I have gotten twice in the last month or so an error message (upon startup) to the effect: Windows had had a problem accessing the registry. It will fix the problem and restart. The only option I'm given is to click OK. Then it says it is restoring an old version of the registry. On restart, I get a message from McAfee Security Center that some "Active X" components are not installed correctly. (The last time I had to manually unistall and reinstall Firewall completely.) In addition, many items/programs recently (and not so recently) downloaded are disappeared (such as Google Toolbar which I've had for over a year). It also changes my homepage back to that of my ISP.

Any ideas what's going on or how to avoid this hassle?

Thanks in advance.

Hi,
I am not sure what windows version you have, like XP, 98, etc, but the error message you indicate is one seen on Win98/98SE, when there is a registry problem. So, if you don't have 98/98SE, please forgive me for taking up space with this answer:
If you are using 98/98SE, you can do a Scandisk and Registry repair as follows:

Turn off the computer; or reboot; then immediately press F8, (or, could be F5) located on top of the keyboard. Keep it pressed down (or release and press, release and press) until an options window comes up, then release it.
(If F8 or F5 doesn't work, then re-boot, and immediately press down the CTRL key, hold down until it comes up to the options screen).
Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select "Command Prompt Only".
Press Enter
You will now see C:\>
Type in SCANDISK , all small letters, and it will look like:
C:\>SCANDISK , then press Enter. Takes about 5 min. maybe.
When finished:
Type in SCANREG /FIX (there is a space between the G and the / ).
You will now see C:\>SCANREG /FIX
Press Enter
This will take about 5 minutes or so.
When finished, press Enter for OK.
Manually, turn off the computer, wait a few seconds, the turn it back on.

This will repair your registry, to be correct with all your programs and applications.
If you do have 98/98SE, please post back, if you need tips on how to best run Defrag, etc. That will usually stop the "Registry Error" pop-up.
I do wish you good luck.

Yes I have Win 98.

Should I do this now, since Windows says it fixed the error, or when I get the error messafe in the future, to fix stuff myself?

Thanks.

Hi,
I also use Win98SE; like it, but it does require "maintenance".
Yes, I would do the registry repair, using the scanreg /fix, but run the scandisk first, from the C prompt.
Every time you shut down your computer, windows 98 should be saving a backup of your registry. You can find these by going to the C prompt, typing in SCANREG /RESTORE.

Also, here are steps to run Defrag, which sometimes does need to be run about once a month with 98/98SE; other times, might not be needed that often. If the computer keeps giving you the "Registry Error" messages, then you need to Defrag in Safe Mode.

Before doing any of the following; turn off wallpaper and screensavers before re-starting or re-booting the computer.

Safe Mode is best where indicated, because most programs are not running meaning their files are closed, or not in use. This allows them to be scanned much better, repaired, or defragged better.

1. Scandisk
Start in Safe Mode by:
Re-boot the computer, and immediately after starting up, Press and hold down (or press and release, press and release,) F8, at top of keypad.
When the options show on the screen, use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select
"Safe Mode".
Press Enter
After it boots to Safe Mode, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools, and click on Scandisk. Yes, run Scandisk again.
(It is faster if set on "Standard", the "Thorough" usually is not needed and takes a long, long time).
Click on "Start" and let it run until finished.

2. Defrag
When Scandisk is finished, click on "Close".
Now, go back to the same place, but this time, click on "Defrag".
Click on OK, and wait until it finishes (might take 1 hour if not done within a month).
After it finishes, Click on OK or whatever.
Then, re-boot.

The following Boot Disk has to be done only one time.

Also, a "must have" is a Boot Disk, for Win98/98SE. One never knows when the computer might not load windows and go to the desktop... it does happen.

Here are steps to make one:

Insert the Win98/98SE CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Go to Start/Programs/Windows Explorer
Double click on D:/ , if that is your CD-ROM drive letter.
Find and open the folder; Tools/Mtsutil/Fat32ebd (stands for Emergency Boot Disk)
Double click on the file Fat32ebd.exe and follow the instructions to create the Boot Disk.
Then remove the CD from the CD-ROM.

