Windows 2000 won't complete loading; memmory dumped to disk

[Bill]

Today when my daughter tried to boot up my laptop, Windows
2000 was unable to complete loading. It said it was dumping
memory to disk and referred to Registr Hive File Failure. A
message said problem was in SystemRoot\System 321 (or
34)\Configuration\SOFTWARE or its alternate. "It is
corrupt, absent, or not writable." The system would not
shut down & I had to disconnect power & remove battery to
stop it. Every time I try to boot up, this same thing
happens now.

 

[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%

 

[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%

 

[Mark V]

Today when my daughter tried to boot up my laptop, Windows
2000 was unable to complete loading. It said it was dumping
memory to disk and referred to Registr Hive File Failure. A
message said problem was in SystemRoot\System 321 (or
34)\Configuration\SOFTWARE or its alternate. "It is
corrupt, absent, or not writable." The system would not
shut down & I had to disconnect power & remove battery to
stop it. Every time I try to boot up, this same thing
happens now.

If possible post the _exact_text_ of any error messages.

"\System 321" sounds odd and unlikely.

 

[Mark V]

Today when my daughter tried to boot up my laptop, Windows
2000 was unable to complete loading. It said it was dumping
memory to disk and referred to Registr Hive File Failure. A
message said problem was in SystemRoot\System 321 (or
34)\Configuration\SOFTWARE or its alternate. "It is
corrupt, absent, or not writable." The system would not
shut down & I had to disconnect power & remove battery to
stop it. Every time I try to boot up, this same thing
happens now.

If possible post the _exact_text_ of any error messages.

"\System 321" sounds odd and unlikely.

 

[Bill \(original sender\)]

I do not know how to get to %windir% or what % stands
for, nor how to get to & copy recent backup (will it let
me & copy & paste like it was text?). Also, floppy drive
is broken; how do I get computer to read from Windows 2000
set up CD instead of from hard drive?

-----Original Message-----
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]

Today when my daughter tried to boot up my laptop, Windows
2000 was unable to complete loading. It said it was dumping
memory to disk and referred to Registr Hive File Failure. A
message said problem was in SystemRoot\System 321 (or
34)\Configuration\SOFTWARE or its alternate. "It is
corrupt, absent, or not writable." The system would not
shut down & I had to disconnect power & remove battery to
stop it. Every time I try to boot up, this same thing
happens now.

.

 

[Bill \(original sender\)]

I do not know how to get to %windir% or what % stands
for, nor how to get to & copy recent backup (will it let
me & copy & paste like it was text?). Also, floppy drive
is broken; how do I get computer to read from Windows 2000
set up CD instead of from hard drive?

-----Original Message-----
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]

Today when my daughter tried to boot up my laptop, Windows
2000 was unable to complete loading. It said it was dumping
memory to disk and referred to Registr Hive File Failure. A
message said problem was in SystemRoot\System 321 (or
34)\Configuration\SOFTWARE or its alternate. "It is
corrupt, absent, or not writable." The system would not
shut down & I had to disconnect power & remove battery to
stop it. Every time I try to boot up, this same thing
happens now.

.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Inline reply:

I do not know how to get to %windir% or what % stands
for

%windir% is a variable that points to the directory where the OS is
installed. Such as \winnt

nor how to get to & copy recent backup (will it let

me & copy & paste like it was text?).

* You'll need to work from the command line

Also, floppy drive

is broken; how do I get computer to read from Windows 2000
set up CD instead of from hard drive?

* If necessary you can set the boot order in cmos setup to CD-Rom, A, C

 

[Dave Patrick]

Inline reply:

I do not know how to get to %windir% or what % stands
for

%windir% is a variable that points to the directory where the OS is
installed. Such as \winnt

nor how to get to & copy recent backup (will it let

me & copy & paste like it was text?).

* You'll need to work from the command line

Also, floppy drive

is broken; how do I get computer to read from Windows 2000
set up CD instead of from hard drive?

* If necessary you can set the boot order in cmos setup to CD-Rom, A, C