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General discussion

Windows-Registry Recovery at boot-up

Feb 21, 2004 9:28PM PST

XP Pro, P4 2ghz, 512MB DDR, notebook

Yesterday I followed these instructions from Kelly's XP corner to disable auto-run on CD:
Start/Run/Gpedit.msc/Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/System. Check your settings in the right pane, Turn Off Autoplay (double click).

I did this because even though I have all actions on CD-RW's autoplay tab in properties set to Take No Action, whenever I insert a multisession CD to add more files to it, it scans the CDR and opens a window showing it's contents, and I have to wait for it to finish doing that and close the window before I can use Nero to add more files.

This is the only change I made. Did not use computer for anything else except browsing. Later, when I turn it back on, I get this message at boot up.

Windows-Registry Recovery
One of the files containing the system's Registry had to be recovered by the use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was successful. OK.

Click OK, it boots up, my desktop is black, the Start menu is an odd color and font, and I have an icon in system tray with a balloon popup offering to take the Windows XP tour. A reboot brings up the same odd desktop. Did a system restore to the day before, and all seems ok. Event Viewer shows no errors. Anti-Virus and spyware scans all clean.

What could cause this, and should I be concerned? Is there anywhere else in Windows besides Event Viewer that might hold a clue as to what happened?

Would it matter that I made this auto-play change while logged in on my account, which is an administrator account, instead of as the main Administrator Account? And if it does, should I undo what I did for auto--play and redo it logged in as the Adminstrator?

Discussion is locked

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Re:Windows-Registry Recovery at boot-up
Feb 21, 2004 10:00PM PST

I'll write that you should always be prepared for the hard disk contents to just vanish. Out garden variety PC's are not reliable enough to even make some tea on time.

In short, if it's a one-time occurance, then you pick up and move on and shake your head then check the backup to make sure that what you can't lose is off the machine for that rainy day.

In last words, this is the current state of affairs. Not a perfect OS or system.

Bob is now making another CD with his photo collection...

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A possible work-around to that Nero item.
Feb 21, 2004 10:03PM PST

YMMV! But I remember avoiding that by starting Nero before putting in the CDRW media. Later I gave up on InCD, DirectCD and even mult-session and now go with bare-metal recording. That is, I just erase the CDRW and record what I want in a single session.

This is my choice since I lost a CD here or there using any other method.

Bob

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Re:A possible work-around to that Nero item.
Feb 21, 2004 10:22PM PST

Thanks, and I agree with your suggestions. That's what I was doing when I got aggravated at the CD auto-play thing. I was burning CD's off and on as I had time, with things I didn't want to loose (pictures) and XP updates, like SP1, I would need in case of a disaster.
I was doing multi-session because I keep thinking of things I should add, and dislike making a new CD for every little thing I remember.

I purchased some CD-RW's, I'll give that a try.

Hopefully, the Registry problem was one of those little niggles that occur every now and then, and nothing further will develop. But just in case, I better set aside more time for getting these back-ups ready!!!

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Re:Windows-Registry Recovery at boot-up
Feb 22, 2004 1:35AM PST

IMO, I think you may find after many moons of experience, this type idiosyncrasies can be blamed on the software used and programmer of course.

I've fooled with Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 for XP, and Easy CD Creator 5 for Win98, and have experienced the same. I thought seriously that it was because Auto was used, so I disabled. It really disabled things because the software stated so the first time I started it up, wanting it set back. I said NO. Afterwards, I really saw certain things which would not work as expected without it. After reactivating, then I was back to normal operation but with those same idiosyncrasies.

I suppose the programmers who write this software really don't want to fool with anything but having it Auto, something I've never wanted.

Why they would load DirectCD.dll into memory on boot is something else I didn't understand -- I only use the soft on occasion. Had to ferret that puppy out and disable.