windows registry

[Randall Twede]

I have win98. what is the name(and path) of the windows registry file? I have gotten a message that registry cant be found. windows still works but im having some problems. can windows run without a registry. I cant run windows with an autoexec.bat file in root(at least not the current one). If i try i get this error "while initializing device IOS: windows protection error". I have to reboot using my bad startup disk and when that fails I have to take disk oout ,reboot getting message windows didnt fully load. i open to command line only , delete autoexec.bat and when i restart things are working again.
I dont have the CD and my startup disk has bad system area. without CD i cant make new startup disk however the files are ok so i can get a new floppy and copy the files and i should have a startup disk again.
also i contracted a trojan that changes registry so i cant edit it. apparently that cant be fixed. all i could do was delete the executables of the trojan.
any help or just info about registry is appreciated

[John Bateman]

Hi
The windows registry isn't a file you can find in the path or file system. It's an internal database type structure that the OS references.
If your anti virus software doesn't fix the problem caused by the trojan, and you don't have a backup of your registry. You may be S.O.L.
Sorry.

[Randall Twede]

I found instructions somewhere on how to backup registry ill try to find them again(too late now i guess but...). im sure there is info out on the web can help ill try searching google. windows does run as evidenced by me being here. it is just having problems
[This message has been edited by Randall Twede (edited August 13, 2001).]

[Greg Harris]

this sounds familiar... i had to fix my roommate's computer last year and i think i still have the instructions. was there ever an icon in your toolbar that should not have been there? my roommate's laptop had a "flower" icon and it said something in spanish when you clicked on it. i think this one messed with autoexec, though... i am not sure about the registry.
i will see what i can find when i get home tonight.

[Andy Ceponis]

Do what i do whenever i have a problem.
Reformat. That will solve all your probs. And probably do it quicker then trying to solve all your problems.

[Randall Twede]

Andy,
the problems with that is I have tons of programs installed(some, like office97 came with the puter and i have no CD others I would have to be downloading 24/7 for a month) and furthermore i got this puter used with win95 already on it and the copy of win98 upgrade I made is no longer readable by either of my CD drives. I think I'll just live with it till I can buy a new puter and just try to get my server(site) working again.

[Greg Harris]

i found the instructions on how to fix the problem that was on my roommate's laptop... this was a trojan that did not allow you to run .exe files on your computer.
it creates a registry key and runs whenever you try to run an .exe file. it says that you cannot modify your registry entry because it is an .exe file... so, to get around that, you have to save your "regedit.exe" file as "regedit.com" and then make the modifications...
if this sounds like what you have, post here and i will either email the instructions to you, or just post them here for a couple days because they are kind of long.

[Randall Twede]

thanks greg,
I dont think i have same exact problem but the info might be useful to me you can email me at [email protected] or just post it if you want.

[Greg Harris]

you are going to hate me for this... i left the floppy at home this morning, so i will have to send it when i get home around 5:00 pm EST (3:00 pm JavaRanchTime).
yea, i do not think it is the same thing you have, but the directions tell you how to edit the "regedit.exe" file... it shows you what it is supposed to look like on a typical machine, so you might be able to see something that is not supposed to be there.
sorry for the delay...

[Anonymous]

I think i have the same problem, but i have windows XP, any help would be greatly appreciated...
regards
nino

[Sameer Jamal]

If you are having any registry problem then please try scanreg command from the dos prompt (at least your system should boot uop to dos prompt ) it will restore your registry

[Sita Kodali]

I guess this is the symptom of NAVIDAD virus.
Removal instrucations can be found here
http://vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=98881&
HTH
--
Venkat