Hello

I've been having a bit of trouble with my computer recently and have been trying to ignore it, hoping it would sort itself out, but no such luck. I am having the repeated message on start up "One of the files containing the systems registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy"

The computer occaisionally throws up a blank screen as if it is going to shut off and sometimes does. I installed a registry fix program which doesn't appear to have done any good. I have had a few error reports that I don't understand on start up and the latest thing is that the "found new hardware wizard" is coming up when I start up but I haven't installed any new hardware.

All in all I've got myself a poorly computer and I would be grateful for some help in bringing it back to full health.

Thanks in advance

Red

I don’t think that System Restore will do you any good at the moment, but you can try a repair install of Windows which should take care of the entire corrupted system files problem that you’re having at the moment. Make sure to back up any files that are important on this machine before you do anything just to be on the safe side.

Oooh, thanks, I'll give it a go!

Hello Welshred,

Personally I wouldn't use Registry cleaners as you can have more problems after using them than you had before. CCleaner would be the only one I would advise set at the following settings:

Please open CCleaner and confirm that it is set up as follows
From the menu on the left select Options
Now select Advanced. On the right remove the check against Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours.
Select Cookies. When CCleaner is run it will remove all of the cookies in the left window; if there are cookies that you wish to retain then select them and transfer them to the right window. Multiple selections can be made by holding down the Ctrl key before selecting.
Select Cleaner from the left menu and the Windows tab
Under Internet Explorer place ticks in all but the last box
Under Windows Explorer tick the last two only
Under System tick all boxes
There is no need to tick anything under Advanced
Click on Analyse

I would also suggest you do the following as I feel you are missing files from Windows XP/SP2 OS assuming you are running it. The following exercise cannot hurt, in fact it should be run from time to time.

Keep us posted how you go.

Backup/archive/copy

To be on the safe side I strongly recommend that before doing anything at all you check that your back up/archive/copy of all your important data, drivers, files, settings, work, etc is 100% up to date accurate and reproducible, (even if your back up is even only a day or so out of date, it's worth updating it now.)
Also don't forget to check that you have all your application Installation CD's to hand together with the product keys (including those for Windows itself)

Windows Protected System File Checker SFC

Start>Run
type: sfc /scannow (note the space between c /)
Have your Win XP installation disc handy as if damaged files are found they will need to be copied across from your disc, if SFC can't find correct copies elsewhere.

Windows XP Installation disc not available or wrong Service Pack - SP1 when SP2 is needed

There are work- arounds to this problem but the easiest, by far is to borrow one and use that. It is perfectly OK to do this, for the purposes of running SFC,and if you ask around all your friends, you are likely to find someone who will be able to help you out.
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SFC no disc, no friends able to help.
Well you will need to do it the harder way and as a registry edit will be required it is essential that you back up your registry before you do anything else. Then in the event of trouble it will be easier to repair your registry. Download ERUNT from here: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/erunt.html and take a moment to familiarise yourself with the programme and how to repair your registry with it if it should become necessary. At the same time it would be wise to create a System Restore point, post back here if you need instructions on how to do this.

For the alterations needed to run SFC If you go here http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html you will find detailed instructions on the copying of files and the system changes you need to make. When you have followed all the instructions, reboot your machine and try to run SFC again, and please let us know how you go.
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do an xp repair, the first screen asks you to press enter / r OR f3 press r for repair , xp will ask you for administrator password and then which operating system (1 for xp) then type next to the comand you want (chkdsk /p /r) enter, let it finish then restart your pc