I booted up my computer today and got this error window: "Cannot import reg.reg: error opening the file. THere may be a disk or file system error." I don't know if I got a virus or what but I'm using Avast. One thing I don't understand about avast is that some of the viruses that I send to the chest are in their database, so why are they getting through?" Anyway, how do I fix this error. every time I close the error window it immediately pops back up. In fact, the windows pop up faster than I can close them. I get like 100 of them. I'm using a friend's computer to post this. Can anyone out there help me fix this mess?

How does it behave if you boot to Safe Mode? If better then something is starting at boot that is causing the problem. Try the following:

Boot to Safe Mode by pressing F8 or F5 every second or so when you see the OEM Logo.

Click on Start then Run, type msconfig and press Enter.
Click on the Startup tab then the disable all entries except your firewall and antivirus.
Do a regular boot, see if it runs normal.
If yes then use msconfig to enable several items at a time till you find the culprit.

If no, boot to Safe Mode again, start msconfig and click on the Services tab.
Check the Hide All Microsoft Services box then the disable all entries except your firewall and antivirus.
Again, do a regular boot, see if it runs normal.
If yes then use msconfig to enable services till you find the culprit.

Once you've found the culprit, uninstall it or find out how to eliminate it from your system. Simply disabling it in msconfig is a temporary fix at best. Enable everything else you disabled.

OK, I followed those instructions. I still gt the same message when I do a regular boot. What next? By the way, I'm using windows 2000 pro.

This post has been edited by CompooterDummy: May 9 2008, 01:06 PM

Boot your W2K CD. If you don't have one I wonder if you can use either of these XP versions and create a bootable CD from the .iso file

XP Recovery Console
Another XP Recovery Console

You don't burn the iso file itself to CD., you create a CD from the iso file using your CD burning software. There is a good freeware burner called DeepBurner which will do this. Another called ISO Recorder is also very easy to use.

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.
Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, enter: chkdsk c: /r

Allow it to complete undisturbed.

If that doesn't work or doesn't help, go to the Malware Forum and run all the steps located in the START HERE. These self-help tools will help you clean up 70% of problems on your own. If you are still having problems after doing the steps, then please post a HiJackThis Log in THAT forum. If you are unable to run and/or post a HJT log, then post that in your initial post in the topic you create in that forum.

If you are still having problems after being given a clean bill of health from the malware expert, then please return to THIS thread and we will pursue other options to help you solve your current problem(s).

This post has been edited by Ztruker: May 9 2008, 06:29 PM

I am really embarrassed to just realize this, but the last time I posted here I picked up a handy little tool called ERUNT. I forgot all about it. Actually, I'm still learning so I guess that's why I forgot about it. But, it has a restore tool for my registry. I ran it and things are running great. But thanks for the tips you just posted, I put them in a detailed notebook I keep of everything I'm learning. sorry if I wasted your time. However, if I might bother you for some other advice since you seem very knowledgeable. I went to Amazon today to find some books on the registry. Most of them seem pretty basic. Do you have any idea where I'd find some more in-depth information about finding out exactly what all those little elements under the Hkeys are? I know that the number and different types of entries there are endless but I'd love a place that perhaps documents quite a few so I can learn more? Anyway, thanks again and I'm sorry if I wasted your time.

No problem and definitely not a waste of time. ERUNT is a great tool that I and many others depend on for recovery from (usually self-induced) problems,

As for what the registry is, Google is your best bet: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=w...G=Google+Search

Lots of information available, free of charge.