Registry File Not Found

[tinker747]

My daughter installed McAfee Utility Suite (Nuts & Bolts
Only) into her computer and was unable to start Windows
even in safe mode.
The error messages are
" Data error reading Drive C. Registry file not found.
Registry services may be inoperative for this session."
"Windows does not finish loading on previous attempt while
initializing device VKD. Windows protection error"
She has tried restoring and fixing registry but it cannot
find registry files.
Where did they go?
Is there any way to fix this?
She did not create a start-up disc but her sister has the
exact same system. Can she use one created in her
sister's system?
Can Windows 98 be reinstalled over the existing Windows
program?
Will she lose all the documents stored in the computer?
PLEASE HELP!!!
.

[RWSchlatter]

"...Where did they go?..."
cannot give an answer to this as J don't know about this utility. Maybe someone else will drop in with the proper answer.

"...Is there any way to fix this?..."
Did you try an "emergency restart", that is to boot with CTRL-key pressed. If successful you should see a boot menu, and an option to Scanreg and to rollback registry files (five generations, one per day that the machine was booted). If yes, go back to one the day you installed the utility.

"...She did not create a start-up disc but her sister has the exact same system. Can she use one created in her sister's system?..."
Should be feasible - just take care NEVER to restore a registry copy that you may find on this disk.

"...Can Windows 98 be reinstalled over the existing Windows program..."
As last resort - yes. Use the same Windows directory as target, don't format the disk if you are asked so. You will have to reinstall all applications if you do this, cause the registry is also in fresh state. All user settings will be lost.

"...Will she lose all the documents stored in the computer..."
If you don't accidentially format the disk - no.

______________
Regards - Richard