i have a DELL inspiron 600 laptop with Window XP. i am getting the following error :?

Question

STOP : C0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load Hive (file)
\systemRoot\system32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate
It is corrupt, absent or not writable
How do I correct this problem ?

Answer 1

It looks like for whatever reason the registry hive isn't loading. If you have access to another computer... all you really would need to do is copy the SOFTWARE file from the C:\System32\Config\ folder and just put it on the hard disk of your laptop in the same folder. You may be able to put it on a cd and copy it from there to the right folder through command prompts. Do you know how to do this?

Also as a note.. there are I think 4 other files that may need to be replace... through the same method.

Answer 2

Sometimes OEM operating systems will mess with the admin password and not allow you to use recovery console.

If that happens to you, you may have to take it to an experienced computer repair tech. Reason being, you will have to pull out the laptops hard drive and install it into a desktop. Depending on what type of hard drive is in laptop you might need a adapter for it to fit into desktop. If it is SATA you will have to have a SATA motherboard or a SATA adapter card.

Once hard drive (as a slave drive) is installed in desktop (must have XP PRO) you turn off "Simple File Sharing" in "Folder Options" in "Control Panel". Also while in folder options, change the option so you can see all hidden files. Also make it to show operating system files.

With that done then navigate to the C: root of the laptops hard drive. You will see a folder called "System Volume Information". If you try opening it you will get a "Access Denied" error. To fix this right click the folder and select "security". Under "group or usenames" you want to add your admin account to this list. Admin account should be the username of your user account. Click the "ADD" button. Then click the "advanced" button on screen that popped up.
Once in the advanced section click "find now" and select your username from that list and hit "OK" then hit "OK" again. Your username will now be added to the "group or usernames" area. Under the permissions click "Full Control" and hit "OK". Now you should be able to open the "System Volume Information" folder.

Inside the system volume info folder you will see another folder called "_restore"...open it. There should be multiple folders named like RP1, RP2 and so on. Pick the highest number after RP (example: my newest RP-retore point is RP81). Open that folder and then open the "snapshot" folder.The files you are interested in that folder are
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM

Copy those files then paste them to the folder of C:\WINDOWS\system32\config
Once they are in the folder then you have to rename them. Rename them to
SAM
SECURITY
SOFTWARE
SYSTEM
you are just deleting the "_REGISTRY_MACHINE_" that precedes each file name. It will ask you if you want to replace the file that is already there....yes you do.

After you do that, your done. Reinstall that hard drive back into laptop and try it out.

If all else fails or if this is too complicated for you, reinstall the operating system. But with a reinstall, you lose everything you have saved on hard drive.

This problem can also be caused by a faulty hard drive, but I have not ran into one yet that has been a hard drive problem.

Answer 3

Error Message When You Install Windows XP: "STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}"
View products that this article applies to.
Article ID : 830084
Last Review : December 27, 2006
Revision : 2.3
On This Page

SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

RESOLUTION

Step 1: Make sure that the hardware Is compatible with Windows XP

Step 2: Use the recovery console to confirm that the hard disk or file system Is not damaged

Step 3: Replace the hard disk

REFERENCES
SYMPTOMS
When you try to install Microsoft Windows XP on a new hard disk that is formatted with the NTFS file system, you may receive the following error:
Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate
This error occurs after Windows XP copies the installation files to the hard disk and the computer restarts.
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CAUSE
This problem may occur if either of the following conditions is true: • The hardware where you are trying to install Windows XP may not be compatible with Windows XP.
• The hard disk where you are trying to install Windows XP may be damaged.

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RESOLUTION
Step 1: Make sure that the hardware Is compatible with Windows XP
For the latest compatibility information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com (http://www.windowsmarketplace.com)
For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
255036 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255036/) Microsoft Support Policy on Hardware Not On Windows NT HCL
314062 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314062/) The Latest Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List

If the hardware is listed on the latest Windows XP hardware compatibility list, see step 2.

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Step 2: Use the recovery console to confirm that the hard disk or file system Is not damaged
Important We recommend that only advanced users or administrators use the Recovery Console.

Note Only the Administrator account can access the Recovery Console.1. Start your computer from the Windows XP CD drive. If prompted, select any options that you must select to start from the CD drive.

Note To start your computer from the Windows XP CD drive, your CD drive or DVD drive must be configured to do this. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD drive or DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer.
2. When you are prompted to select Repair or Recover, press R. This starts the Microsoft Recovery Console.

Note You may have to enter the number to specify the Windows XP installation in the hard disk.
3. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the Administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
4. Use the chkdsk command-line tool to examine the hard disks. At the command prompt, type chkdsk /r, and then press ENTER.
5. Read the results, and then take any steps that you must take to complete the process. For example, you may be prompted to run chkdsk /f to fix certain problems.
6. Restart the computer, and then try to run Setup again.


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Step 3: Replace the hard disk
If the hard disk is damaged and cannot be repaired, you may have to replace it. Contact your computer manufacturer, the retailer where you bought your computer, or a qualified repair technician for information about how to replace the hard disk.
For more information about how to use the chkdsk command-line command to check and repair a damaged hard disk, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Answer 4

Did you remove any software? This sounds like something was taken off the machine and windows cant find it it could be and most likely is a bad section in the registry. You may have to reload the operating system. You can press F8 while booting and see if it will ask you to load the last good profile.

Answer 5

Do a system restore. Your Registry is wrecked.

Answer 6

croupt files in your os maybe, idk, goto bestbuy and acll geek squad