cannot start windows xp

[Guest]

HI,

I bought a 2nd hand computer and when I turn it on it comes up with a screen
that apologises for windows not starting and gives me options to start (eg.
normal, safe mode etc.,) when I click on any of these it comes up with a blue
screen that says:
"STOP C00018 {registry file failure}
\systemroot\system32\config\SECURITY
or its log or alternate
It is corrupt, absent or not writeable
Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further
assistance!"

Then it returns to original screen with options to start!

PLEASE HELP! I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT ALL THIS MEANS!

Many thanks for any assistance you can offer me!

Kind regards,
Sharon (Auck NZ)

 

[Jerry]

Sharon,

Were you given any books, manuals, or CDs with this second hand computer?
Since Windows appears to be somewhat installed then the license for you to
use it was required to be transferred with the system itself. If that did
not happen then your only recourse is to purchase your own copy of Windows
and install it as if it was a new computer. (Which may require you to ask
someone with computer experience.)

Jerry (in California)

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Sharon

Are you using hylafax?

I suggest you Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should
help by allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Right click
on the My Computer icon on the Desktop and select Properties, Advanced,
StartUp and Recovery, System Failure and uncheck box before
Automatically Restart.

Enable automatic restart on system failure after you have captured /
copied and pasted the message in a further post here.

There will also be Error Reports in Event Viewer. Please post copies.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools,
Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of the error, information
regarding Event ID, Source and Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&Product=winxp

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event
Viewer. Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. This will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report
complete with links into the message. Make sure this is the first paste
after exiting from Event Viewer.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[lvee]

when you say 'original screen with options to start' do you mean the normal
welcome screen, or the same screen black, with white letters, telling you
Windows Cannot Start?

you have a corrupt registry, and one thing you can try is start in safe
mode, to do so, restart your computer and as soon as the screen turns black
start tapping the F8 key until you see the Advance Startup Options. Choose,
using the arrows on your keyboard, the "Last Known Good Configuration" See
if that works. If not, you may have to repair your OS, which will require
the Xp cd.