I am using windows XP service pack 3. I have numerous registry problems. I tried a few registry repair software which runs & picks up 100's of problems. It fixes a few & leaves the rest. Then it prompts me to purchase the software. Is there a free recommended registry repair spftware that I can download and use to repair my registry problems?

You have not said which OS you are using so; from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

When you try to install Windows updates from the Windows Update Web site, the Microsoft Update Web site, or by using Automatic Update, you receive a message that the update is not installed successfully. Additionally, the update is not displayed in the update history.

You may experience this issue in the following scenarios:

Scenario 1 You try to install updates after repair a Windows XP installation by using the Windows XP CD.
Scenario 2 You perform the following operations before you try to install Windows updates:

You perform a new installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
You visit the Windows Update Web site, or the Microsoft Update Web site.
Note When you visit the update Web site, the latest version of Windows Update software will be installed in your computer.
You install Windows XP Service Pack (SP3) without a restart.
You try to install Windows updates after the install of Windows XP SP3.

Then cause ;

This issue occurs because the Wups2.dll file that is included in the latest version of Windows Update is not installed correctly.

For scenario 1, the registry entries that correspond to the Wups2.dll file are missing after the repair install of Windows XP. The release version of Windows XP does not contain the Windows Update software.

For scenario 2, the registry entries that correspond to Windows Update are changed back to the Windows XP SP2 version if you did not restart the computer before you install Windows XP SP3. The registry entries for the Wups2.dll file are changed to pointing to the Wups.dll file that is included in the release version of Windows XP SP2.
To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods;

Method 1: Download and install the Windows Update Agent,
For an x86-based computer; http://download.windowsupdate.com/WindowsUpdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

For an x64-based computer http://download.windowsupdate.com/WindowsUpdate/redist/standalone/7.4.7600.226/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x64.exe

Method 2: Register the Wups2.dll file,

To have MS register the Wups2.dll file in Windows for you, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144#FixItForMeAlways.

If you prefer to fix this problem yourself,

To register the Wups2.dll file in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Open the Command Prompt window. To do this, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
net stop wuauserv

2. Register the Wups2.dll file. To do this, follow these steps:

a. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll

Note For a computer that is running Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
regsvr32 %windir%\syswow64\wups2.dll

b. Click OK if you receive a verification message.

3. Start the Automatic Updates service. To do this, type the following command at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:
net start wuauserv

4. Exit the Command Prompt window. To do this, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

Error 429 issue is caused by corrupted Windows registry.
The first tips to fix runtime error 429 is to run security scan on your computer. http://www.filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/
Repair your system's registry with http://download.cnet.com/RegScrubXP/3000-2094_4-10820427.html
Also you can try to go to the Microsoft Windows Script update page to fix runtime error 429. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=47809025-D896-482E-A0D6-524E7E844D81
If possible download XP SP3 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/learn-how-to-install-windows-xp-service-pack-3-sp3
Hope my solution will help you...
Have a Nice Day

The CD could be the problem. Try Isolating... Use a different PC.

Download ccleaner and tell it fix your registry. If that doesn't do uninstall flash player and download it directly.

The ip address is Static Ipaddress . Tried to do ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew. Check the ipaddress it should be a different ip address. If your are getting the same 169.254.1.1 ip address . Need to remove and reinstall Winsoc. Backup the registry before performing winsock troubleshooting.

Remove the Winsock Settings
To remove the Winsock settings in Microsoft Windows XP, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for the Windows XP service pack that is installed.
Determine Your Service Pack Level
To determine the service pack level that Windows XP is running, use an account that has Administrator rights and follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
2. In the Run window, type sysdm.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
3. In the System Properties window, on the General tab, note the service pack level that appears under System. For example, information that resembles the following may appear:
   Microsoft Windows XP
   Professional
   Version 2002
   Service Pack 2

For Computers Running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
On a computer that is running Windows XP Service Pack 2, you can use the Netsh command to reset the Winsock settings to the default configuration:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
2. In the Run window, in the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
   
3. At the cmd.exe screen, type netsh winsock reset catalog, and then press <Enter>.
   The following message appears:
   Successfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
   You must restart the machine in order to complete the reset.
4. Type exit, and then press <Enter> to quit the cmd.exe screen.
   
