Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
Can the registry be exported/captured as a file from a command prompt? I have a few other questions depending on the answer given to the first question. A Google search has provided mixed and unspecific results to my questions.
I have a few other questions depending on the answer given to the first question.
You're strange!
i_XpUser
0 
The command prompt in this case is after booting from a win98 boot disk equivalent so I was looking for a non-windows solution which I should have pointed that out in post #1. My problem is as the result of running a purchased but apparently ineffective version of NAV running on my wife's laptop. Either NAV or a quarantined virus screwed up my registry leaving me in a deactivated state of XP. I want to capture the registry (and all relevant components), scrub them and return them to service.
0
For all who normally post suggestions for these types of issues, good news....I found exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks!
0
I don't suppose you want to tell us what it is?
Larry
"Have no fear of perfection -- you'll never reach it."
Salvadore Dali
0
The previously evasive answer to my question was located at Easy Desk Software. I do not always expect to get direct hit answers here but many of the suggestions offered are inspirational. Why I was labeled strange remains beyond me. I know I ask some tough and unusual questions but I like to think and work outside the of the box.
0
BTW, getting the answer and solving the problem are not directly linked. I'm sure the answer lies in the registry, I just can't figure out exactly what changed and why? All I know is I enter my password and logon/logoff within seconds, synonimous with a deactivation.
0
You might be labeled as "strange" for statements like: "All I know is I enter my password and logon/logoff within seconds, synonimous with a deactivation."
What does that mean? You mean your Windows asks for activation as in registering with Microsoft again?
While you may flatter yourself as an "original and out of the box" type thinker, and there is nothing wrong with that, the rest of us are not mind readers.
We need as much info up front as possible as we don't like to answer a question that relies on a "answer given to the first question."
It's hard troubleshooting on a board like this. And many of us think outside the box all the time. We have to to try and second guess vague and confusing questions and come up with a reasonable response.
No one here gets paid for helping. We do it because we like to.
Please give us the courtesy of being as precise and clear as you can. Our heads already hurt from the craziness that is computers.
Larry
"Have no fear of perfection -- you'll never reach it."
Salvadore Dali
0
My using of this board is not designed to make things any more difficult than they already are. I agree that the PC world presents and endless flow of challenges, so much so that paper almost seems advanced at times. Having worked with technology for a long time and with all my knowledge, I am well aware that I do not have all the answers and am not expecting to, ever!
I do not think that highly of myself for attempting to solve a problem with extraordinary steps. I simply try to take a step back to gain a different perspective on the situation if my first try fails. Before I post I do a historical search on this site and use Google extensively, like everyone else. If a post requires clarification like many do, I am glad to provide additional detail if necessary.
I enjoy using this site, have learned a lot while doing so and have helped others myself in the past. PCs are fun, useful tools that can be quite frustrating, usually at the worst possible time.
Getting back to the laptop briefly, it boots fine but after entering my password it logs on/off in a split second. I once loaded XP Home for a client who decided not to activate the product and logon attempts behaved the same way. I am using what was at the time a brand new laptop which the Mrs. had just activated. Norton picked up a significant amount of garbage which went into quarantine. Ever since her last log-off we are unable to get back in. Something fudged up the registry and I want to fix the problem w/o reinstalling. No hardware was changed.
0
Hello everyone,
pt cruiser,
You will not be able to edit the registry from DOS.
I know of a way to edit the laptops registry from another computer but you would need a way to copy files, around 13MB from DOS.
Also the laptop would need to be using a FAT32 file system.
If you have an adapter that allows you to connect the laptop hard drive to a desktop computer, that would work also.
Best Regards,
Mesich
0
mesich,
The laptop wasn't part of a workgroup and I'll have to verify the FS (fat, ntfs). I have two choices available, a)use a crossover cable or better still b)boot with my knoppix cd and copy the files to my usb stick. What I wanted to do then was use a temporary host as an editing environment. Sounds complicated but it shouldn't be if planned properly.
0
Hello everyone,
pt cruiser,
Are you familiar with loading hives to the registry?
Best Regards,
Mesich
0
Hi pt cruiser,
Kinda, only when loading hives you don't overwrite the current registry on the computer you are using.
I have a couple of things I must do right quick but will explain the method I use when I return in about 30 minutes.
Best Regards,
Mesich
0
Hi pt cruiser,
Unlike Win98, which stores the registry into 2 files, user.dat and system.dat, WinXp stores it in hives.
They are stored within Windows\System32\config. The ones you are interested in are those without file extentions, System, Software, Security, Sam, and Default. You will also see the same names with the extention .sav and .log, but don't worry about these right now.
Copy those 5 from the laptop and put them into a directory other than Windows\System32\config.
Open the registry editor and highlight HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Click on File and Load Hive.
Browse to the location you copied the laptop hives from and select one of the hives.
After selecting one of the hives it will ask for a Key name, you can call this whatever you like, just remember which hive you opened.
You can now edit that new Key you created with the registry editor.
When finished editing select File and Export.
Next to Save as Type be sure to select Registry Hive Files [*.*].
Save it as the original hive name.
You can do this with all 5 hives and then copy them back to the laptop.
Once completed you can Unload the hives you previously loaded by highlighting them and selecting File and Unload Hive, just be sure it's one you previously loaded and not an original one for that machine.
Best Regards,
Mesich
0
Good morning Mesich & pt cruiser :-)
Mesich method WILL NOT WORK because your Windows is OEM-installed (HP). The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously.
If you try Mesich method, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives.
The only thing available to you is to use HP recovery CD to restore your Windows to factory state.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
i_XpUser
0
Good Morning XpUser,
That method Will Work.
The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously.
Correct, but he is not replacing the hives with those created during the install, only editing the currently used hives. I believe you are confusing the current hives with the ones located in c:\windows\repair\.
Best Regards,
Mesich
0
Ops I must have overlooked the distinction. Oh well I guess its time for my Starbucks break. Can you join me in 15 minutes :-)
i_XpUser
0
Starbucks sounds great. We'll have to meet down here, I just got a couple of computers dropped off to repair.Best Regards,
Mesich
0  |
 web links, media player c...
|
Use of CD-RW 
|
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
