Help! Windows won't boot, just a black screen with a mouse cursor!

[ssnova]

I was trying to install Avira on windows server 2k8 r2 standard when I came across this online:

http://expertester.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/windows-server-2008-as-superworkstation wrote:
1.) Start > Run > Regedit
2.) Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlset > Control
3.) Now change the permissions of the folder ProductOptions > add your user account (for example Computername\Username) and deny yourself the read rights for the whole folder. Be careful not to deny the whole rights for all administrators or something like that (I tried that first cause of a black out and it leads to windows not being able to boot).
4.) Now you should be able to install Antivir PE

In case you want to revert the permission settings just log to your administrator account. Here you can again grant your user account full rights for ProductOptions.

Foolishly, I followed the instructions without making a backup image, and without trying to opening up the zipped files and finding the executable.

Needless to say I have what this guy had encountered, "...it leads to windows not being able to boot".
What I have tried is to put in the windows server 2k8 r2 cd in attempts to "repair" it, but apparently it doesn't have that option, I have to log into windows first and put the disc in and continue, but that is not an option since it can't " read" my windows install.
The only viable options it gives me is to enter the command line in attempts to repair it, unless anyone has any other ideas?
Otherwise I was trying to see if I could reset the default registry settings for windows server 2k8 through the command line(unless it's a super pain in the a**).
Anyone have any ideas of what I can do? I looked up solutions online but couldn't find any, one guy had a solution but it involved booting into windows, which I cannot do, as it just shows loading bars then goes a black screen with a mouse cursor...it is seemingly unresponsive to commands, such as "ctrl+alt+del", etc.

 

[ssnova]

This is a link to a solution through using subinACL, however, if I understand it correctly, I have to boot in windows in order to run subinacl if it wasn't previously installed.

http://www.windowsreference.com/security/reset-the-entire-registry-permissions-to-defaults/

So I'm still stuck, I do have another machine with windows server 2k8 r2 installed, so I thought I would backup the registries there and then go from there but seems like a no go.

The goal, if possible is to see if I can just reset my registry permissions to default(seemingly through the command prompt as my only option), while keeping my install intact(not to mention all the clutter I saved on to my desktop).

Any input and help would be appreciated. Thanks in advanced if anyone has anything to say.

 

[ICTCity]

You could try this:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc754015(WS.10).aspx

But you need a restore point.

 

[ssnova]

Thanks, I see, the only time I'm able to go into the command prompt is when I boot from Optical disk rather than HDD. I appreciate the help, but like you said, I need a restore point, which foolishly I did not make after having this setup for about 20 days.

On a side note of progress, I put the HDD in an enclosure and I'm extracting out backup files that I need.

Out of curiosity, is there a way to change permission settings in the registry for the setup through an enclosure?

 

[ICTCity]

No, because everything is managed by many files which interrogate SIDs and put them in DACL and SACL, so that's can be made only from the OS itself. You can only take the ownership from another computer but only if the HD is not encrypted.

Next time... backup, registry export and restore point... the last 2 items require 5 minutes

 

[ssnova]

No, because everything is managed by many files which interrogate SIDs and put them in DACL and SACL, so that's can be made only from the OS itself. You can only take the ownership from another computer but only if the HD is not encrypted.

Next time... backup, registry export and restore point... the last 2 items require 5 minutes

Yes, I agree, a lesson well learned. I did this at a public library on my machine and when I rebooted and saw what had happened I busted out laughing like a madman, "are you serious??" lol.... in 20 days I had done so much to the setup too... I'm not looking forward to doing it all over again, but that's life, and definitely gonna make backups.

 

[ICTCity]

Usually you need an "experience" like this before really understanding the meaning of backup, disaster recovery, business continuity.