Corrupt Registry

[Jonathan_King]

If you do a clean or custom install on top of an existing Windows installation, it will create the Windows.old folder, regardless of whether it was booted from or run from Windows.

 

[seekermeister]

I've done two clean installs, one on each of my rigs, and on the first, there was a Windows.old folder, but on the other rig, there was not. Of course, in neither case was their a preexisting OS involved.

 

[Jonathan_King]

I done two clean installs, one on each of my rigs, and on the first, there was a Windows.old folder, but on the other rig, there was not. Of course, in neither case was their a preexisting OS involved.

That would make sense. The Windows.old folder will only be created if a new OS is installed on top of another existing installation. The Windows.old folder will not be created during an upgrade.

 

[Agri]

Guys, I have made an interesting development. I thought I would have one last shot at trying to fix the mess, so here is what I did.

I burned Ubuntu to a DVD
Booted into the Live CD
Navigated on Ubuntu to Windows/System32/Config/RegBack , in there there were files: SYSTEM, SECURITY, SAM and DEFAULT. They were all dated December 24th - before the problem occured.
So, I overwrote the files SYSTEM, SECURITY, SAM and DEFAULT in Windows/System32/Config with the above (still using Ubuntu)
I rebooted and magically found that I can now boot into Safe Mode (Y).



With a little more reading I found that Windows peridocially backs up the registry to that folder. So these must be registry backups from before it became corrupted.

Currently I am in Safe Mode burning many DVD's, I think I will still just reinstall but at least I have the important files incase Windows.old fails to create.

I will inform of how it all goes.

 

[seekermeister]

I did have a Windows.old folder on the primary installation, and it wasn't an upgrade install, nor was it installed on top of anything. However, the folder was empty, except a recycle bin file.

 

[Jonathan_King]

I did have a Windows.old folder on the primary installation, and it wasn't an upgrade install, nor was it installed on top of anything. However, the folder was empty, except a recycle bin file.

Interesting. In that case, it is a glitch or goof of Windows. At least the folder was created. I will have to keep my eyes open for that.

 

[1Bowtie]

I did a clean install over a dual boot of XP and Win 7 RC and there was no Windows.old folder period.

Smitty

 

[Jonathan_King]

I did a clean install over a dual boot of XP and Win 7 RC and there was no Windows.old folder period.

Smitty

Funny. Did you format at all? If you installed over XP, it might not create the folder. I don't know.

 

[1Bowtie]

I did a clean install over a dual boot of XP and Win 7 RC and there was no Windows.old folder period.

Smitty

Funny. Did you format at all? If you installed over XP, it might not create the folder. I don't know.

The format is done when you do a clean install, it wipes it clean then installs the os.

Smitty

 

[Agri]

What I did here allowed me to access the normal desktop, although I could tell that Windows was damaged (no icons on desktop for a start).

I managed to retrieve all my important files (with a little help from my ipod as a mass storage device lol, 1.5 hours to burn one dvd!).

I am going to reformat and reinstall, fingers crossed I have everything of importance.

Thanks again for the help,

 

[Dwarf]

Good luck with the reinstallation. Any problems, you know where to find us. We're only too happy to help.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you retrieved your files, hope now that you do a formatted install from booted Win7 DVD using Custom>Drive Options.

Get it even cleaner by using DBAN to nuke the HD, get that Reg Cleaner infection off the platter.

 

[Agri]

Yeah I used a bootable disk to take everything off the disk.

Well thats it sorted now and reinstalled, took ages and is finally done.

Lesson of this story - always keep a repair disk and backup.

Cheers for the help,