Discussion Locked

ScanReg Loop problem

0 helpful
29 replies
Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I have an AMD Athlon processor desktop PC running WIN 98SE. Every time it booted a warning window opened stating the there was an error reading the system registry and scanreg runs and tells me the registry has been repaired. I reformatted & reinstalled windows & kept getting the same thing. So I replaced the hard drive. Installed windows, updated my drivers and the loop is back again. When I looked for a registry backup file in sysbackup folder the only cab is rgbad.cab. Someone posted this exact problem back in 11/00. As it turned out the problem was a defective Pentium Chip. Here's my question: What is the easiest way to find out if the problem with my processor? Or perhaps with another piece of hardware? Is there a diagnostic program out there I can download that might tell me? Thanks!!!

29 replies

by msittech

Added by question poster.
After the registry has been repaired, windows starts again as if I had just installed the operating system - with out nay drivers or programs that I have added.

by msittech

Sisoft Sandra gives me a ton of information - but nothing about defective hardware. I replaced the processor -still having problems. Now I'm swapping RAM chips to see if that is the problem.

by msittech

OK . . . AHHHHH!! I've replaced the hard drive and the processor. Still having trouble. WHAT NEXT???

by dmiles

Nvidea loop\lockup fix

If your using XP and a nvidea card
and experiance the well known lockup bug when trying to play games ect ect

the following should fix the problem,

1. go to display properties\advanced\troubleshoot tab\then un check enable write combining

2.go to start\run\regedit\the to the following key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro
l\Session Manager\Memory Management

create the following dword > LargePageMinimum set it to
ffffffff in the hexadecimal which will = 4294967295 in value -- reboot

3.try setting the agp apeture to 128MB loacated in bios settings
The pnly other thing to check is the Power Supply is sufficient enough and that you have the Bios setting set correctly to your hardware configuration

by cvjack

Have you tried replacing or at least reseating the memory module(s)? I've had the same scanreg problems many times due to intermittent memory chips. Also, you could try slowing down the memory timing in the BIOS or simply set it to run with the most conservative default settings. As for diagnostic programs, there are many around that claim to work but I have yet to find one that, at a bare minimum, consistently points me in the right direction. The best way I've found to troubleshoot a PC is to simplify the system (and the problem) by removing everything but the mobo, CPU, video & RAM & then see if the problem still exists. If it does then simply replace one component at a time with a known good part until the problem is gone. If it goes away when the minimum system is used, simply add components back into the system until the problem returns. Hope this helps - good luck.

by 1stladytech

When we see this problem, it is usually the memory chips. Make sure that the memory is good, the speed is correct for your processor (I really don't recommend running pc133 ram on a 100 front side bus, depending on the configuration, it can "pump" the processor causing this type of error even if the ram is good.) Also make sure that you run the chipset driver installation first after a reload, it will set up the system to take the other drivers correctly.

Hope this helps,

Vickie

by curacao_dejavu

what's the exact error message.
I had a friend who had also trouble with amd with windows, he needed to update the bios and checked with the vendor of the motherboard for a fix they had for windows.

if you have w2k try a wunnt32 /checkupgradeonly to see if the system is compatible with w2k, if so I would install it.

Leopold

hoping it's not the motherboard, since you replaced as good as every possible component.
try to flashupgrade the bios.

by roy.nak

Try disabling the scanregister option via MSconfig tool. (start\run\msconfig its located under the startup option)

by roy.nak

Try disabling the scanregister option via MSconfig tool. (start\run\msconfig its located under the startup option)

by roy.nak

Try disabling the scanregister option via MSconfig tool. (start\run\msconfig its located under the startup option)

by superman79

Ok here is a weird answer for U? why dont you just try a different win98 or operating system cd?Maybe the prblem lies with the software itself and not the hardware.

by msittech

OK - Here I am 3 months later. I have replaced the hard drive, memory & CPU. Re-installed the Win98SE operating system & drivers. The scanreg loop is gone. What's happening now is the system sporatically freezes up, and any time I go on the internet (56k modem) the system reboots after 5 to 20 minutes on-line. No error messages. I have a new motherboard (not installed yet) and a power supply on the way. (I know I could have bought a whole new system by now). I think I'll put all the parts that weren't defective together & sell it on e-bay)

by cactus pete

Ifit's rebooting now, there may be a heat issue.

Make sure all the fans area working, and well. Try o check for good air flow through the system.

Check that the power supply is being cooled by its fan, too. For that matter, be sure the power supply is pwoerful enough for your system [a 300 watt ps may not be enough].

by kwyrick

When you replaced the processor, did you replace the CPU fan and heat sink as well and ensure it was correct for that processor? There are hundreds of cheap fan/heatsink combinations out there that simply don't do the job. I suggest using only Panaflow or PC Power and cooling products.
In my experience, looping like you describe is heat related. You may also want to add an additional fan to the case.

by utopiacomputers1

Hi, Forget Sisoft sandra it will only tell you what hardware is in you PC, chipset, CPU etc. What you need is Tuff test lite or Pro, the former being free to download from www.tufftest.com, or the pro version costing 29.99 dollars both can be downloaded in a few minutes with a 56k modem. Tuff test boots your PC and will run a complete factory certification test on all your hardware, and I mean all your harware, which will diagnose any problems with memory, cpu, mobo, H/D, the lot. If you are someone who plays around with PC's alot I recommend the pro version as the lite will only test a small amount of everything but enough to tell you it's an hardware fault and not software related, the beauty of tuff test is that it runs from dos so the O/S as no infuence on the tests, it will save you hours not to mention the money in swapping parts around. hope this helps you. Ron

by niseys

This similar action was eperienced from a 'Gateway' machine. Found out symantec's
'Goback' doesn't match well with the goback
they designed for gateway.

