How to Restore Registry in Windows XP

Sometimes you are prompted or notified by the system that your registry entries are damaged, corrupt or deleted. This article explains how to restore registry in windows XP system that is corrupt and is not starting the OS. After using this method, you should be capable of recovering data but this method does not assure full recovery of the computer to a previous state..

Before starting the method, you should now some important things. These are:

  • In case your computer has an OEM installed OS, then you should not use this method. The system file on OEM installations creates user accounts and passwords that never existed previously.
  • On using this method, it is possible that you may not be able to login back into recovery console and hence you could not restore original registry hives. It is possible to restore and repair corrupt registry in Windows XP.
  • When the registry files get corrupted, it can possibly cause different error messages to occur. For information on error messages relating to corrupt registry can be obtained on Microsoft’s website.

Before describing the method, I assume that typical restoration procedures proved to be a failure and the only method to gain access to system is left with the Recovery Console. The preferred method of recovery is to use Automatic System Recovery (ASR) if it has the back up.

Manual steps for recovering a corrupted registry which prevents Windows XP from starting:

  • This method uses System Restore and Recovery Console to restore system registry. Required steps are listed in the following write up. They are given in the specific order to ensure full completion of the process.
  • After finishing the procedure, the system is restored to a point that was close enough to the state of the system before the registry went corrupted. I suggest you to run NTBackup first and then follow this procedure.
  • Initialize recovery Console; make a temporary folder, save the current registry files to a new location by backing it up.
  • Now delete the registry files from the current location and copy registry files from repair folder to System32àConfig folder.
  • A new registry will be created after you have finished with the method and you can start Windows XP.
  • This registry was actually created during initial installation of Windows XP. So any settings or changes that took place after the setup is finished will be lost.

To complete this procedure, follow the steps given below:

  1. Insert Windows XP Setup CD into optical drive. Now restart your computer. To start boot from CD, press any key on your keyboard to boot from CD when prompted.
  2. A “Welcome To Setup” screen will appear. Push R to initialize Recovery Console.
  3. If more than one operating system is installed on your computer, then you will have to select the Operating System whose registry needs to be repaired or restored.
  4. After selecting the Operating System, type the administrator password if any, else leave it blank and hit Enter.
  5. Type the lines listed below without double quotes and hit enter after typing each line in the Recovery Console Command Prompt.

“md tmp”
“copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak”
“copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak”
“copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak”
“copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak”
“copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak”
“delete c:\windows\system32\config\system”
“delete c:\windows\system32\config\software”
“delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam”
“delete c:\windows\system32\config\security”
“delete c:\windows\system32\config\default”
“copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system”
“copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software”
“copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam”
“copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security”
“copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default”

To quit the Recovery Console, type exit and your system will restart.

The thing that you should make note of is that, in this article I assume that Windows XP is installed in C:\Windows. If not then change the location to an appropriate windows folder.

In the end, go to Startà click All Programs. Click on Accessories, move to system tools, then click on System restore and click on Restore to a previous Restore Point.

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