Registry Erased

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

Help, I downloaded a registry cleaner only instead it wiped out my whole registry. I think it was a rogue. Anyhow when I start up my Windows 7 I can log in to my desktop but nothing works. All the shortcuts look like blank file icons, as well with all the shortcuts in the taskbar. Even when I click on Control Panel, or my computer I get this message, "File is not recognized would you like windows to remove this" something like that. I tried using recovery windows by pressing F11, I tried the windows automatic repair twice, it didn't work, I went to use a system restore point, but I never had set one. Is there any way I can get my pc with all the files it had hopefully on it? I have the windows installation disc, which I burned that I downloaded off of the MicroSoft RiverDigital website. Can I possibly use? Please help anyone. Also, I went to the official microsoft website but I can't access their support because you need the 20 digit authentication #, and the only way you can get that is if through control panel. But I can't because of my situation, but I have my Order#,Custom#, and product key. What are my options should I take it to a PC shop to get it fixed.

Product FRED · Mar 21, 2010

bishop101 said:
Help, I downloaded a registry cleaner only instead it wiped out my whole registry. I think it was a rogue. Anyhow when I start up my Windows 7 I can log in to my desktop but nothing works. All the shortcuts look like blank file icons, as well with all the shortcuts in the taskbar. Even when I click on Control Panel, or my computer I get this message, "File is not recognized would you like windows to remove this" something like that. I tried using recovery windows by pressing F11, I tried the windows automatic repair twice, it didn't work, I went to use a system restore point, but I never had set one. Is there any way I can get my pc with all the files it had hopefully on it? I have the windows installation disc, which I burned that I downloaded off of the MicroSoft RiverDigital website. Can I possibly use? Please help anyone. Also, I went to the official microsoft website but I can't access their support because you need the 20 digit authentication #, and the only way you can get that is if through control panel. But I can't because of my situation, but I have my Order#,Custom#, and product key. What are my options should I take it to a PC shop to get it fixed.

Yes, you can move your files off fairly easily, but you'll need to reinstall unless you made a backup of the registry beforehand. Just download any Linux live CD, such as Ubuntu or something smaller and you'll be able to access your harddrive. There are registry editors that work outside your Windows installation, but I don't think they'll be of much use in this case. Do you remember the name of the program you used?

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

Thanks, for the response. The program was called Clean My Computer something like that. How would that work moving the files? I've never used Linux before but I'm confident I could use it. I have an external hard drive as well so would I be able to backup my files there? And regarding Linux what would it do exactly, will it allow me to access my hard drive, or will I install it like an operating systeM? Also my PC has two 300GB internal hard drives. On one I had my windows OS installed on it, the other was just used for storing, is it safe to assume my second hard drive will be left intact as it had no OS, or applications installed on it. Once again thanks a lot. Where do I download Linux?

MilesAhead · Mar 21, 2010

If you haven't yet tried "last known good" follow these instructions:
Using Last Known Good Configuration

If it doesn't work you should still be able to boot a rescue CD to get your files off.

For future reference it's good to back up your registry using the free ERUNT program. Just google for it.

SIW2 · Mar 21, 2010

You will find it easier to use this free app. to copy your data off FREE Rescue Kit Express | PARAGON Software Group - free partition ...

Boot the Paragon cd, select Normal Mode>File transfer Wizard.

whs · Mar 21, 2010

Here is a good guide on how to do that with Linux: Computer First Aid Using Knoppix
But next time you should really put your data into a seperate data partition: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72427-data-partition.html

tbplayer · Mar 21, 2010

Knoppix is the first "Live" Linux distro that comes to mind, and it can read NTFS partitions. Just download the iso and burn it to a CD. Attach your external drive and boot to the CD - you should be able to use the Knoppix file manager to transfer your files.

Does System Restore work when the registry has been hosed?

Product FRED · Mar 21, 2010

Also, the only registry cleaner you will really need and can trust is CCleaner's registry cleaner feature, which will create a backup before touching anything. It will also free up space on your hard drive by scanning for and deleting unused and unwanted data.

whs · Mar 21, 2010

Product FRED said:
Also, the only registry cleaner you will really need and can trust is CCleaner's registry cleaner feature, which will create a backup before touching anything. It will also free up space on your hard drive by scanning for and deleting unused and unwanted data.

