System Restore fails to copy registry

P

Phrosen

New Member
Hi.

I am trying to fix my friend's computer. (Normally I would just format C: and re-install Windows, but this time I'm also trying to save her pictures that's on the harddrive.)

The computer always crashes when Windows is loading. And sends me to 'Startup Repair'.
I have tried all the options and none works.
I tried "Windows Memory Diagnostics" and it reaches 100% and reboots - I never get to see any results, though. I assume it's working, and that the computer crashes after the reboot.

When trying System Restore I get an error message saying "failed to copy registry".
I have tried several different restore points. Same thing each time.

I googled for the error message and found this thread:
System Restore not restoring, help needed
I wanted to try it out, but I can't reach the command prompt.

I haven't got any CD with the Vista OS on.
I do have an old XP lying around, though.

Specs:
Compaq Presario CQ60 - Not sure which model. It has an AMD Athlon CPU and ATI Radeon GPU, though.
Windows Vista Basic - probably x86

Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

If you don't have a disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer).

Try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or if safe mode also crashes, do so from the command prompt on the disk). Then let's check some of your system files:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator (you can skip this step if using the disk).

If using the disk, cd to C:\Windows\System32. Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. Try to attach the report (you may need to copy it to your desktop before it will permit you to attach it) here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk (unless there are too many). Note the special command to create the results .txt file from the CBS.LOG. The log itself is too long to read and analyze, but the text file is manageable. You may need to copy the file to your desktop to be able to attach it your next post.

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart. Answer yes and then reboot to run the program. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause. This may take some time. I'll want to know exactly how much corruption it found and if it fixed it all.

You can tne try to boot and see if it works. If not, try to boot into safe mode with networking and see if that works.

I hope this helps. If not, post back with the results and the attached .txt file (and whether you could boot into safe mode) and we'll see what else we can do to resolve this problem. If you can get into safe mode, there are quite a few more tests we can run to track down and possibly identify and resolve the problem. If it gets to this point and you can't boot into safe mode either, it may require a re-installation, but I'm fairly certain we can first save all her important data so she won't lose anything of great value. I know several methods to do that and one of them is likely to work.

Good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive] Dell AIO Printer A940 Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem 6TO4 Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
I can't boot into safe mode.

I did manage to get into BIOS, though.
I ran a memory test and it finished 100% with no errors.

I also ran a hdd test, it failed at 0% with the code #1-07.
I'm guessing the harddrive is broken.
 

My Computer

System One

It sounds like you're right - but it still could be a software problem. How did you run the HDD test and using what tool? What is the manufacturer, make and model of the hard drive? Did you use the self-test in BIOS?

Let's try some other methods as that test and result could be both hardware and sofware-related (though most likely hardware - but it is possible and we want to be sure before spending money on a new drive when that may not be needed). You may need another computer to create the required boot disks.

Run the test from the following: http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html.

To test your hard drive, check the manufacturer and then get the diagnostic utility from: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/302602-hard-drive-diagnostic-utilities.html (and/or get one from your hard drive or computer manufacturer if they have one available – it wouldn’t hurt to try both). If it fails the test, replace it. If it passes the test, then there's probably nothing wrong with it.

Then we should know for sure if it is the hard drive or perhaps not.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive] Dell AIO Printer A940 Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem 6TO4 Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
I've edited my post to include more information, so please refresh the screen to see the additional tests I'd like you to try to confirm the hard disk is bad as there as small but possible chance it still may be software-related at this point.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive] Dell AIO Printer A940 Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem 6TO4 Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
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