BleepingComputer.com: Norton 360 Registry Cleanup Error

I recently ran N360 Registry Cleanup for the first time on my Vista Home Premium computer. Immediately my computer became unusable. Almost every service I try to access gives an error message. For example, IE8 wont connect to the internet, and when I try to run Network Diagnostics I get a message that "Network Diagnostics cannot run because the Diagnostics Policy Service is not running." The message contains a link to open the "Service Control Manager" and once there I find that all the Local Services on my computer have been disabled. The disabled services extend across all services, from "Bluetooth Service" to "Apple Mobile Devices" to "DNS Client", etc.

I have tried to run a restore point to return my system to it's earlier state, but I get another error message:"No restore points have been created on your computer's system disk" even though I'm sure old restore points were recorded earlier.

I have tried to run N360 but I get another error message: "Unable to open this Norton product."

Can anyone suggest a way to locate old restore points? My alternative is to manually restart all the local services that are not running, but I'm concerned that doing that won't reverse all the errors associated with the Registry Cleanup process.

Many Thanks.

Russell
....

This post has been edited by hamluis: 13 February 2011 - 07:24 PM
Reason for edit: Removed blank lines, moved to Vista from All Other Applications.

Bleeping Computer DOES NOT recommend the use of registry cleaners/optimizers for several reasons:

• Registry cleaners are extremely powerful applications that can damage the registry by using aggressive cleaning routines and cause your computer to become unbootable.
  
  The Windows registry is a central repository (database) for storing configuration data, user settings and machine-dependent settings, and options for the operating system. It contains information and settings for all hardware, software, users, and preferences. Whenever a user makes changes to settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in this repository. The registry is a crucial component because it is where Windows "remembers" all this information, how it works together, how Windows boots the system and what files it uses when it does. The registry is also a vulnerable subsystem, in that relatively small changes done incorrectly can render the system inoperable. For a more detailed explanation, read Understanding The Registry.
  
  
• Not all registry cleaners are created equal. There are a number of them available but they do not all work entirely the same way. Each vendor uses different criteria as to what constitutes a "bad entry". One cleaner may find entries on your system that will not cause problems when removed, another may not find the same entries, and still another may want to remove entries required for a program to work.
  
  
• Not all registry cleaners create a backup of the registry before making changes. If the changes prevent the system from booting up, then there is no backup available to restore it in order to regain functionality. A backup of the registry is essential BEFORE making any changes to the registry.
  
  
• Improperly removing registry entries can hamper malware disinfection and make the removal process more difficult if your computer becomes infected. For example, removing malware related registry entries before the infection is properly identified can contribute to system instability and even make the malware undetectable to removal tools.
  
  
• The usefulness of cleaning the registry is highly overrated and can be dangerous. In most cases, using a cleaner to remove obsolete, invalid, and erroneous entries does not affect system performance but it can result in "unpredictable results".

Unless you have a particular problem that requires a registry edit to correct it, I would suggest you leave the registry alone. Using registry cleaning tools unnecessarily or incorrectly could lead to disastrous effects on your operating system such as preventing it from ever starting again. For routine use, the benefits to your computer are negligible while the potential risks are great.

• Ed Bott's Webog: Why I don't use registry cleaners
  
• Do I need a Registry Cleaner?

Did you try uninstalling Norton 360?

Louis

I knew better than to mess with the Registry, but I was an idiot and did it anyway!

I am unable to start Norton; I get a message to restart the computer. I can uninstall Norton from the Control Panel, but I wonder if I might need Norton to locate prior Restore Points.

Somehow the Registry Cleanup seems to have disabled most Local Services. I can manually re-enable them, but I'm afraid this won't correct all of the errors. I'd like to locate a restore point, but the Local Service that is needed to find the point is also turned off. I've tried booting in safe mode, but I still get the same message.

Do you have any idea how I can locate the Restore Points, perhaps in Safe Mode?

Thanks,

Russell

Can't help you there...I don't use either System Restore or Vista.

Let's await inputs from others .

Louis

Thanks, Lewis. I'll wait for help from another user.....Russ