Even better is no registry cleaner at all.

tbplayer · Mar 21, 2010

Product FRED said:
Also, the only registry cleaner you will really need and can trust is CCleaner's registry cleaner feature, which will create a backup before touching anything.

EasyCleaner is another app that can be trusted and worked great under WinXp. Under Win7/Vista it needs to be configured to run as administrator to work properly.

seekermeister · Mar 21, 2010

bishop101 said:
Thanks, for the response. The program was called Clean My Computer something like that. How would that work moving the files? I've never used Linux before but I'm confident I could use it. I have an external hard drive as well so would I be able to backup my files there? And regarding Linux what would it do exactly, will it allow me to access my hard drive, or will I install it like an operating systeM? Also my PC has two 300GB internal hard drives. On one I had my windows OS installed on it, the other was just used for storing, is it safe to assume my second hard drive will be left intact as it had no OS, or applications installed on it. Once again thanks a lot. Where do I download Linux?

I think that what you are referring to is Clean My PC, which I have also. It is not a rogue, but I did have a situation like your's when I first started using W7. It listed far more problem keys than it should have, and despite the fact that I knew better, I went ahead and let it clean them.

I had to do a fresh install, but I have continued using that program since without incident. I have no idea of what happened, but apparently it can go quite haywire. That is why I now monitor what it wants to do very closely and I have it make a backup of the registry periodically.

When it works, it works well, and when it works badly, it works very badly. Caveat Emptor.

Product FRED · Mar 21, 2010

What I was saying was just download and burn Ubuntu to a CD, and when you boot into it, enter Live-CD mode which will allow you to use it without installing it. There's no learning curve. It has an explorer-like interface (Gnome) with Windows and such.

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

Thanks a lot to all. I did make a backup files of the registry folders before running the program, but I wasn't able to get to them even after I logged in because like I said before, nothing on my desktop worked. I exported them to my drive C in .reg form.

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

I just tried the last configuration and that didn't work. Trying other options, will report later.

MilesAhead · Mar 21, 2010

bishop101 said:
I just tried the last configuration and that didn't work.

That's too bad. With ERUNT there's a readme that explains how to use a boot disc to get at the ERDNT folder inside the Windows folder(where ERUNT stores the backups.)

The readme is a bit complex but basically inside each backup folder is a dos command to restore the registry. If you have Windows running, you just double click it. But if you boot a CD it explains how to adjust the driver letter settings in the batch file so that the backup will be put back in the right place.

Many of the BartPE type discs have an ERUNT rescue setup already on them.

Another good thing to have is an image backup program like Macrium Reflect or another similar. If you can't boot or your registry is totally hosed, you boot the CD and restore from a backup image. I make at least 3 or 4 images a week so if I have to restore I only lose a couple of days worth of tweaks and installs. It's easy with external USB drives. Just start it going and make a sandwich.

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

I looked into ERUNT, so if I download the program It will make a boot disc that I can use to "rebuild" my registry? I think I might have done something similar a while back I remember writing dos type command lines. After reading I'm considering using Knoppixx to get my files back then possibly using erunt to fix the registry. If that fails at least I might get my files back with Knoppix before doing a clean install of windows 7.

Product FRED · Mar 21, 2010

Wait wait wait, since you have the file, you can restore it from command prompt (recovery console)! Follow Option 2, Method 2: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4230-registry-backup-restore.html. If you can't do it through command prompt, I have some specific Linux distros that can be run from a CD that specifically deal with registry editing.

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

I exported all 4 folders and I named them the same I just typed _(backup) to the ending, and their in my C drive. Which one do I pick all of them?

bishop101 · Mar 21, 2010

OK so using Knippox I was able to access the registry files I exported, moved them to my external hard drive to use on my other pc. I saved each HKEY file; CLASSES, USERS, CONFIG all five. SO then do I merge all 5 rename it Registry Backup.reg then put it back in my sick pc and use the command prompt regedit /s command line?

Also I never got the web browser when I ussed Knippox instead it was like a BIOS type interface.

But for now I can move my files to my external hard drive.

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