Windows 2000 Quick Fixes

Another user’s system won’t boot normally so I need to repair its registry

The registry comprises multiple hives , stored in files in the \%systemroot%\System32\config folder. It’s possible to repair a system’s registry by editing the system’s registry files on a different computer. To do so, however, you must be able to copy the affected registry hive file from and to the problem computer. This means you must be able to at least boot the system with a diskette or dual-boot OS (Windows 9x), gain access to the problem file, and be able to copy it to a removable media with sufficient space to accommodate the file (or copy it across the network). The third restriction is that you can only modify the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_USERS hives.

Editing a single hive

You can use one of the two Windows 2000 Registry Editor programs to modify an external registry hive file. Use the following steps to move the hive file from a problem computer, modify it, and restore it:

1. Boot the problem computer with a boot diskette or dual-boot OS, then copy the problem hive file to a removable media. (If using a dual-boot configuration with network capability, copy the file directly across the network to the system on which you’ll repair the file.) See Table 13-1 for a list of hive files.

2. On the working system, boot Windows 2000, log in as administrator, and run regedt32.exe.

3. In the Registry Editor, select either the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_USERS window and choose Registry → Load Hive.

4. Locate the file ...