Registry recovery error

[Dittosmom]

Every time I turn on and log in my computer for the last couple years I always get this message:

One of the files containing the systems registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was sucessful.

I have looked on multiple web sites to find some information on how to finally get rid of this and all I could find was computer speak that I had no clue how to change registry entires and someone else saying unless I knew what I was doing, messing with the registry was a bad idea.

Can anyone help me finally get this off my computer?
Thanks!

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[JJ 3000]

Do you have your XP CD?

[Dittosmom]

Yes I do, I tried that when it first happened to reinstall the CD but I didn't want to erase everything on my computer. So I chickened out and didn't do it.

[Broni]

What type of CD is it?

[dahlarbear]

Noticed your "Play Nancy Drew Games" link.  I really enjoyed the books (a long time ago...).

The "Shut down computer" link on your desktop...  Is that a standard Windows XP desktop link?  If not, tell us what's going on there.

[Dittosmom]

My computer came from Gateway, that should tell you how old it is.  I have a blue Operating system cd from gateway that says its Window XP Home Edition version 1.0.

The shut down icon on the front screen I forget to use anymore.  When I first got the computer I was enrolled in a Windows XP newsletter written from a woman, so long ago I don't remember her name and she would give hints and tips on using Windows XP one of her tips one week was how to have on your desktop and quicker route to shut down and reboot so I have those 2 on my desktop.  But the registry error occurred was after I did that.

I hope that helped 

P.S. Yes, Nancy Drew are still great books, my 2 younger girls enjoy the books and now the cd rom games.

[Broni]

Try Windows repair. It won't touch your data.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-repair-Windows-XP-t138.html

[dahlarbear]

For info only...   Just read the entire thread to gain insight on the thoughts of others:  Startup Registry Error Window
   
To read the entire thread use the "Next by Thread" and/or the "Follow-Ups" links.

[Dittosmom]

Arghhhhhhhhhhh!  That didn't work!  I followed the websites directions but they had professional Setup, I only have home edition.  It just installed Windows XP on my computer it didn't repair it and now I have 2 versions of it on my computer! I am trying not to hyperventilate here but it went from an annoying problem to now my computer will barely load anything.  How do I now get the extra Windows XP off my computer?  I can select which one I want to load the last time I logged in if I pick the top Windows XP Home Edition it is the new old one from the cd, if I arrow down to the bottom one it is the one I had yesterday before I tried the fix!

Any help would be appreciated!

[dahlarbear]

Arghhhhhhhhhhh!  That didn't work!  I followed the websites directions but they had professional Setup, I only have home edition.

1.  Which Link.  I'm assuming it was the "How-to-repair-Windows-XP" link.  This might actually be a good thing.  If you really have two copies of Windows XP installed (I hope they're on separate partitions), then with any luck the "original" installation hasn't been disturbed.  I don't know why they would load slow (both of them?) unless the hard drive has low free space.

2.  Error Message.
     a.  Ignoring the slowness, does the new installation from CD also present the "error message" you're trying to eliminate?
     b.  Has the "error message" always been present with the original Window XP?
     c.  And the "error message" began after the "Shutdown computer" link was added to the desktop?  Right away?

3.  Post contents of "boot.ini" file to this thread.  You may cut and paste content - just don't delete it.  (It's relatively easy to remove second Windows XP from operating system selection menu, but we need to know how/where it was installed to remove its installed files.)
     a.  "Start" Menu -> right click "My Computer" -> left click "Properties".
     b.  Left click "Advanced" tab -> within "Startup and Recovery" section, left click "Settings".
     c.  Within "System startup" section, left click "Edit" button.
     d.  Use cursor to select entire contents of edit box ("boot.ini" file).
     e.  Cut selected text (Ctrl-C), then paste to this thread (Ctrl-V).  Note:  Do not delete the original text.
     f.  Use "Cancel" button on "Startup and Recovery" and "System Properties" dialog boxes to back out of them.

[Dittosmom]

First off yes it was the repair XP link.  I printed the directions but it didn't give the messages that it was showing and before i could say stop it was installing windows xp again on my computer.  No its not on a different partition its on my c: drive along with the old one with the error message. 

Yes, the error message has disappeared on the new version but when I log on to the original it is still there. I am sure the slow loading is from free space being used up with 2 versions (my free space has been tricky for awhile since I have kids loading programs that use alot of space). 

My internet on that computer is not able to work properly now so I am using my laptop to respond
Here is what showed up on the boot.ini note pad screen:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition"/fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition"/fastdetect

I think that answered all the questions.  If not ask again.
Thanks! but Help!

[patio]

This means you didn't follow the instructions...
I've never had a Repair Install go bad.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Backup Data.  Good time to back up any "data" files you can't afford to lose.  I'm not comfortable with parallel operating system installations to same partition.

2.  Fresh Install.  Okay - the error message does not show up from new install.

3.  Which One.  The "boot.ini" indicates two operating systems installed on the same disk partition:  one to "c:\windows", another to "c:\winnt".

You may edit the identification strings "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" to whatever you want.  So carefully modify one (or both of them), so when you subsequently reboot, you can identify which one is installed where.

4.  Keep One.  After you decide which one to eliminate, edit the boot.ini file:
     a.  [boot loader] - Within this section, ensure the "directory name" at the end of the "default=..." string reflects the one you're keeping; either "WINDOWS" or "WINNT".

     b.  [operating systems] - Within this section, delete the line representing the operating system you no longer want.

     c.  Save the edits (by exiting with OK?).

Note:  If the file contains a single operating system invocation line within the [operating systems] section, the operating system selection menu will no longer display during system startup.

5.  Free Disk Space.  Reboot (should automatically boot to remaining entry in boot.ini).  Verify it's the right one.  (You have access to your important data).   Delete the "directory" subtree of the one you no longer want (c:\WINDOWS or c:\WINNT ?) to "free" the disk space.  Reboot, check free space on disk.

[Dittosmom]

Thanks sooooooo much for the help.  I found the new install and kept it since it was without the registry error.  No sense going to all this work if I didn't fix the initial problem.  I made sure I backed up on my external drive everything I wanted just in case.  It seems to work now I am just figuring out how to get my programs to automatically run that did before like Intgernet security and my wireless modem program.

So Thank you thank you!