missing registry

[mpicc]

My Registry seems to be missing.

If I try to run regedit i get "Cannot find regedit (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filenames are correct and that all required libraries are available."

If I try to install a new program of some sort and the config files have to be updated after reboot. it gives me the same error.

If I search for regedit.exe, I find nothing but regedit help files.

oh where, oh where could my registry be????????

[GaryRouth]

Hi mpicc

. . . and Welcome to Pc Mechanic.

What version of Windows are you using? If you are using Windows "ME" (Millenium Edition), look in your Help files for instructions on how to use System Restore. You can use that program to restore your system files to a "restore point" prior to your current trouble with regedit.

If you are running Win95/98, post again with the info on which one you have.

I imagine your Registry is just fine (your computer wouldn't be running if it couldn't find it). What you seem to have misplaced is just that applet, the "Registry Editor" (regedit.exe) . . . When you searched for it, did you do so in Windows Explorer? Make sure that it is set to search the entire hard drive (just in case it was accidentally dragged to a different location).

Did you write down the exact error you receive when installing programs? Is it really the same "cannot find regedit" message, or something just similiar to it?

What happened just before you had this trouble? Anyone deleting files? Installing programs? - Do you have an antivirus programs protecting your computer? Run a complete scan, just in case, and perhaps follow it with an online scan to double - check. TrendMicro's House Call gets recommended around here a lot. [http://www.trendmicro.com] It's a free download: if you're on a slow dialup, be warned: it can take 30-45 minutes to download and setup first time around. Takes about a minute on broadband.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[. . . and just in case you're wondering, most of your Registry is contained in files called User.dat and System.dat. They usually have their attributes set to "hidden". So you won't see them unless you set the "View" option to "Show all files". Microsoft figures that the casual user shouldn't fool around with their Registry, and that advanced users know how to find it]

[mpicc]

I'm running win 98se.

Yes, that's the exact error i get about the regedit being missing.

This started happening around the time i removed Norton antivirus I think. It's been quite a while.

i'll probably reinstall windows one day soon, but i wanted to see if i could fix the problem first.

Thanks

[andyms18a]

try start run sfc this will fix any missing files

[GaryRouth]

Can't hurt to reinstall. Andy's idea about sfc might do the trick, too: you could either run a thorough check, or just extract and restore that one file "regedit.exe".

To restore just the one file, make the selection "restore one file from installation disk" by placing a checkmark in the box in front of that option.

To check more thoroughly, you can have the System File Checker search for all changed and deleted files under the "Advanced" tab (it's either "Advanced" or "Settings", I can't remember which: & I have my Win2000 box on tonight). One warning about doing such a thorough check: a number of files will list as "corrupted" if certain versions of IE were upgraded: these can be safely ignored. I don't have the list of files with me, but it's in an article over at the MS Knowledge Base. And of course, you need to have a fair amount of time to do a thorough check, and be familiar with which versions of things you truly need: and to leave deleted those files that were deleted for good reasons [while upgrading, for example]. . .

You probably know this already, but you can start it by typing sfc in the Start/Run box, or go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information . . .and from the "Tools" menu, select the System File Checker.

Best of luck, and Happy Holidays
. . . Gary

[mpicc]

Thanks all!!

The sfc thing worked for me. My regedit is back!!!