Now, we must test the Boot Disk to see if it works.
Shut down the computer; then turn it back on with the Boot Disk still in the computer.
When a screen comes up, use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to select "Boot with CD-ROM support". Then press Enter.
It will show some things about the computer, and then come up to the A:\> prompt.
Now, insert a CD (any will do) into the CD-ROM.
Wait until it "spins" and the light goes off.
Now, at the A:\> prompt, type in DIR D:
It will now look like A:\>DIR D:
It should show all the files on the CD.
If so, the Boot Disk is good. If NOT, repeat all the above.
If it's good, then remove the CD, manually turn off the computer, and remove the Boot Disk. Turn on the computer and it's ready to go.

Again, Yes, I would run the SCANREG /FIX, even though you haven't seen the error message now. It will ensure your computer's registry is good.
Best of luck, and if you have any problems, please post back.
There are also other "tips and tricks" for Win98/98SE which work very well to keep it running smoothly.

I just did scandisk and scanreg but it did not fix my MacAfee (ActiveX components) problem nor did it restore my homepage or reinstate the Google toolbar. I did defrag in safe mode about a month ago when I clean reinstalled the McAfee stuff in response to this identical error. Do I need to go through all that again or is there some easier way to put things back to how they were yesterday? Thanks again.

Hi,
Whenever you shut down the computer, then turn it back on later, windows saves a copy of the registry.
Go to the C prompt, and instead of typing in SCANREG /FIX, type in SCANREG /RESTORE.
That will bring up a window with 4 choices of dates to select with the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard. These are the last 4 dates that the computer has saved the registry.
Select a date before all this happened, then press Enter.
It will change the registry to that date.
That's the only thing I know you can try to maybe get it back.
Now about MacAfee; I really don't know many people who use it. There does seem to be problems with it as you have described.
Personally, I use AVG, the bought version for $33 for two years.
You can check it out at http://www.grisoft.com, and they do have a FREE version.
I have not had one single virus get through since using AVG now for quite some time. I really suggest it over using MacAfee. I had Norton for 2 years, then changed to AVG; from suggestions I read here, over and over.
My Win98SE has had absolutely no problem with AVG.
Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the comments. Are you suggesting it is McAfee that is the problem and not Windows? (I have regular 98 not SE)? The way it happens is Windows decides it has to "fix" the registry and then proceeds to mess up McAfee and other stuff as well. (For example I seem to have reverted to an older version of WMP than I had downloaded months ago.)

Another fact pointing to Windows is that at startup, I sometimes (including this morning) get a blue screen saying a fatal exception has occurred at ######, press any key to continue. Of course pressing the keys doesn't work and I have to manually turn on and off again. OTOH, when (per your suggestion) I went into command prompt only for scanreg the first prompt I got was a bad file or association having something to do with McAfee. Very confusing.

Thanks again and I'd appreciate any further thoughts.

Hi,
When the "blue death screen" keeps coming up with "fatal error" giving address or others, it is usually time to reinstall Win98 or 98SE.
Normally, Win98/98SE will run good for about a year, then windows somehow manages to corrupt it's operating system files. Microsoft put out Win2000, which is a much, much more stable operating system than 98.

My best suggestion is to reinstall Win98, using your Install CD's, and if you have the option to "delete and reinstall windows", use it. That will completely delete the 98 system files, (will delete everything under C:/windows), and reinstall it with all new files. It also "disassociates" all your programs.
My Documents, My Music, etc will still be there. But, it's a good idea to back up all your files, such as on a CD burner before doing a reinstall.
You must also have the install CD's for all your hardware, like printer, scanner, camera, and have the install CD's for any programs, applications, or be able to download them again from the net.
Best of luck, and again, this "blue death screen" probably won't go away until you reinstall 98.

Yes, I would get rid of MacAffee, and go with something like AVG. It works very well with 98 and 98SE. I use it with my 98SE.

Fred,

Thanks for all the info. I looked at the AVG site and it's certainly cheaper than McAfee.

Do you use AVG's plus firewall edition? If I get rid of McAfee I will need one too since I have DSL.

Re: reinstalling Windows:

Where would I find the option to "delete and reinstall windows"?
Would I need to reinstall:

The Netgear adapter I use to connect to my DSL modem (I recall that being difficult)?

The DSL software itself?

The MS Office Suite?

EDIT: Which would I do first, reinstall windows or unistall McAfee/install AVG?