After upgrading to XP SP3 I receive this message

If you attached a file I don't see it...

I didn't attach a file, just wrote it on the question.  One of the files containing the system's registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy.  The recovery was successful.  

Oh, OK.  Generally, you want to put the exact error message(s) in quotes so we know what's the error message and what part is the commentary.

I would start by looking at the event log....right-click on my computer, go to manage, expand event viewer and look for any red X's or Yellow exclamation marks in the Application and System folders.  Paste anything here related to NTUSER.DAT, SYSTEM.DAT or SOFTWARE.DAT

Have you ran a chkdsk?

Could also be a problem with your HD. Test it using The Drive Fitness Test  diagnostic utility for errors. You'll find those tools on the UBCD:

http://ultimatebootcd.com

Googling reveals several possibles.

Bad memory chip.  Test memory using the UBCD http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Download links are the icons at the top of the page above Overview.  Browse the page and see what utils are there for you.  Check the memory and hard disk utils especially.

Make the CD and boot from it.  Run the memory tester first - memtest -  and let it do two to three passes through your memory.  Memory could be the problem so get that test done first.

Corrupt registry which has been suggested or bad disk.  Again use the UBCD to check your disk.

Also check this link http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1048048020 for various fixes.

I can only agree dbrunton. test memory & hd after chkdsk.

Hi mmccutch,

Please try the below solutions.

1. Go to my computer and right click on the hard drive (which is generally c: unless you have specified otherwise) then click properties, this will bring up the hard drive properties window. Now click on the tools tab and then click on Check Now... then you will need to select both the "Automatically fix file system errors" and the "check for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" and then click ok it will then prompt you to schedule a scan at startup click yes and then manually restart your computer. When you computer restarts it will scan the hard drive and repair any errors. This process takes about 1 to 3 hours depending on the size and condition of your hard drive. If the problem is still not solved, please proceed to 2.

2. Download TuneUp 2004 from cnet.com and run TuneUp RegistryDefrag. If still not working, please proceed to 3.

3. Remove the MS update KB40987.

4. Please try the below steps:

a.  Create a new user account with administrative rights on the affected machine.
 Navigate to the affected user's profile directory and copy ntuser.dat to a folder
named backup on your C: drive.

(example for a user named powereds:  copy c:\Documents and Settings\powereds\ntuser.dat to
c:\backup)


b.  Once you have backed up the ntuser.dat file, delete the original from the user's
profile directory

(example for a user named powereds:  delete c:\Documents and Settings\powereds\ntuser.dat)


c.  Log off the temporary account you have created and login to the affected user
account and let windows fully load up.  This will create a new ntuser.dat file under
the user's profile.


d.  Once windows has fully loaded up, log back out of the affected user's account
and log back into the temporary account you made earlier.


e.  Copy the ntuser.dat file you backed up earlier to the user's profile directory
overwriting the new file that was created.

(example for a user named powereds:  copy c:\backup\ntuser.dat to c:\Documents and Settings\powereds\
)


f.  Log out of the temporary account and log back into the computer under the affected
account and see if the problem is fixed.

Hope this helps.

If hardware tests pass run a repair of windows
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

check disk didn't work, registry cleaner didn't work.  I don't believe it is bad memory since it started appearing after I installed sp3.  But will try next.  Will try the other fixes as I can.  thanks for your support.

You may like to view this previous E_E thread which reports the same error message.  Although the machine in question is a laptop, and RAM was suspected from the start, you should find the other comments helpful>

"ERROR: One of the files containing the system's registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy":
http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q_21938000.html