WIN95 Registry problem & can't get to Start Up Menu

[Robin]

Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to do
anything else, nothing.

I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything I've
read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice during
startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it doesn't
give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?

The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM it
would not boot.
I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup Menu.
All help greatly appreaciated!

 

[Ben Myers]

Go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and create a Windows 95
boot disk. Use it to start the computer, type
"path c:\windowsc:\windows\command" at the "A:\" prompt and press
"Enter". Then try the registry repair procedures..

Ben

"Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:125DEB77-D484-4F96-A9D9-5F86F2C0C653@microsoft.com...
> Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
> registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to do
> anything else, nothing.
>
> I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything I've
> read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
> but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice during
> startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it doesn't
> give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
>
> The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM it
> would not boot.
> I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
> Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup Menu.
> All help greatly appreaciated!

 

[Ron Martell]

Robin <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
>registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to do
>anything else, nothing.
>
>I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything I've
>read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
>but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice during
>startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it doesn't
>give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
>
>The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM it
>would not boot.
>I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
>Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup Menu.
>All help greatly appreaciated!

Do you have access to a computer that is running Windows 98?

If so then go to that computer and copy the file scanreg.exe to a
diskette. Boot the Windows 95 computer with a Windows startup disk
then insert the diskette with the scanreg file on it and enter the
following command:

SCANREG /FIX

That should repair the registry if it is fixable.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Jeff Richards]

The most likely reason for being unable to repair the registry during
startup is that there is a RAM error. The registry is checked after it is
loaded into memory, and because of the RAM error it appears to be faulty.

Before trying to restore any more registry copies, put a good memory
diagnostic on a bootable floppy, boot to the floppy, and give it an
extensive run.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:125DEB77-D484-4F96-A9D9-5F86F2C0C653@microsoft.com...
> Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
> registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to
> do
> anything else, nothing.
>
> I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything
> I've
> read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
> but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice
> during
> startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it
> doesn't
> give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
>
> The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM
> it
> would not boot.
> I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
> Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup
> Menu.
> All help greatly appreaciated!

 

[Robin]

Thanks for the link. Figured I might need a WIN95 book disk, started looking
for mine, but am afraid I tossed it. - Robin

"Ben Myers" wrote:

> Go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and create a Windows 95
> boot disk. Use it to start the computer, type
> "path c:\windowsc:\windows\command" at the "A:\" prompt and press
> "Enter". Then try the registry repair procedures..
>
> Ben
>
> "Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:125DEB77-D484-4F96-A9D9-5F86F2C0C653@microsoft.com...
> > Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
> > registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to do
> > anything else, nothing.
> >
> > I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything I've
> > read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
> > but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice during
> > startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it doesn't
> > give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
> >
> > The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM it
> > would not boot.
> > I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
> > Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup Menu.
> > All help greatly appreaciated!
>

 

[Robin]

My Win98 system is only bootable in Safe Mode. Will try to get it off that
or else start calling around looking for another 98 system. Thanks. - R

"Ron Martell" wrote:

> Robin <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
> >registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to do
> >anything else, nothing.
> >
> >I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything I've
> >read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
> >but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice during
> >startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it doesn't
> >give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
> >
> >The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM it
> >would not boot.
> >I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
> >Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup Menu.
> >All help greatly appreaciated!
>
> Do you have access to a computer that is running Windows 98?
>
> If so then go to that computer and copy the file scanreg.exe to a
> diskette. Boot the Windows 95 computer with a Windows startup disk
> then insert the diskette with the scanreg file on it and enter the
> following command:
>
> SCANREG /FIX
>
> That should repair the registry if it is fixable.
>
> Good luck
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
> Syberfix Remote Computer Repair
>
> "Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
> has never been in bed with a mosquito."
>

 

[Robin]

Would like to try this. What do you consider a "good memory diagnostic"?
What about Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, which I downloaded and can create
a bootable floppy with? Please explain 'extensive run'. If something isn't
found in the first pass, would futher passes come up with a problem?

Many thanks - R


"Jeff Richards" wrote:

> The most likely reason for being unable to repair the registry during
> startup is that there is a RAM error. The registry is checked after it is
> loaded into memory, and because of the RAM error it appears to be faulty.
>
> Before trying to restore any more registry copies, put a good memory
> diagnostic on a bootable floppy, boot to the floppy, and give it an
> extensive run.
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
> "Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:125DEB77-D484-4F96-A9D9-5F86F2C0C653@microsoft.com...
> > Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
> > registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to
> > do
> > anything else, nothing.
> >
> > I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything
> > I've
> > read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
> > but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice
> > during
> > startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it
> > doesn't
> > give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
> >
> > The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM
> > it
> > would not boot.
> > I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
> > Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup
> > Menu.
> > All help greatly appreaciated!
>
>
>

 

[Jeff Richards]

I haven't used the software you mention, but it is probably OK (assuming it
works like you have described). I have used Docmemory and Memtest86 with
good results..

I would consider several hours as a minimum test - overnight would be
better. It is very possible that a problem could be missed with just a
single pass.

Not that other hardware problems could produce similar errors, although they
are less likely.

