I believe I have Registry problems, and my little knowledge makes me dangerous.
When I add programs to the system I sometime feel that the change is not being add to the registry. For one I get a notice for a Windows update "Cumulative Security Update foe Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1(KB837009) download size: 1.9 MB, 10 minutes" seems to be not add to the system registry because after a reboot there message asking me to download a install the fix again. When I do the Microsoft download find it on my machine and install it again bypassing the 10 minutes download.

I get the following message when rebooting and for lack of knowledge do not understand what it is trying to tell me.

Cleaning and Compacting the Registry
Cannot import C:\Windows\NewReg.Reg:Error opening the file
The previous Registry has been restored

Trying to run SCANREG/W before a reboot does not help.
Another example is going to RUN and running MSCONFIG
If I use Selective startup and clear all check boxes so I will have no programs running but still can use optical drives and screen size, vice using safe mode. When I do the reboot I find all my startup program are running again or in other words Selective startup did not work.
Billy