application event log errors: can't unload registry files

content scan could not be completed on C (getting this one at regular intervals)

Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper. Bought this computer in mid-December and kept an old HD which went out in mid-January, so I replaced it, so I now have a HD 3 mos old and one 2 mos old. Is it possible that there's a problem with configuration (on 2 separate computers) that's causing HDs or motherboards to be going bad quickly (if that's what's happening)? The actual day-to-day functioning - opening documents, being online, etc. - is, in general, ok.

And here is where things get nasty. I would highly doubt this is due to software problems, even though it would seem that way. It honestly sounds like a major hardware failure, either in you mobo or hard drive(s). What company are the HDs and mobo? Also, what company is the entire computer? And please don't say Dell...

I am assuming that your HDs are lettered C: and F:, correct? Which one contains your OS? Is either of the drives partitioned? And if so, are the potentially failing drives both actually just a single partitioned drive?

Also, is it worth putting back the registry items that I've deleted since Mar 6 and risk muddying the waters?

sonsie

I wouldn't if I were you. You can try, but don't expect anything good to happen. I doubt it will hurt anything, but any registry cleaner you use thereafter will probably just refind them and remove them again.

Make sure to let us know what you find out!

Hiya krit86lr,

Sounds like a plan. No, I'm not in any hurry as long as it's still running.

I don't know what an sfc /scannow is, but you gave clear directions so I won't worry about it.

Just a heads-up...there's another post after yours, and I was seeing if this forum site was different and would allow me to reply right after yours, but before the next one, so I clicked on the "add reply" that was attached to your post. Nope, it won't allow that, but it did bring your post up as if I'd written it, and I suspect I could have edited it or anything else. Didn't know if anyone would want to know.

ok, will answer the next post, then try that scan.

LOL yeah...I love that sig line, too! I can just picture a bunch of chubby little cells hanging out partying, bragging, daring and double-daring... and before you know it, someone dares someone else to become John Doe and *pooof* - earth has a new human! :lol:

I'll let you know how the scan turns out.

sonsie

Sounds good. The sfc /scannow will scan all of your system files. It will compare those files to the files on your installation CD, and if anything is missing or corrupt it will replace it with a fresh file off of the CD.

I'm hoping that your chkdsk works after this. Don't forget to reboot (take the CD out before rebooting). And try a chkdsk /r (space after chkdsk) from the command prompt.

After all of that is done you can move on to some of lokoike's suggestions/questions. His suggestions are good even if the chkdsk ends up working.

Remember that you have more things to do. Just trying to get you started here. ;) Make sure that you're the administrator too, okay?

i'll be back in a few...too freaklin frustrated

i'll be back in a few...too freaklin frustrated

Okay. But feel free to vent. ;)

This is why I hate doing procedures I've never done before. They look easy, are straighforward, good directions, but for some damned reason they don't work for me. Then I'm stuck in a situation where I have to wing it, but I don't have the necessary knowledge to wing it and if I wing it wrong I could screw everything up.

I ordered the scan, and it asked for the files, so I put in the CD. It took about 45 minutes (!!) to transfer them. Shortly after they started, a big blue windows window popped up asking what I wanted to do. I didn't know...didn't expect that. I chose 'perform a task' or something, went to the second page and thought no...this isn't what I want, so I exited the window. When the files finished, I again typed in the command, and it again asked for the files! So I came back here and started writing a post. Then it occurred to me that maybe I needed to remove the CD, so I left this site and tried that. Nope, still wants files transferred. And it let me exit the cmd screen, but the window asking about the files wouldn't go away - kept saying are you sure? You might have to insert the CD later. I kept saying yes. Even a ctrl, alt, del wouldn't get rid of them. So I came back here to finish the post, with the window in the middle of the screen cuz it wouldn't go under this window. Finally finished my post, clicked on 'add reply', and it took forever and when the screen finally changed, I got a 'page cannot be displayed'. I tried to back up, but my post was gone.

So I left, restarted the computer, and here I am.

