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1. The first thing to try is a restore to the Last Known Good Configuration by tapping F8 when switching on. If this doesn’t work, try returning the computer to a previous point in time by booting from the Vista DVD, answer a few questions, select repair then System Restore. If this doesn’t work, try running chkdsk /r from the CMD prompt.
2. The main registry hives (not Current User) are located in \Windows\System32\config. There are six files, named; COMPONENTS, DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE and SYSTEM. This set of files form the registry that is loaded when the computer is booted, i.e. the corrupted set in your case.
3. If you are unable to boot using 1 above, the machine is useless. However, before you reinstall Vista, try copying the whole set of 6 files from the backup set, located at \Windows\System32\config\RegBack. Also in the RegBack folder is another backup which represents the registry as at the previous boot - recognised by having an extension of OLD.
4. What you have to do is boot the Vista DVD, answer a few questions, select repair then select CMD prompt. Now rename the 6 files in \config to .old and copy the 6 files from \RegBack to \config.
If you don’t have a Vista DVD you can download and create a Recovery Disk (32-bit x86 or 64-bit x64) here http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/ After downloading the ISO image to your hard disk, burn it to a CD (a DVD is not necessary as the 32-bit version is 120MB and the 64-bit version is 148MB).
Last edited by BurrWalnut; 29th May 2009 at 14:43.
