Corrupt WINNT\System32\Config\Software?

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Silence Seeker

After about two weeks of happily using my brand new P4-2.6GHz (with
HyperThreading) PC, I turned it on this morning and was stunned to
receive the BSOD with a message notifying me about the inability to
load the HKLM\SOFTWARE hive. :-(

A quick search revealed that I am not alone. Quiet a few people had a
similar problem (http://tinyurl.com/2n5o8) and so I happily tried to
apply the advice given there to repair my system.

Alas, no backup was found at %windir%\repair\regback\ and so I had to
use the software hive found at %windir%\repair\, which let me boot the
PC but requires re-installing all the software I already installed.
:-(

OK. I know I have no choice but re-install all the software. But
before doing so, I need to be sure that this registry corruption won't
happen again (or if it does, that at least I will have a valid recent
backup of the registry).

So, my question is: Why did this corruption happen in the first place?

I always took care of shutting down the PC from the start menu, NEVER
pressing the RESET button, never cutting off power.

Also, why no backup was found at %windir%\repair\regback\ ???
Isn't this supposed to be taken care of automatically by Windows?
If not, what do I need to do to enable automatic backup of the
registry?

BTW, I also read the KB article here: http://tinyurl.com/22hva but
found it irrelvant to my situation since I am already using SP4 plus
all latest and greatest hotfixes.

Thanks,
Sam
 
In said:
After about two weeks of happily using my brand new P4-2.6GHz
(with HyperThreading) PC, I turned it on this morning and was
stunned to receive the BSOD with a message notifying me about the
inability to load the HKLM\SOFTWARE hive. :-(

A quick search revealed that I am not alone. Quiet a few people
had a similar problem (http://tinyurl.com/2n5o8) and so I happily
tried to apply the advice given there to repair my system.

Alas, no backup was found at %windir%\repair\regback\ and so I had
to use the software hive found at %windir%\repair\, which let me
boot the PC but requires re-installing all the software I already
installed.
:-(

OK. I know I have no choice but re-install all the software. But
before doing so, I need to be sure that this registry corruption
won't happen again (or if it does, that at least I will have a
valid recent backup of the registry).

So, my question is: Why did this corruption happen in the first
place?
Click to expand...

Unknown. Any number of things could cause that. Just like your Data
files, the system's registry too should be backed up regularly.
I always took care of shutting down the PC from the start menu,
NEVER pressing the RESET button, never cutting off power.

Also, why no backup was found at %windir%\repair\regback\ ???
Click to expand...

Because you never made one.

XP may include system registry hive files in it's automated Restore
Points. (no XP here)
Isn't this supposed to be taken care of automatically by Windows?
If not, what do I need to do to enable automatic backup of the
registry?
Click to expand...

Not automatic. ntbackup.exe when doing either a "System State" or
"ERD" (with "Also backup..." checked) will backup the system registry
files.
See also ERUNT
http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/erunt/
 
Mark, thank you very much!
I learned a lot from your answer.

I have one more question, see below in context:


Mark V said:
Unknown. Any number of things could cause that. Just like your Data
files, the system's registry too should be backed up regularly.
Click to expand...

This is the first time ever this happens to me with W2K. I have been
using over 30 different W2K workstations at work and I never had this
problem. Which begs the question: what is different about this
particular one?

The only thing I can think of right now is that this is the first PC
with P4-HyperThreading. I installed W2K while HyperThreading is
enabled, despite Microsoft's official position that W2K does not
support HyperThreading.

Could that possibly be the reason for this registry corruption?

BTW, I recovered the system by copying the original SOFTWARE hive and
then re-installing all applications. Unfortunately I never had a
chance to complete all re-installation because the system did it
again: corrupt SOFTWARE hive.

Something is wrong in this system. I just don't know what. This
corruption always (as far as I can tell from only two times) occurs
after shutdown and turn-on after about 12 hours.

Any idea?

Thanks!
Sam
 
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