Other experience has offered improper BIOS
settings creating this situation. Using
the 'load biod defaults' helped, but proper
settings needed to be made afterward.

In addition, it seems you've replaced everything
else, I have found where having the A:\ drive and
cd-rom connected somehow also created this
situation which was believed to be virus related
and replacing both had cured the problem.

If BIOS Cache had been enabled, the possibility
a virus resides in memory exists. This could be
MB memory, installed memory chip(s), and can
include 'cd-rom bios' along with an infected
floppy disk that sets everything off once again.

If you're dealing with a gateway board with goback
installed, dos removal is the only cure.

Good luck.

by ysamala

Try to get a windows 98 second edition copy from some body else and try to install that.I believe its problem with the CD you have.
Good Luck

by glyall

check to capacitors next to the CPU.
If they are flat on top they are good.
If they are raised they are bad.
Having just one bad capacitor will cause this problem.
I have had to replace at 8 motherboards in the last year because they had bad capacitors.

God Luck

by mike (from canada)

Check your memory. more memory is better than less memory. Check your hard drive for errors, and defragment it. You might want to add the following lines to your c:\windows\system.ini file under the [386enh] section:

SysVMEMSlimit=-1
SysVMXMSlimit=-1
PageOverCommit=0

Under the [Vcache] section, add this line:

MaxFileCache=0

Even though the last line is "unapproved" by Microsoft, that setting makes your system faster because no caching is really necessary.

Restart your computer, and windows should now be utilizing all your memory instead of just 2MB of it.

How do I know all this? Personal experience, and Microsoft.

by kryptos

You must have already changed every single piece of your system.

Well as basic rule of System troubleshooting... Set your system to basic configuration.

i.e. hardware and software just enough to show you the windows desktop.

I.e. motherboard, Processor, minimum memory, HDD, key board mouse etc. remove all other hardware including CD, FDD, Soundcard, additional display cards if any, modem etc.

I would suggest fresh windows install if possible. and yes ...no additional drivers including for video (use standard video).

Test your system thoroughly with minimum configuration.

If problem persist there now minimum items for you to suspect..

If no problem found: start adding hardware components, software & drivers one by one and test after each addition.

As you mentioned it restart after connecting to internet. Test system with out connecting to internet. It could be due to some OS vulnerability

thx,

by furqan asrar

Oh I didn't see other answers... dumb me..

Another thing is, we have dual voltage here.. I'm not sure abt ur place... If the Power Supply is set to 220V and you plug it into a 110V Socket, the PC will work but every now and then it will restart...

by pclemente2

If what you want is something to monitor your system [ and eat up memmory as well ] there are application out there. If you want Diagnostic software well... than Heirn boot Cd / Ultimate Boot CD / Bart PE / there are tons out on the net. Boot cds which allow to you to boot to DoS/ Win98 / winME / and of course XP. with some very good utilities. Great for recover / imaging / diagnostic / ERD you name it. You'll see lots of discussion on which one is better... Hell there all great. Get them And keep them close. They have saved me on numerous occations.

Best Of Luck...

by dmiles

There is really nothing that a virus can do to affect the registry. And, what is happening is that an error in the registry is being detected (in ram), and the process is doing the equivalent of a scanreg/restore to the previous good version.
This problem will occur when you have bad ram.
Download and run a diagnostic program

http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp

If this does check out ok, confirm that you have installed this MS shutdown patch.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/WUCritical/q273017/Default.asp

You may also find very very appealing to know that there is a system folder named _RESTORE and/or RESTORE.

_RESTORE lives in C:\ while RESTORE folder you can visit in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM

It is a good idea just to take a peek in those two file to check if the scanreg executable lives there. Delete it from there if you still want to keep your System Restore feature enabled.

Same case applies after removing a virus...some entries or files from the extint virus reappear each time you boot if you don't delete them here C:\_RESTORE

And why not also check your AUTOEXEC.BAT file as well as your StartUp folder?

The first one is found in C:\AUTOEXEC and the last one in C:\WINDOWS\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

Remove any scanreg.exe entries if found there.

By the way, is good to point out that scanreg /restore is the predecesor of WinMe's System Restore

In win9X it was done manually in conjunction with a file that used to be downloaded directly from Microsoft's called Winsock Restore.

And finally, since the registry topic was also brougt up you may find also interesting paying a visit to the registry and removing any scanreg entry found in the following key in order to prevent it from running every time your Windows gets restarted:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run- and/or just Run

Hope this helps.

Report

This discussion is closed to new replies.