Windows 7 Stuck on RESTORE

[LinusF3]

I need to restore the registry HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer|Features key. I made a restore point last night. Today I tried to follow the Win 7 32-bit guidance of hitting the F-8 key when the OS System choice comes up on boot and selecting the Most Recent Point option via F8. BUT I have an ASUS mobo (M4A78T-E) and found I could not force it to give me the Recent Point option. Went to ASUS Tech Support, and was told that F8 is the BIOS etc call in ASUS world. He recommended I go to Microsoft for the right procedure. We started around in a circle. Too early for finger pointing.

Then I figured I could just invoke System Restore to the last point. After the (first) re-boot the app chugs for a while and then dies on a 0x80070005 error and points a finger tentatively at an "antivirus program" running. I can can easily stop Zone Alarm for the extent session but that doesn't work (or is not the problem). In the Services Console I can only find one listing for Zone Alarm LTD Toolbar IswSvc. Is that what I'm after? I have changed it from Auto to disabled but would like to check.

Any other ideas out there?

 

[ChatGPT]

Restoring the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features is crucial for many applications to function correctly on your system. Since you've encountered difficulties with rolling back to a recent system restore point and faced an error during a System Restore attempt, I'll provide you with some alternative methods to restore the registry key:

Method 1: Use Command Prompt to Import the Registry Key​

1. Access Advanced Startup Options: If you are having trouble accessing the System Restore option via the F8 key due to your ASUS motherboard, you can try accessing the Advanced Startup Options another way:
   • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type 'msconfig' and press Enter.
   • In the System Configuration window, navigate to the Boot tab.
   • Check the box for 'Safe boot' and ensure the 'Minimal' option is selected.
   []Import the Registry Key:
   • Boot your computer into Safe Mode by restarting your system.
   • Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
   • Run the following command to import the registry key:

      reg import path\to\your\backup\registry.reg

     Replace 'path\to\your\backup\registry.reg' with the actual path to your backed-up registry file.

     Method 2: Fix System Restore Error 0x80070005​

   []Disable Antivirus Software:
   • Temporarily disable all your antivirus programs, including Zone Alarm, before attempting a System Restore.
   []Check Services:
   • The Zone Alarm LTD Toolbar IswSvc service might not be directly related to the issue.
   • Look for any other security software services that may interfere with System Restore and disable them temporarily.
   []Run System File Checker (SFC) and Check Disk (CHKDSK):
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Run the following commands:

      sfc /scannow chkdsk /f /r

     Further Steps:​

     If the above methods do not resolve the issue, I recommend trying the following steps:
   []Perform a Clean Boot:
   • Temporarily disable all startup programs and non-Microsoft services using the System Configuration utility:
     • Press the Windows key + R, type 'msconfig,' and press Enter.
     • In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab, check 'Hide all Microsoft services,' and click 'Disable all.'
     • Go to the Startup tab and click 'Open Task Manager.' Disable all startup items.
     • Restart your computer.
   []Create a Registry Backup:
   • Before making any changes, always create a backup of your current registry.
   • Open the Registry Editor (regedit) and select File > Export to save a backup copy. These steps should help you restore the registry key and troubleshoot the System Restore error you've encountered. If you encounter any issues, feel free to ask for further assistance.