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How can I edit WinXP registry w/o logging in Winxp? Recovery Console?

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xZAOx

Programmer
Sep 24, 2002
4
US
Ok dok, here's the problem. Pal of mine had a computer hosed with tons upon tons of Spyware and Adware. It was nasty. So, I start off by uninstalling all this BS software, running Spybot, and lastly Ad-aware. There was one thing I couldn't get rid of (before running Ad-aware). There was this little search bar on his start menu toolbar that refused to leave, no matter my effort. It took you to Blazefind once you ran it.

So, as I was moving along my clean up procedure, I got to Ad-aware, and it detected this search bar and proceeded to remove it. However, this particular adware is a bastard. It changes your user login registry keys to point to its software in addition to the usual stuffs. But now, the files no longer exists. So when it tries to login, it gets an error (that it never shows), and immediately logs you off. I know there's an option somewhere to disable automatic logoff when there's an error during login, but that's neither here nor there.

I can't login as his user, as admin, or in safe mode. It always kicks me right back off. After doing some google-ing, I find out what the trouble is. I tried using regedit over the network to connect to his registry remotely, but for some reason that doesn't seem to fly. I can add his computer name in the list, but it won't actually let me touch anything. It detects his computer name, and I enter in his username (he just uses a blank password). It doesn't even list all the registry folders for his machine (just 2 of the initial HKEY_* folders).

At , where I figured out what the damn problem was in the first place, I noticed the other option is using the Recovery console to edit the registry, but I'll be damned if I can get it to let me do that. I can use it move old registry entries around, allowing me to log on the system so he doesn't loose any data, but what would be most preferable would be to just fix the old user login registry key.

Boy what a long-winded post. Anyways, any tips (as always) are greatly appreciated!
 
I see you have no responses. Consider trying DameWare. It might help. You have to network the PC's. Boot the target PC, but don't login. Then from the 2nd PC, see if you can use DameWare to access the registry of the target PC. You will need an admin account and password to connect. You can download DameWare from their web site on a trial basis, and purchase it if you want it. I am sure there are other tools out there too.

Another apporach would be to install XP into a 2nd directory. Go to the Micrsoft web site for ful documentaiton. Bascially, you install the 2nd OS without over-writing the 1st install. CAREFULLY edit the registry for the 1st OS install - import / export process. This works at the server level - never tried it for a desktop.

Sorry about not providing the post - I have some deadlines fast approaching.
 
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