Windows 2000 security/policy/registry problems

I have managed to change various security/policy settings in Win2000 Pro such that even as Administrator I am denied access to various eg. local group policy settings. I suspect that registry settings stuffed. Local computer shop technicians where laptop was bought cannot figure out problem - suggested reinstall. Computer was purchased with OS pre-installed thus no disks. Have found setup program on hard drive - how can I use this to reset security etc.? If I run setup -newsetup it hangs after starting to detect keyboard and mouse. Tried to run a registry cleaner program as I don't know much about registry settings, but windows installer keeps attempting to run. Any insight into reinstall procedure when want to make security settings default, or into appropriate registry settings that I could insert manually?

 

Are using USB mouse and key board? If so you may have luck with PS2 I loaded 2000 on an old Dell and had that problem.

 

Windows 2000 does not have an inbuilt system restore, like later versions.

However when it is first installed a copy of the original registry is saved in

c:\winnt\repair

You can use this to replace the damaged registry and restore the pc to oroginal. You will not lose any data but obviously have to reinstall all programs and users.

Don't just delete the current registry hive files, rename them before copying over the repair ones, then they will still be available should you want them back.

The current registry is in

c:winnt\system32\config

To effect this repair you will need a boot disk capable of copying files.

 

Thanks for lightning response, I am becoming desperate (understatement). Currently attached is PS2 mouse, external disk drives, local network cable, keyboard is built in.

 

Thanks for reply. Name of registry file(s)?

 

Thanks for reply. Name of registry file(s)?

 

There are five files (called hives) that make up the registry.

You need to change all out as a complete set.

Default
SAM
Security
Software
System

They do not have any extension.

First rename the ones in the config folder.
eg sam becomes sam.old

Then copy the originals from the repair folder.

You can do this if the drive is slaved to another pc, but not from a live windows.