Registry defragmentation killed Windows 7?

Hi,

You seem to have had 2 problems - bad sectors- which you think you have now fixed, and a corrupted registry.

You may be able to use the file transfer Wizard on the Paragon Boot disc to replace the corrupt registry hives.

In "C:\Windows\System32\config" you will see these hives:

Components
Default
Sam
Security
Software
System

Try replacing those with the hives of the same name from:

"C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack"

Oh, thank you for the trick, I'm gonna try it!

Originally Posted by SIW2

Hi,

You seem to have had 2 problems - bad sectors- which you think you have now fixed, and a corrupted registry.

You may be able to use the file transfer Wizard on the Paragon Boot disc to replace the corrupt registry hives.

In "C:\Windows\System32\config" you will see these hives:

Components
Default
Sam
Security
Software
System

Try replacing those with the hives of the same name from:

"C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack"

It worked!!!

I copied all the files from "C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack" into "C:\Windows\System32\config", reboot the computer, selected "Start Windows normally" and it worked!
Well some things are weird, like the last applications I installed are not recognized (like Kaspersky Internet Security 2010) but it works!

Thanks a lot for the trick!
It saved a lot of time

Originally Posted by Drew

Ok, so I won't say it out loud...

Stay away from reg (cleaning) tools & wonder-drug utilities the boost your computer's performance!!

I'm sorry to say but, from what I've read here... format & re-install your OS. Save time & mucking about & frustration. Redo it.

Drew

The problem with that is - he has already said he thinks the key he has will only activate once.

It worked!!!

I copied all the files from "C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack" into "C:\Windows\System32\config", reboot the computer, selected "Start Windows normally" and it worked!
Well some things are weird, like the last applications I installed are not recognized (like Kaspersky Internet Security 2010) but it works!

Thanks a lot for the trick!
It saved a lot of time

You're welcome.

The hives you copied from Regback are not necessarily all that up to date - so you may need to reinstall a couple of things - and perhaps windows update will re offer a couple of things, too.

Much better than reinstalling in your situation.

Glad it helped.

Spooky,

Especially as you have a one time activation key, you must make backup images of the o/s partition.

When you have it running properly again, d/l the free edition of Macrium Reflect. Install it. Run off the rescue disc ( Select the linux option - put a blank cd-r in the drive - do not format it - then it will burn a little version of itself to the cd. You boot that and restore the backup image, if needed).

Make a backup image image of the o/s partition and save it - preferably to an external HD.

If you don't have another HD, use windows disk management to create another partition at the the end of your drive and store the image there.

Make a new image image every so often to keep it up to date ( I do it every week) - you can delete the old ones to save space.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Originally Posted by SIW2

The problem with that is - he has already said he thinks the key he has will only activate once.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by SIW2

Spooky,

Especially as you have a one time activation key, you must make backup images of the o/s partition.

...

Oh, thanks for the advice, I'll do it!
I tried the Windows Back-up option as soon as I recovered my Windows, but it didn't work...
I tried with many options, on many supports (DVD, USB, Network), default or custom back-up, none of them worked...
Well, I'll try again and use the Macrium Reflect one anyway.

Originally Posted by SIW2

Much better than reinstalling in your situation.

Glad it helped.

Yeah definitely much better! In a few minutes I went back to my last configuration.

Yes, I am not convinced by Windows backup - think it's safer to use Macrium - quicker, too.