How to Trouble Shoot Registry Errors
The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry.
Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy
of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden
files in the Windows folder.
Symptoms
When you start Windows 95, you may receive one of the following
error messages:
- There is not enough memory to
load the registry.
- Windows has encountered an error
accessing the system registry. You should restore the registry
now and restart the computer.
If you ignore this error and shut down your system, you may lose
data.
Restoring the registry replaces the faulty registry with a known
good backup copy. However, this backup copy may not contain all
the information recently added to your system.
NOTE: If you click the Restore From Backup And Restart button,
you receive the error message again as Windows 95 restarts.
Cause
These error messages may occur if the registry is damaged.
Resolution
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee
that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor
can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing
Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat
and User.dat) before you edit the registry.
Perform the steps outlined in each method below (as needed) to restore
a damaged registry.
Using Real-Mode Registry Editor
Use Registry Editor in real mode to export, then
import, the registry file. To do so, follow these steps:
- Restart the computer. When you
see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8
key, then choose "Safe mode command prompt only" from
the Startup menu.
- Type the following line to export
the registry
regedit /l:<path1> /e <path2>system.txt
where <path1> is the path to the System.dat file and <path2>
is the path to the destination file. For example, if Windows 95
is installed in the Windows folder on drive C, type the following
line:
regedit /l:c:\windows\system.dat /e c:\system.txt
- Type the following lines, pressing
ENTER after each line:
cd\windows
attrib -s -h -r system.dat
- Type the following line to rename
the current registry file:
ren system.dat system.old
- Type the following line to import
the System.dat portion of the registry
regedit /l:<path1> /c <path2>system.txt
where <path1> is the path to the System.dat file and <path2>
is the path containing the file to import. For example, if Windows
95 is installed in the Windows folder on drive C and you want to
import the System.txt file from the root folder of drive C, type:
regedit /l:c:\windows\system.dat /c c:\system.txt
NOTE: If an "Unable to open registry" or "Error
accessing the registry" error message is displayed when you
attempt to import the System.dat portion of the registry, please
see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more
information about the error message:
Q132064 Regedit May Not Be Able to Import Registry with
Large Keys
- Restart Windows 95 normally.
If the error continues to occur, follow these steps:
- Restart the computer. When you
see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8
key, and then choose "Safe mode command prompt only"
from the Startup menu.
- Type the following line to export
the User.dat portion of the registry
regedit /r:<path1> /e <path2>user.txt
where <path1> is the path to the User.dat file and <path2>
is the path to the destination file. For example, if Windows 95
is installed in the Windows folder on drive C, type the following
line:
regedit /r:c:\windows\user.dat /e c:\user.txt
- Type the following lines, pressing
ENTER after each line:
cd\windows
attrib -s -h -r user.dat
- Type the following line to rename
the User.dat file:
ren user.dat user.old
- Type the following line to import
the User.dat portion of the registry
regedit /r:<path1> /c <path2>user.txt
where <path1> is the path to the User.dat file and <path2>
is the path containing the file to import. For example, if Windows
95 is installed in the Windows folder on drive C and you want to
import the User.txt file from the root folder of drive C, type:
regedit /r:c:\windows\user.dat /c c:\user.txt
NOTE: If an "Unable to open registry" or "Error
accessing the registry" error message is displayed when you
attempt to import the User.dat portion of the registry, please see
the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q132064 Regedit May Not Be Able to Import Registry with
Large Keys
- Restart Windows 95 normally.
For additional information about using Registry
Editor in real mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
Q131352 Using Registry Editor in Real Mode
If the error continues to occur after you follow
the steps in this section, please see the next section.
Using System.da0
Restore the registry to its state when you last
successfully started Windows 95. To do so, follow these steps:
- Restart the computer. When you
see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8
key, then choose "Safe mode command prompt only" from
the Startup menu.
- Type the following command to
move to the Windows folder
cd \<windows>
where <windows> is the Windows 95 folder. For example,
if Windows 95 is installed in the Windows folder, type the following
line:
cd \windows
- Type the following line:
attrib -s -h -r system.dat
- Type the following line:
ren system.dat system.bad
- Restart your computer. Windows
95 uses the System.da0 file when it cannot find the System.dat
file. If this file works, Windows 95 renames it to System.dat.
If the error continues to occur after you follow
the steps in this section, please see the next section.
Using System.1st
Restore the registry to its state when you first
started Windows 95 successfully. To do so, follow these steps:
- Restart the computer. When you
see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8
key, then choose "Safe mode command prompt only" from
the Startup menu.
- Type the following command to
move to the Windows folder
cd \<windows>
where <windows> is the Windows 95 folder. For example,
if Windows 95 is installed in the Windows folder, type the following
line:
cd \windows
- Type the following line:
attrib -s -h -r system.dat
- Type the following line:
ren system.dat system.xxx
- Type the following line:
cd \
- Type the following line:
attrib -s -h -r system.1st
- Type the following line
copy system.1st c:\<windows>\system.dat
where <windows> is your Windows 95 folder.
- Type the following line:
attrib +s +h +r system.1st
- Restart your computer.
If the error continues to occur after you follow
the steps in this section, please see the next section.
NOTE: You may find that your TrueType fonts are missing from the
Fonts folder or in programs after you follow the above steps. If
this is the case, use the resolution listed in the following article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q133732 Missing TrueType Fonts in Fonts Folder or Programs
Reinstalling Windows 95
Re-create the registry files by reinstalling Windows
95.
To do this, perform the following steps.
NOTE: If you cannot access the CD-ROM drive from the command prompt,
consult the CD-ROM drive's documentation or manufacturer for assistance
with loading the real-mode drivers for the CD-ROM drive.
- Restart the computer. When you
see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8
key, then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
- Type the following line and
then press ENTER to remove all user profiles:
deltree c:\windows\profiles
- Rename the existing registry
files by typing the following lines. Press ENTER after each line:
cd \windows
attrib -s -h -r system.dat
ren system.dat system.xxx
attrib -s -h -r user.dat
ren user.dat user.xxx
attrib -s -h -r system.da0
ren system.da0 system.yyy
attrib -s -h -r user.da0
ren user.da0 user.yyy
cd \
attrib -s -h -r system.1st
ren system.1st system.zzz
- Run Windows 95 Setup.
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