Once you are satisfied that there are no memory issues to deal with you can
tackle the task of recovering the registry with a lot more confidence.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B5B96A7C-B469-4B61-BFA3-7995E59EFFFB@microsoft.com...
> Would like to try this. What do you consider a "good memory diagnostic"?
> What about Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, which I downloaded and can
> create
> a bootable floppy with? Please explain 'extensive run'. If something
> isn't
> found in the first pass, would futher passes come up with a problem?
>
> Many thanks - R
>
>
> "Jeff Richards" wrote:
>
>> The most likely reason for being unable to repair the registry during
>> startup is that there is a RAM error. The registry is checked after it
>> is
>> loaded into memory, and because of the RAM error it appears to be faulty.
>>
>> Before trying to restore any more registry copies, put a good memory
>> diagnostic on a bootable floppy, boot to the floppy, and give it an
>> extensive run.
>> --
>> Jeff Richards
>> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
>> "Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:125DEB77-D484-4F96-A9D9-5F86F2C0C653@microsoft.com...
>> > Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
>> > registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it
>> > to
>> > do
>> > anything else, nothing.
>> >
>> > I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything
>> > I've
>> > read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do
>> > this
>> > but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice
>> > during
>> > startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it
>> > doesn't
>> > give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
>> >
>> > The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday
>> > AM
>> > it
>> > would not boot.
>> > I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
>> > Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup
>> > Menu.
>> > All help greatly appreaciated!
>>
>>
>>

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:08:01 -0700, Robin

>Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
>registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to do
>anything else, nothing.

F8 at boot, choose DOS mode (Command Prompt Only).

If you can't get there, problems are deeper (tho if that deep, there'd
be no talk of "registry")

DO NOT run Windows until you've checked the file system with Scandisk
from this DOS mode, as Windows will write to what may be an at-risk
hard drive. If Scandisk file system logic is OK, or is safe enough
for you to have allowed it to fix (judgement call, I know) then do a
surface scan. If that shows ANY...
- existing B(ad) clusters
- new bad clusters
- pauses the cluster counter with HD LED on (retries on bad sectors)
....then backup your data from DOS mode and look for a replacement HD.

Next, run Edit and load up C:\Winboot.ini, expecting to find none, and
then the same for C:\MSDOS.SYS - both of these are usually hidden, and
they control how the boot process "finds" Windows. Usually there is
no Winboot.ini, so MSDOS.SYS is used instead. In these files, pake
sure the [Paths] section is correct.

Next, make sure the Windows subtree, as predicted in [Paths], actually
does exist. The registry files, also usually hidden, will be in the
Windows base directory in the case of Win9x. They are:
- System.dat
- User.dat
- Classes.dat (in WinME only)

There are also backups of these, labled .1ST, in the root of C: - they
are very old, and should be used as a last resort only.

More recent backups should also be present, as follows...

Win95xx

System.da0 and User.da0 in the same place as the "live" registry, i.e.
the base Windows directory. This is a one-shot backup that gets
renewed (potentially with problems) on each boot at the point this
passes logon, but (for example) before the first sound is made etc.

Win98xx and WinME

Instead of the one-shot .DA0 backups, these versions keep the last 5
or so registry backups as compacted into RB*.CAB files that are in
SYSBCKUP directory under Windows. Use the Extract tool to extract
these, after first backing up the originals yourself.

If you have to fall back to a backup that loses settings, you can try
the following approach from DOS mode Regedit...
- backup all registry files as files, using Copy command etc.
- use Regedit /? to look up command line syntax
- export existing registry as a large .REG file
- swap working backup registry files into place
- import the .REG you created
- rename away the .REG for safety, e.g. to .TXT

You can also use a different command line parameter to let DOS mode
Regedit rebuild the registry. I don't trust myself to remember these
parameters properly (I think it's /C) so use /? to look them up!

HTH



>------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Our senses are our UI to reality
>------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

 

[glee]

I have used all of the RAM diagnostics listed below. They work well, but I suggest
running at least two of them, each overnight or for a period of hours in a loop, as
one may catch an error the others miss.

DocMemory
http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/download.asp

MemTest86+:
http://www.memtest.org/

Windows Memory Tester
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Read an follow the instructions on the web pages to download and create their
respective boot floppies.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B5B96A7C-B469-4B61-BFA3-7995E59EFFFB@microsoft.com...
> Would like to try this. What do you consider a "good memory diagnostic"?
> What about Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, which I downloaded and can create
> a bootable floppy with? Please explain 'extensive run'. If something isn't
> found in the first pass, would futher passes come up with a problem?
>
> Many thanks - R
>
>
> "Jeff Richards" wrote:
>
>> The most likely reason for being unable to repair the registry during
>> startup is that there is a RAM error. The registry is checked after it is
>> loaded into memory, and because of the RAM error it appears to be faulty.
>>
>> Before trying to restore any more registry copies, put a good memory
>> diagnostic on a bootable floppy, boot to the floppy, and give it an
>> extensive run.
>> --
>> Jeff Richards
>> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
>> "Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:125DEB77-D484-4F96-A9D9-5F86F2C0C653@microsoft.com...
>> > Have a win95 system that will not boot, says there's a problem with the
>> > registry, need to restore registry and reboot, and then I can't get it to
>> > do
>> > anything else, nothing.
>> >
>> > I'm trying to get to the startup menu to boot to safte mode. Everything
>> > I've
>> > read says to hit F8 when the 'start windows 95' screen appears. I do this
>> > but nothing happens. I get the 'start windows 95' blue screen twice
>> > during
>> > startup. I try hitting F8 (over & over again) at both times but it
>> > doesn't
>> > give me the start menu. I've tried F10, F9, & F4 also. Any ideas?
>> >
>> > The system ran fine Monday & shutdown seemed to run properly. Tuesday AM
>> > it
>> > would not boot.
>> > I have Microsoft's article id# 131431 Troubleshoot Registry Errors in
>> > Windows 95, but can't get anywhere because I can't get to the Startup
>> > Menu.
>> > All help greatly appreaciated!
>>
>>
>>