I'm sorry I didn't answer your message, I've never used them and didn't see a "respond" button.

sonsie

It sounds like your system is set to autorun the CD. Is that what's happening? Is the CD immediately starting to run setup when you put it in?

maybe, but i didn't put it in until i was asked for it. and even then, i tried it with no CD after it asked for files again...there was no CD in and it should have recognized that the files were all there. right?

maybe, but i didn't put it in until i was asked for it. and even then, i tried it with no CD after it asked for files again...there was no CD in and it should have recognized that the files were all there. right?

Kind of, but it wants to compare the files on your computer with the files on the CD in order to make sure that they are clean files.

Edit: I will be back in 5 minutes.

ok, I see what you mean. hmmm...then it wasn't even coming close to what I asked it to do. As soon as I hit 'enter' after the scan order, it said it would need files for .dll. I put in the CD, and it copied them, which it shouldn't have done if I understand correctly.

btw, not sure how much longer I'll last. Once I get frustrated without getting that reward of being able to do what I set out to do on the computer, the frustration level doesn't go down and I know I might as well do something else. I'd like to get this scan if possible, tho.

I lived NW of Springfield on a small farm for about 5 yrs. :)

btw #2...we're getting 11-14 inches of snow tonight on top of the 4-5 we got today - so I have time. LOL

'nother edit...if this were you, and your computer was still under warranty, would you go through these investigating procedures? or just take it in to the shop?

ok, I see what you mean. hmmm...then it wasn't even coming close to what I asked it to do. As soon as I hit 'enter' after the scan order, it said it would need files for .dll. I put in the CD, and it copied them, which it shouldn't have done if I understand correctly.

btw, not sure how much longer I'll last. Once I get frustrated without getting that reward of being able to do what I set out to do on the computer, the frustration level doesn't go down and I know I might as well do something else. I'd like to get this scan if possible, tho.

I lived NW of Springfield on a small farm for about 5 yrs. :)

btw #2...we're getting 11-14 inches of snow tonight on top of the 4-5 we got today - so I have time. LOL

'nother edit...if this were you, and your computer was still under warranty, would you go through these investigating procedures? or just take it in to the shop?

It sounds like it was doing it correctly. Try doing it this way, to stop the setup. If you have 2 drives, make sure that the CD is the drive that you used to install your OS. That's the path that it will look for.

1. Locate your Windows XP CD, and place it in the CD-ROM drive. When prompted what to do, choose Exit. Close any other open programs.

2. Open the command prompt window by typing cmd or cmd.exe in the run box > click OK.

3. At the command prompt, type sfc /scannow (space after sfc). Press Enter or Return on the keyboard.

4.Wait while the process completes. Don't do anything while the verification is taking place.

OK, but what do I do when it's done transferring/copying the files? I just started it (and quit to come back here) and it did the same thing where it started copying. And before, when it was done, I again typed in sfc /scannow and it again asked for the files.

OK, but what do I do when it's done transferring/copying the files? I just started it (and quit to come back here) and it did the same thing where it started copying. And before, when it was done, I again typed in sfc /scannow and it again asked for the files.

When it is done, reboot your computer. That's it. Don't type it in again.

btw, not sure how much longer I'll last. Once I get frustrated without getting that reward of being able to do what I set out to do on the computer, the frustration level doesn't go down and I know I might as well do something else. I'd like to get this scan if possible, tho.

You said that it did finish once, right? Then you did it already. ;)

I lived NW of Springfield on a small farm for about 5 yrs. :)

Springfield, MO or IL? You're a farm boy.... ;)

btw #2...we're getting 11-14 inches of snow tonight on top of the 4-5 we got today - so I have time. LOL

'nother edit...if this were you, and your computer was still under warranty, would you go through these investigating procedures? or just take it in to the shop?

Well because I think that computers are fun I would keep investigating. :lol:

Seriously though, you can try working on it a little while you're snowed in...but if lokoike is correct then the computer will need to go back to the shop regardless of what you do. You could use this opportunity to become a little more comfortable and familiar with your computer. Again, though...personal choice.

Added Note: If sfc /scannow was difficult then stay far away from the Recovery Console. You won't get through it. I don't want you to get locked out of your computer or something crazy while you're snowed in. :P