Recovery Problem:Corrupt Hive Registry File?

Hello,
Although I frequently search and read your forum for help, this is my first post. I am at a loss and I hope someone can help me.
Here's my system info:
Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002
SP2
HP Pavilion a350n
Intel Pentium 4
CPU 2.80 GHz
512 MB of RAM
C: drive: 96.0 GB free
D: drive: 825 MB free
Now, I guess I should explain what has happened here... I recently installed Adobe Creative Suite CS. All the programs were running extremely slow, so I went to adobe.com and followed their instructions for speeding up the programs. Specifically, I had to put the software scratch disks on a different drive than Windows Virtual Memory. I also followed their instructions on changing the page filing values in the virtual memory. So, after I did these things the programs ran great. Then, when I attepted to enable the Version Cue Program my PC started acting possessed. The Version Cue program froze while trying to connect and I could not do anything. I rebooted and when I got back in I had no access to virtually all areas of the control panel. I could not get into the system tools area either. (I was thinking of restoring.) I was able to get into admin tools and I saw that the Version Cue program was still 'starting'. I ended the process. But I still had limited access to the control panel & system tools. So I tried to restore. The first 2 attempts could not go through. So I tried the F10 Recovery at the start-up and I got this message...
System Recovery: Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\system32\config\security or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.
So, then I rebooted and got back in to XP and tried the restore again...This time it worked. So, I got online at adobe again and read in the support area that Version Cue could not run without .NET Framework... But the thing is I thought I had SP2 with all that in there. I went to Microsoft and scanned for updates and it said I needed SP2. Weird... I thought I had it. So I unistalled the Version Cue and then downloaded SP2. Now, Version Cue works fine.
So now everything seems up to speed. However, when I ran the Avast Virus program, it found 2 viruses. I think it cleaned them or deleted them. But it logged about 50 or so areas that it was unable to scan. It also came up with corrupt files in different areas.
So, I guess the big question I have is, is my recovery drive shot? What do I do? I'm afraid of the restore function not working or whatever and I can't recover because of the corrupt hive.
I also ran the Registry Medic program downloaded from your site and I get several messages of a missing drive. Then it comes up with almost 700 errors in the files & folders section, and up to 50 in each of the other sections. (Can only fix 5 at a time. Should I buy this program? Will this fix the problem?)
Can anyone help me remedy my recovery drive?

 

This might help...

http://forum.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=52286



Steve

 

Ok, I walked away from my PC after posting that initial thread and when I came back AVAST had a window up stating another virus was found:
WIN32: Trojan-gen {other}
File name: C:\system volume information\_restore {F2681A7 D-91E5-401A-A
VPS Version:0507-3, 02/17/2005
I did the recommedned action which was to move it to the virus chest.

So, do I delete this or repair it? I don't understand what's going on here. I just ran AVAST lastnight and I thought it took care of the viruses. I was only online here in the forum and I didn't open any e-mails. I have Zone Alarm Free Firewall running and updated.
I again am at a loss!

 

OK, I read that thread and went to the Microsoft page you had linked to. I see the same message listed there that I get WHEN I tried to recover. But when I rebooted and didn't try to recover I was able to get into XP, so I'm unsure if article applies to me. Like I said, everything is seemingly working fine now (except the virus I posted in that last message). I still don't understand what I'm suppose to do. Will the Registry Medic fix this problem? I apologize if I need a little more attention, but I keep seeing notes everywhere about not doing anything to the registry if you don't know what you're doing and such. And I really don't know what's going on and I think that means I don't know what I'm doing. Sorry.

 

I went back and again read the Microsoft page you linked to earlier and I'm still not sure what to do. If I'm able to get into XP and everything seems fine... does this article still apply? Is there a way to test the drive to see if it's still corrupt after the restore? I ran a disk check and checked the boxes to attempt to recover bad sectors but it scanned and then just booted into XP. I'm so confused!

 

Update... possible fix?

Alright - I just want to say first that I'm not bumping this so that it will get read.
I called a PC repair place and spoke to someone about this problem. He said I need to call HP and order a recovery kit and that will fix this problem. He sounded fairly confident so I guess this is what I'll do. While I'm waiting for it to arrive I'm going to backup all my files to a CD.
I'm sorry if anyone was annoyed with this thread because I'm so dumb about all this stuff. I basically know zip about fixing anything with the registry or corrupted files and such, so I'm very unsure about screwing anything up further. If anyone reads this and can tell me a better way to post about further issues, I would really appreciate it. It would also be a HUGE bonus if someone could point me to a site where I could learn a little more about my computer and what certain things mean. Kind of like a 'computer knowledge for dummies' book or something.
Thanks again for reading this and I just want to say your site is really cool!

 

One thing you could try, disable system restore, restart.

That should clear your restore files, no point in putting bad stuff back on, (just in case you've got something lurking).

After restart, enable system restore, run all spyware etc checks.

Hey, can't hurt





Also I'm a great believer in the basics, could always boot off a floppy and do FDISK/MBR