Hive error

[B. Wind]

System: Dell Dimension 8100
Boot failure with this message:


STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}:

\systemroot\system32\config\software

Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure
but drive is reading fine from DOS

Hard drive diagnostics disk cannot load CD ROM drivers;
drive not found

How can I get this thing started to repair the W2K OS?

 

[Dave Patrick]

If the software hive is corrupt, it may be possible to rename the software
hive found in;
%windir%\system32\config\software
to software.old
then copy the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback
as
%windir%\system32\config\software

If that fails you can copy/ use the file
%windir%\repair\software
This file is an image of the hive at the time the OS was installed, so you'd
have to reinstall all software. This being the case you might just as well
blow it away and start a new install. (note: this would at least allow you
to start the OS to make any necessary backups prior to wiping the drive.)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the
RecoveryConsole quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.

:
| System: Dell Dimension 8100
| Boot failure with this message:
|
|
| STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}:
|
| \systemroot\system32\config\software
|
| Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure
| but drive is reading fine from DOS
|
| Hard drive diagnostics disk cannot load CD ROM drivers;
| drive not found
|
| How can I get this thing started to repair the W2K OS?
|
|

 

[Jisha]

Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure

but drive is reading fine from DOS

Well... if the drive is reported to be in eminent threat of failure, it
might be best to back it up and then leave it alone, by doing a clean
install on a new drive, then transfer any other data as necessary from the
old drive after windows is up and running again.

Chris

If the software hive is corrupt, it may be possible to rename the software
hive found in;
%windir%\system32\config\software
to software.old
then copy the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback
as
%windir%\system32\config\software

If that fails you can copy/ use the file
%windir%\repair\software
This file is an image of the hive at the time the OS was installed, so you'd
have to reinstall all software. This being the case you might just as well
blow it away and start a new install. (note: this would at least allow you
to start the OS to make any necessary backups prior to wiping the drive.)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the
RecoveryConsole quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.

:
| System: Dell Dimension 8100
| Boot failure with this message:
|
|
| STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}:
|
| \systemroot\system32\config\software
|
| Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure
| but drive is reading fine from DOS
|
| Hard drive diagnostics disk cannot load CD ROM drivers;
| drive not found
|
| How can I get this thing started to repair the W2K OS?
|
|

 

[Bob I]

IIRC DOS take 5 tries at reading the data BEFORE it gives up and says
you are out of chances. I would be prepared for a failure.

Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure
but drive is reading fine from DOS

Well... if the drive is reported to be in eminent threat of failure, it
might be best to back it up and then leave it alone, by doing a clean
install on a new drive, then transfer any other data as necessary from the
old drive after windows is up and running again.

Chris

If the software hive is corrupt, it may be possible to rename the software
hive found in;
%windir%\system32\config\software
to software.old
then copy the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback
as
%windir%\system32\config\software

If that fails you can copy/ use the file
%windir%\repair\software
This file is an image of the hive at the time the OS was installed, so
you'd

have to reinstall all software. This being the case you might just as well
blow it away and start a new install. (note: this would at least allow you
to start the OS to make any necessary backups prior to wiping the drive.)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup
CD,

use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a
Windows

2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you
do

not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to
the

computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the
RecoveryConsole quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has
been

validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited
access

to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.

:
| System: Dell Dimension 8100
| Boot failure with this message:
|
|
| STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}:
|
| \systemroot\system32\config\software
|
| Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure
| but drive is reading fine from DOS
|
| Hard drive diagnostics disk cannot load CD ROM drivers;
| drive not found
|
| How can I get this thing started to repair the W2K OS?
|
|

 

[Mark V]

System: Dell Dimension 8100
Boot failure with this message:


STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}:

\systemroot\system32\config\software

Disk diagnostics report SMART HD possible emminent failure
but drive is reading fine from DOS

Plain old DOS has no means to see the SMART data...

I suggest immediate backup and a new HDD. Often a reported SMART alert
is already "later than you think".