Error Code

[Brad]

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.

This came up on a 2000 machine. The KB has an article
104203 that refers to NT and SCSI (we have neither). We've
done the steps in KB 306038 to no avail.

Any suggestions would be greatful.

 

[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 Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. 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 Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| 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.
|
| This came up on a 2000 machine. The KB has an article
| 104203 that refers to NT and SCSI (we have neither). We've
| done the steps in KB 306038 to no avail.
|
| Any suggestions would be greatful.

 

[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 Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. 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 Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| 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.
|
| This came up on a 2000 machine. The KB has an article
| 104203 that refers to NT and SCSI (we have neither). We've
| done the steps in KB 306038 to no avail.
|
| Any suggestions would be greatful.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

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.

This came up on a 2000 machine. The KB has an article
104203 that refers to NT and SCSI (we have neither). We've
done the steps in KB 306038 to no avail.

Any suggestions would be greatful.

Hi

Some steps you can try:


=================================================
Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...01-2C68-4DE8-9229-CA494362419C&displaylang=en

<quote>
Overview
Registry Corruption in Windows 2000 can prevent your system from
booting. The Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility is a tool that
can help to recover a Windows 2000 system from registry corruption.
This utility can be downloaded on to floppy disks and then run on
the system with the corrupted registry. Six floppy disks are required
for downloading this utility. The utility will attempt to repair
the corrupted registry and allow your machine to boot again.

Note Depending on the type of registry corruption that has occurred,
running this utility could result in some data loss from the registry.
Also, this utility may be unable to repair some types of registry
corruptions.
</quote>


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, try this:

When you start your computer, press F8 repeatedly. You should boot
into the Windows 2000 Advanced Options menu.

Choose "Last Known Good Configuration"


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, try to rename/replace the registry hive
from the Recovery Console:

Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=229716

and
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=#[email protected]

and
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP
from Starting (relevant for Windows 2000 as well)
support.microsoft.com/?id=307545


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, try to do a repair install:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=292175

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=306952


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, you might consider a format/reinstall.
If you have valuable data you need to rescue first, e.g. move the
hard disk over to a working system and copy out the data.

You might need this one in that case (applies to Win2k as well):

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

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.

This came up on a 2000 machine. The KB has an article
104203 that refers to NT and SCSI (we have neither). We've
done the steps in KB 306038 to no avail.

Any suggestions would be greatful.

Hi

Some steps you can try:


=================================================
Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...01-2C68-4DE8-9229-CA494362419C&displaylang=en

<quote>
Overview
Registry Corruption in Windows 2000 can prevent your system from
booting. The Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility is a tool that
can help to recover a Windows 2000 system from registry corruption.
This utility can be downloaded on to floppy disks and then run on
the system with the corrupted registry. Six floppy disks are required
for downloading this utility. The utility will attempt to repair
the corrupted registry and allow your machine to boot again.

Note Depending on the type of registry corruption that has occurred,
running this utility could result in some data loss from the registry.
Also, this utility may be unable to repair some types of registry
corruptions.
</quote>


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, try this:

When you start your computer, press F8 repeatedly. You should boot
into the Windows 2000 Advanced Options menu.

Choose "Last Known Good Configuration"


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, try to rename/replace the registry hive
from the Recovery Console:

Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=229716

and
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=#[email protected]

and
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP
from Starting (relevant for Windows 2000 as well)
support.microsoft.com/?id=307545


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, try to do a repair install:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=292175

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=306952


=================================================
If that doesn't work out, you might consider a format/reinstall.
If you have valuable data you need to rescue first, e.g. move the
hard disk over to a working system and copy out the data.

You might need this one in that case (applies to Win2k as well):

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421