Windows Registry Recovery Message

[nwrigley]

I just built a new computer that has been running fine and didn't give me any error messages on the first several (maybe 10) boots. Then it started giving me a "Windows Registry Recovery" message as follows:

One of the files containing the system's registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was successful.

It doesn't give this message every time, maybe 1 out of every 4. The message only has an ok box to click and then everything runs normally. Does anyone know what is causing this message? Should I be worried about it, or ignore it since everything runs fine.

I've had difficulty finding information about what might cause this message, but many people seem to think it has to do with the RAM. I'm not really sure what the RAM has to do with the registry though. The most recent changes I had made to the system were a BIOS change and then I uninstalled the Nvidia firewall program.

 

[daniel49]

I use to get that one too now its just every great once in a while? I just ignore it...I could see where 1 in 4 starts it might get annoying though.

 

[Smilin]

I wouldn't ignore that.

It means one of your registry hives are being corrupted and it's using the *.alt copy located in system32\config.

This is never supposed to happen. Run a chkdsk /r on your drive and if it comes back clean run a memory checker. Also check your system event logs to see if you are getting any errors (especially mass storage related).

If this is happening repeatedly you are cruising towards a "missing or corrupt c:\windows\system32\config\system (or software)" error at boot or possibly a STOP 0xC0000218


For each of your registry hives (system, sam, security, software) Windows keeps an identical alternate copy named system.alt etc.. that it updates at the same time as your actual hives. The registry is so important to the booting/functioning of your computer it does this. It should freak you out that one copy is getting corrupted.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Smilin
I wouldn't ignore that.

It means one of your registry hives are being corrupted and it's using the *.alt copy located in system32\config.

This is never supposed to happen. Run a chkdsk /r on your drive and if it comes back clean run a memory checker. Also check your system event logs to see if you are getting any errors (especially mass storage related).

If this is happening repeatedly you are cruising towards a "missing or corrupt c:\windows\system32\config\system (or software)" error at boot or possibly a STOP 0xC0000218


For each of your registry hives (system, sam, security, software) Windows keeps an identical alternate copy named system.alt etc.. that it updates at the same time as your actual hives. The registry is so important to the booting/functioning of your computer it does this. It should freak you out that one copy is getting corrupted.

I agree with smilin! You are headed for trouble! I have dealt with this issue several times. 1 was a hard drive going bad, all the other times was due to defective RAM or RAM with the timings set too agressive in the BIOS.

If you do get the message or should I say when you get the message: " missing or corrupt c:\windows\system32\config\system " you can find the recovery procedures here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as...d=KB;EN-US;Q307545&ID=KB;EN-US;Q307545

You may want to go ahead and get the article and related articles and print them out now. Check your RAM and hard drive ASAP !

pcgeek11

 

[nwrigley]

"Run a chkdsk /r on your drive and if it comes back clean run a memory checker. Also check your system event logs to see if you are getting any errors (especially mass storage related)."

Can you help me out with this? When you run chkdsk, when will it tell you of any errors, or does it just fix them if it can? What memory checker would you recommend? How do I check the system event logs? Thanks.

 

[Guga]

are your computer overclocked?

Mine use to give this error when I push it to much..
If not, try to slower your memory timings in bios.

to check event logs you can type at "start-run" eventvwr

 

[daniel49]

?? mine pretty much went away as mysteriously as it came very rarly ever get it now..this was like last year I was getting them.

Not real sure how to explain that have had no memory or hd failures.

 

[nwrigley]

The computer isn't overclocked, but I had just installed a new BIOS (though the BIOS update was done the same day I built the system). It's hard to test the memory or hard drive by moving them around or swapping them out since I'm not getting this message every time I boot up the system.

 

[nwrigley]

I didn't find any errors in the system log that seemed to point to the problem. I'm still getting the message occasionally. Would appreciate suggestions for tests to run. Thanks.