Windows Registry

[Sceptical]

Hi Guys and Gals.
Been having loads of grief with BSOD's just lately, lots of different error codes.
After doing a few searches it looks as though i may have overdone the reg fix thing.
I have used RegCure and Advanced System Care thinking i am being very diligent, looks like i may have been a bit of a wotsit!
My main question is this, are parts of the registry seperate in each account on the same computer?
Reason i ask is i have tried to burn a avi file using Nero 7 but i seem to get a BSOD before it completes, i had a hunch about the registry so i tried burning the avi file in the guest account, it made it to the end without a BSOD leading me to think that my accounts registry is damaged.
If my hunch is right what can i do about it? if not, can i repair something i have bust?
Cheers

[BC_Programmer]

Hi Guys and Gals.
Been having loads of grief with BSOD's just lately, lots of different error codes.
After doing a few searches it looks as though i may have overdone the reg fix thing.
I have used RegCure and Advanced System Care

[/quote]

Oh dear.

Registry cleaners probably made your bad situation worse 

My main question is this, are parts of the registry seperate in each account on the same computer?

Ahh, indeed! Let me explain.

The registry is divided into several parts, called "hives" (for what reason we don't know). The main two hives are "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" and "HKEY_CURRENT_USER". Generally, User-specific settings are stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER (which, I might add is really just a "shortcut" to the right users key in HKEY_USERS, but I do ramble too much). Machine specific settings, such as Driver configuration and setup and so forth, as well as some program settings (usually defaults), are found in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

Now, the appropriate "user" hive data is stored in a hidden file called "NTUSER.DAT" in the users "my documents" folder.

So far, I think I've somewhat answered your question. Your suspicions, translated into this, are that your "user" hive file for that particular account is corrupted, I imagine. One possible route would be to create a new account and migrate all your files and settings there- another alternative would be a Windows System Restore, which will restore your registry files.

Reason i ask is i have tried to burn a avi file using Nero 7 but i seem to get a BSOD before it completes, i had a hunch about the registry so i tried burning the avi file in the guest account, it made it to the end without a BSOD leading me to think that my accounts registry is damaged.
If my hunch is right what can i do about it? if not, can i repair something i have bust?
Cheers

Can you recall the STOP code for the Blue screen? if you get it again, do post the error code.

[Sceptical]

Hi BC.
Thanks for the detailed reply,
1. If reg cleaners do damgae is it best to just let the computer get on with it?
2. I take it the answer is yes, there are parts of the registry that are unique to each user?
3. Now then, you want STOP codes eh? i'll give you stop codes...................
 


STOP: 0x0000000A (0x00000166, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x804E5433) with a Driver_IRQL message at the top of the page.



STOP: 0x0000008E ( 0x0000001D, 0x80501066, 0xF7BCAD74, 0x00000000 )



STOP: 0x0000000D1 ( 0x8797F958, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xF7877B51 )

    NVNRM. SYS-Address F7877B51 base at F786F000, Datestamp 40a927fa



STOP: 0x0000007F ( 0x0000000D, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000 )



                   PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONE_PAGE_AREA

STOP: 0x00000050 ( 0xFFC0585C, 0x00000001, 0x8054BBB4, 0x00000000 )


How's that for a selection?
Does it mean anything, other than ooooppps?

[patio]

3 of the 4 point ot memory errors...
DLoad MemTest...follow the instructions for creating a bootable floppy/CD...
Let it run at least 2 hours...
Any error messages at all and you have a bad/failing stick of RAM.

[Broni]

Navigate to: C:\Windows\Minidump folder.
If you see any .dmp files, zip all of them, and attach zipped file to your next reply.

[x2543]

@ Broni, in this case, would it help to use system restore to undo the registry changes if there is a restore point existing?

[Broni]

Worth a try...

[Sceptical]

Broni, i don't see a mini dump folder, (hidden files are showing).

X, System Restore was corrupt and wouldn't restore to any previous points so i had to clear it and start again.

patio, downloaded the latest mem test, no floppy needed it was a executable, i looked over after a hour or so, BSOD!! so i don't know if it found anything as i don't think it makes a log does it?
I'll try it on the guest account.

[JJ 3000]

How many user accounts do you have on this computer?

Do the blue screens only occur in one specific account?

What is the capacity of your hard drive and how much free space is left?

What antivirus programs do you have installed?

[Broni]

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel (Start>Control Panel in Vista).
2. Double-click System.
3. Click (Advanced system settings link in Vista, then --->)the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
4. In the Write debugging information list, click Small memory dump (64k).

This will enable dump files, so when new BSOD happens, all info should be there.

[Sceptical]

Broni, done that, cheers.

JJ, 2 user accounts, mine and 1 guest, no one uses it really apart from me and if someone does they are only allowed on the guest.

Haven't seen a BSOD on the guest account yet, that is what makes me think it isn't hardware, more like i've messed up the registry in my belief that the more often you run reg cleaners the beter. 

160gb drive in two partitions, C drive is 78.1 with 27 free.

I am using Avast at the mo, used to be AVG but it was taking too long to boot.

MemTest has ran on the guest account to almost 300% without errors.
I will let it run again when i go out in a bit and see if i get a BSOD.
I shall have to try using the guest account as much as i can and see if i get a BSOD.

Spec;
XP Home SP3,
K7NF2-RAID Mobo,
Ath xp 3200+ @2.2Ghz
1024mb RAM,
NVIDIA GeForce 6600,
Seagate 160gb HD

[JJ 3000]

Try doing a system restore to before the  problem started.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000589.htm

If that doesn't work create a new user account and transfer your settings to the new one
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

[Sceptical]

Got a new BSOD after flashing a dvd drive.
BAD_POOL_HEADER
STOP: 0x00000019 ( 0x00000020, 0xE2F1BB78, 0xE2F1C340, 0x0CF97C1D )
I have a dmp file but it wont let me uplaod it here.

JJ, system restore was corrupt, it wouldn't go back to any earlier date so i had to restart it.
I have already made a new account and was wondering how to transfer properly, thanks for that link.
I thought maybe if i transferred stuff across i may take the problem with me?

[Broni]

I have a dmp file but it wont let me uplaod it here.

You have to zip it in order to attach it.

[patio]

You now have a Bad Pool Header message...
Again this all leads back to RAM.
However there are other circumstances that will cause RAM error messages and here they are in no apparent order:
Bad RAM
Flakey or failing HDD
Flakey or failing PSU.

For the RAM the MemTest info has already been given...
For the HDD DLoad and run the FREE diagnostics on the HDD from the manuf. site...run the Long test...
For the PSU borrow a known good unit of the same or greater wattage and swap it in ther overnight...if the issues go away you need a new PSU.

Best of Luck.

P.S. You may want to remove all the RAM sticks and clean the contacts and replace them...use canned air to blow out the slots as well...