Program Installation Errors - Possibly Due to Registry Tampering?

Question

Recently I have been tampering with my computer’s registry to improve my system performance. However, doing so has caused the exact opposite result. Now during the time my desktop loads I am inundated with an arsenal of error messages.

Each time I log into my user account Windows Live Messenger will start up automatically, which is exactly what it’s supposed to do. However, after tampering with the registry (and a few other things) I am getting the following installer window instead http://tinyurl.com/ykuyuz. Each time messenger fails to install and instead this error message pops up http://tinyurl.com/ycwr4o. Currently there is no possible way of using Messenger.

Since the message states there is an error with accessing a key, I suspect there to be a problem with permissions. I am also receiving similar error messages when trying to use other programs. For example when I open up Microsoft Word I am presented with this error http://tinyurl.com/ycz7n7.

Here is the strange part. I had enough commonsense to make a backup of what I was modifying before I began tampering. I did this by selecting the appropriate folder, right clicking it and then exporting the *.reg file to My Documents. Now when I try opening the *.reg files to restore the registry to its previous state I am presented with this error message: http://tinyurl.com/yf3wtk

What may be causing such a thing?

Answer 1

NO NO NO. The one thing you never do is mess around with the registry. I'm working in IT and that is one thing you don't chage the settings with unless you know exactly what you are changing.

More often then not changing settings in the registry will only hurt your system and cause something to stop working. That's what the control panel is for. It's a gui interface to the registry. I

f you don't know what you changed, you can try a couple commands from the command prompt, but I haven't had experience with repairing the registry, so I would ask an expert first.

I don't even know the commands of the top of my head. Look it up on microsoft help and support. It's something like fix/reg restore /reg. I'm an IT professional and I even know not to mess with the registry so I never used the commands.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Don't suppose you made a backup of your registry before you decided to play code commando? -- If you did, just restore your registry from the backup & you'll be fine.

If you didn't.....try system restore, if that doesn't work, well, you get to learn how to reinstall windows & hopefully learn your lesson. If you absolutely must tweek the registry, ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP!

Answer 3

Try system restore and return your settings to an earlier date before you tweaked the registry.