stop error c0000218

[microsoft]

This error is coming up suddenly after my son used the computer. I checked
out on microsoft but they attribute this to hardware. I setup Win2000 in a
different directory and it runs well. I need to restore the original winnt
directory because of the medical programs. When I tried to repair the repair
only works on the new directory.
Help please.
'STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable. '

 

[Lawrence Tse]

I think this time we should listen to the error message carefully: did you
found the following file in your hard drive?

"c:\winnt\system32\config\software"

This file is having no extension and actually a subtree in registry. If
this file does exist and healthy, it will represent the software setting of
your system. However, if the file is corrupted, your system can be
reasonablily unhealthy up to the point of BSOD.

If you attempt to "repair" the Windows copy, it may attempt to install on
the same location, with trying to use the old, failed SOFTWARE file. So,
what to need to do to make installation successful may be deleting this file
from another copy of Windows you've installed and try installing once again,
or, simply do a clean install over existing folder.