Microsoft registry folder deleted

[rvo]

Hi,

I'm just new to this board. I am hoping that somebody here could help me out with my current problem. I have accidentally deleted the whole microsoft registry folder (stupid me!) and as a result couldn't boot my notebook. I managed to re-install windows 98 (whew!) but almost all my settings are gone. Just to mention a few: (1) my screen resolution changed, (2) my ultrabay driver (IBM specific for swapping CD-ROM drives with floppy drives) doesnt' seem to work even if re-installed, (3) I can't do an uninstall with most of the softwares previously installed because all the the entries are gone in the Add/Remove programs window, (4) when I tried to play a DVD, it doesn't seem to run smoothly, (5) when logging in from a standby mode by opening the notebook, it doesn't automatically warm up by itself (unlike before).

I've managed to use it again all right except for those microsoft products. I have thought of re-installing almost all the drivers but it doesn't seem to work for those I've already re-installed. Do I also need to re-install my MS Office since it won't load? Please, any help will be greatly much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

~ rvo

[RWSchlatter]

"...here could help me out with my current problem..."
sure - but J am sorry to tell you, that you are a bit late dropping in with this question. There would have been no need to re-install WIndows - but as you have done it - no more hope.

For the next time you have an accident with the registry:

Win98 makes registry backups automatically for you, one per calendar day you boot your machine, up to five generations (these are the default settings).
If you crash your current registry, you boot your machine and hold the ctrl-key pressed. A special boot-menu will be shown, among others you are given the option of choosing to restore a previous registry copy. Choose the most usable backup by date.

As for the current re-install:

The reinstall sets everything fresh, you have a completely initialized registry. That's why you cannot de-install any software. But to recover you don't have to deinstall, just install once more to the same locations, this will put definitions back into the registry. It will be relative fast cause all files are already in place. Note that all your application options have gone and you need to set them up again. That includes such things as screen resolution.

Don't forget to visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com to fetch any patches and updates for your Win98 installation.

As for the IBM hardware: you will have to reinstall any drivers that came with your machine, possibly also check for most current versions at IBMs site.

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Regards - Richard

[rvo]

Thanks so much for all the help, however late my question may be (*sigh*). At least now I know what to do the next time (not that I want it to happen again though). Would it help if I run utilities like RegClean or something similar? Thanks again!

[RWSchlatter]

"...Would it help if I run utilities like RegClean or something similar? ..."
this question is probably connected with the reason why you happened to accidentially delete that registry key.

Registry cleaning is not necessary for the "regular" user of a Windows system.

If you are installing, testing and deinstalling a lot of software, you registry will tend to grow and contain garbagge. Then you can consider to clean up the registry from time to time. This will surely not be a daily job, for me would be more like a quarter year activity. As for the tools, you would have to use several of them. MS RegClean is only one of them and cleans up only specific leftovers. Other tools will try and find more leftovers for you, but it remain a lot of manual work, cause the tools can only point data islands to you, decision to remove must be done by you.

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Regards - Richard

[rvo]

"...boot your machine and hold the ctrl-key pressed. A special boot-menu will be shown..."

Hi. I tried doing this, hold the ctrl-key pressed while booting. The menu it showed is the one with the normal mode, safe mode, etc. Is this the special boot-menu you're referring to? I just want to make sure that I get it perfectly clear. Thanks!

[RWSchlatter]

yes - that's the one J mean. J don't have a Win98 machine at hand now, but the menu item should mention something either of scanreg or registry tool or similiar.


______________
Regards - Richard

[RWSchlatter]

On your Win98 installation cd you should find in a separate directory the Resource Kit documentation, search for a file "rk98book.chm" and copy it to your disk (including an index file rk98book.chi). Quote from chapter 27:<pre>Restoring the Registry
Windows 98 introduces the Registry Checker that scans the registry for corruption and backs up
configuration files once a day. The utility maintains multiple backup sets that can be restored as
required. For example, you might restore a previous day’s backup if you have installed something on
your computer with undesirable results but it did not corrupt the registry. In that event, you could
run ScanReg /Restore to return the system to its previous state. ScanReg is the MS-DOS-based
Registry Checker.

ScanReg provides a list of available backups and indicates whether the system configuration files
stored in the CAB have been used to start Windows 98 successfully. Generally, you should choose
the CAB file that was most recently used to start Windows 98. However, returning the system to
an older configuration may be warranted when the origin of the undesirable behavior is unknown.

To restore a Registry Checker backup

Note

If the computer failed to start because the registry is corrupt, ScanReg will automatically fix the
problem. If the computer failed to start because of a change to the registry’s content, and the registry
is not corrupt, then running ScanReg /Restore and choosing the most recent backup is an appropriate
way to fix the problem.

Restart Windows 98. While the system is restarting, press and hold the left CTRL key until you see
the Windows 98 Startup menu.
In the Windows 98 Startup menu, select Command Prompt Only.
From the MS-DOS command prompt, type ScanReg /Restore.
A screen appears listing the available backup sets. Select the appropriate backup and determine
if the symptom is alleviated on the subsequent start. </pre>

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Regards - Richard