5. Restart the computer.
   

For Computers Running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Earlier
To remove Winsock settings from a computer that is running Windows XP Service Pack 1 or from a computer that is running the original release version of Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
2. In the Run window, in the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
   
3. In the Registry Editor window, click the plus sign (+) that is next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive.
   
4. Click the plus sign to expand the SYSTEM subkey, click the plus sign to expand the CurrentControlSet subkey, and then click the plus sign to expand the Services subkey.
   
5. Under the Services subkey, click the Winsock subkey.
   
6. On the File menu, click Export.
   
7. In the Export Registry File window, in the File name box, type winsock.reg, and then click Save.
   The Winsock registry subkey is saved in the My Documents folder as winsock.reg.
   
8. Right-click the Winsock subkey, and then click Delete.
   
9. In the Confirm Key Delete window, click Yes to confirm the removal of the Winsock subkey.
   
10. Click the Winsock2 subkey.
    
11. On the File menu, click Export.
    
12. In the Export Registry File window, in the File name box, type winsock2.reg, and then click Save.
    The Winsock2 registry subkey is saved in the My Documents folder as winsock2.reg.
    
13. Right-click the Winsock2 subkey, and then click Delete.
    
14. In the Confirm Key Delete window, click Yes to confirm the removal of the Winsock2 subkey.
    
15. Quit the Registry Editor program, and then restart the computer.
    

» Reinstalling the Winsock Settings in Microsoft® Windows® XP
Use an account that has Administrator rights and perform the following steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
2. In the Run window, in the Open box, type ncpa.cpl, and then click OK.
   
3. In the Network Connections window, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
   
4. On the General tab, click Install.
   
5. In the Select Network Component Type window, click Protocol, and then click Add.
   
6. Click Have Disk.
   
7. In the Copy manufacturer's files from box, type c:windowsinf, and then click OK.
   
8. In the second Select Network Protocol window, under Network Protocol, click Microsoft, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
   
9. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, click Close.
   
10. Restart the computer.
    
11. After the computer has started successfully, click Start, and then click Run.
    
12. In the Run window, in the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
    
13. At the cmd.exe screen, type netsh int ip reset delllog.txt, and then press <Enter>.
    

The Winsock settings are reinstalled.

1.format your system
2.reinstall windows xp service pack
3.install advance system care software
4. Advance system care (registry cleaner)
----------------------------------------------------
http://download.cnet.com/Advanced-SystemCare-Free/3000-2086_4-10407614.html

5.install antiavir9 antivirus software
6. your problems will be solved, try it.

First...you need to clean your "Windows"for unnecessary files.Search on Google for "free windows sweeper"...It a software very useful and free to use. Install the software check options in left panel and push "CLEAN". Second: Search on Google for a software for fix hidden errors(ex: Registry repair or Advanced System Optimizer) both software are 15 or 30 days free to use...And finaly get a antivirus. Nod32 run silent and not "eat" resources of comp....And don't forget START PROGRAMS ACCESORIES-SYSTEM TOOLS-DISK DEFRAG or (my recommendation is to use Advanced System Care.They have a free version very good....After all those things you will have a new computer...more faster....more optimize....Goood Luck!

What is the system doing when you try to change the operating system?
You should be able to uninstall the SP in ADD/REMOVE Programs.

Try the following:

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
3. Click OK.
   
   Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.
4. Navigate to and delete the following entries:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"dc2k5" = "C:\WINDOWS\SVIQ.EXE"
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"Fun" = "C:\WINDOWS\system\Fun.exe"
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"dc" = "C:\WINDOWS\dc.exe"
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\"run" = "C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\Win.exe"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\"Shell" = "Explorer.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\WinSit.exe"
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\"load" = "C:\WINDOWS\inf\Other.exe"
   
5. Exit the Registry Editor.