System Restore will not boot: C0000218

[Brad]

I have the HP media center 883n. I'm not sure what caused
the problem, but it may have been when I tried to isntall
the .NET Compact Framework Service Pack 1. It never would
open the file, so I just gave up.

I then tried doing a fresh install of everything on the
computer like I've done before by going into the system
recovery. When I try to get there, either by selecting
the program under the START menu, or by pressing F10
during startup, I get the message...

Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry
cannot load the hive(file): \SystemRoot\System32
\Config\Security
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.


Every help guide I see online says to boot into System
Recovery to copy over your new files, but I cannot get to
this step. Is there anything else I can do? I can't even
try to boot from the XP cd since it comes budled on the
computer.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Brad,

To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
Xp wont boot:

Go to Recovery Console and type:

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
exit

Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545