receiving critical registry issue detected, what should i do

[DeeBee1518]

I am receiving message "critical registry issue detected".  What should I do?  Should I select "resolve now" or do shomething myself to check this out?

[Garp_senchau]

@DeeBee1518, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Understand the source of the message

• Is it from a third-party tool? Sometimes, registry-cleaning or optimization tools can give you alerts about potential issues, but these tools are not always accurate. If the message is coming from a third-party app (like a registry cleaner), it's worth being cautious.
• Is it a Windows message? If this message comes directly from Windows or a trusted security program, it might be worth investigating further.

Backup the registry (Always important before making any changes)

Before you make any changes, back up the registry to avoid any unintended issues:

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Click on File in the top-left corner and select Export.
• Choose a location to save the backup and make sure "All" is selected under the export range.
• Save the backup.

Manually check for issues

If you want to resolve the issue yourself, follow these steps:

Step 1: Run System File Checker (SFC)

This tool checks for system integrity issues that could be causing registry-related problems:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click, and select "Run as administrator").
• Type the following command and press Enter:
• Allow the scan to complete. If there are any integrity violations, the system will attempt to fix them automatically.

Step 2: Use DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool)

If the SFC tool finds issues but can't fix them, run the DISM tool to repair the Windows image:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator again.
• Type the following command and press Enter:
• Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time.

[Garp_senchau]

Step 3: Check for malware

Sometimes, registry issues are caused by malware or other unwanted software:

• Run a full system scan with your antivirus or use Windows Defender to check for malware:
  • Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
  • Click Quick Scan or Full Scan.

Step 4: Check for outdated drivers or software

Outdated software can cause registry problems, so ensure your system is up-to-date:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any available updates.
• Update your drivers via Device Manager by right-clicking on devices and selecting Update Driver.

Use a registry cleaner (with caution)

If you decide to use a registry cleaner, do so carefully:

• Some third-party tools can help clean up registry issues, but they often make sweeping changes that might cause other problems.
• Only use reputable registry cleaning tools, like CCleaner, and ensure you create a backup before allowing the tool to make any changes.

If you’re unsure, go with "Resolve Now" (but cautiously)

If you're not comfortable troubleshooting the issue yourself, selecting "Resolve Now" might be a good option if the message is from a trusted program, and you’re sure it’s legitimate. However, always ensure the program is well-known and reputable. If it's a registry cleaner, be aware that it might remove or alter important entries that could cause other problems.

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• sfc /scannow

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Problem solved? 🎉 Awesome! Mark this as the Accepted Solution to help the next person find their way faster. 🧭 And if it was helpful, click 'yes'—you’ll make someone’s search journey that much easier (and give this reply some well-deserved street cred 🏅)

Regards,

[ydnasbeans]

Well that's the question, we can't tell if HP sent this? It says hp but since you are asking us to verify if it's a 3rd party?/ heck no I am not comfortable clicking it. So basically, you don't recognize this pop up? and HP doesn't send these?

[G_Gidden13]

Under "Manually Check for Issues" and "Step 1: Run System File Checker (SFC)" the second bullet point states:

"Type the following command and press Enter: ", but there is no command listed or written. What is the command missing for this step?

Under "Step 2: Use DISM", there is the same problem. It says "Type the following command and press Enter:" but there is no command given.

These instructions are useless without giving the proper prompts to enter during these steps.

[erniek70]

Is this fake?  Seems to me, I saw something a few weeks ago, like this, and was fake.