Reinstall Win XP Home

[Frank]

I have an HP laptop that comes up with the following error and can not
get past it. Safe Mode does not work either.

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 writable.

I would like to just reinstall XP Home, but I do not have the XP Home
install CD. Is there some place I can download the install CD's? Or do
I have any other options?

I have the XP Home Edition product key on the bottom of the laptop, so
that will be no problem.

Thank you
Frank

 

[peter]

How did you put XP on the laptop in the 1st place..........what does your
manual say about activating the Recovery Partition upon startup??
Most laptops come with a part of the HD hidden ...called a Recovery/Restore
Partition. On this partition ia all of the XP install files as well as the
programs that came with the system when you 1st purchased it.By activating
this you will be reinstalling the OS and placing the Laptop in a "just
purchased" state.All updates will need to be re-downloaded...all programs
installed since that point will need to be reinstalled...all work files will
be deletd....
On the HP website or in the manual that came with your particular model you
will find instructions on how to do this.
good luck....hope you have your stuff backed up!!
peter

 

[peter]

I have the XP Home Edition product key on the bottom of the laptop, so
that will be no problem.

Isn't that like having the key to a car.............but no car???

 

[Frank]

Hi Peter
Thanks for getting back to me. Actually it's not my laptop, just trying
to help somebody out. They don't have the CD's either or misplaced
them. So I have no manual or nothing. I guess I should try looking on
the HP site for any references to this laptop model.
I doubt if they ever backed up any files, that's one reason I'm trying
to be careful and not just wipe out and start from scratch. I'll see if
I can recover by just reinstalling Windows.
Cheers!
Frank

 

[Frank]

No doubt.

Isn't that like having the key to a car.............but no car???

 

[Jim]

I have an HP laptop that comes up with the following error and can not get
past it. Safe Mode does not work either.

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 writable.

I would like to just reinstall XP Home, but I do not have the XP Home
install CD. Is there some place I can download the install CD's? Or do I
have any other options?

I have the XP Home Edition product key on the bottom of the laptop, so
that will be no problem.

Thank you
Frank

HP laptops do not necessarily come with the CD. Instead, they usually have
a repair
partition which restores the computer to the as delivered condition.
Getting to the
repair partition is usually done through one of function keys which you
press before
the BIOS tries to load XP.

They may be able to get a CD from HP. Support, such as it is, comes from
the OEM..
Thus, you must direct inquiries about the computer to HP.

Jim

 

[Frank]

Thank Jim
I've contacted HP Chat support and they are having me run some HDD
tests. I've tried to press F11 upon bootup but does nothing. Still
trying to find the magic Function key.
Cheers
Frank

 

[ifanatic]

Hi Frank
I belive the magic key for recovery is F12.
Keep tapping this key when the computer starts up


Regards,

 

[Frank]

Well, F12 says to boot to LAN, I do that it does mention about F10 to
Hidden Partition and just goes to the Boot Device menu. I select Hard
Disk and I'm back to square one.
I'll try and get back with HP.
Thank you
Frank