Unknown Error message

[cbradleyrun]

Recenlty my Computer crashed and will not boot. The error
message that pops up reads as follows:

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

Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete. Contact you system
administrator or
Technical support group.

My computer is using Windows 2000 professional. I've tried
to run it under safe mode, debugging mode..to no avail. I
have many files in there that I don't want to lose and
unfortunatly have not made back-up copies. Can anyone help?

 

[Mark Denton[MSFT]]

Hello cbradleyrun,

There's a couple of things you can do.

If all you want to do is get your files off:
You can boot on your windows 2000 CD and get into recovery mode.
"Press R when Prompted and then press C"
You can then renname c:\winnt\system32\config\software to
c:\winnt\system32\config\software.old then copy the c:\winnt\repair\system
to c:\winnt\system32\config\software

This will get you bootable.


If you want to try to repair:
Or you can follow the instructions on this link to create XP boot disks and
and run this chkreg utility.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=56d3
c201-2c68-4de8-9229-ca494362419c

Let me know if you have any questions.
Please reply directly to the thread with any updates. You may receive this
email notification before you are able to view my reply in the newsgroup.
Regards,
Mark Denton [MSFT]

Microsoft Server Setup Team

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!


This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
The views and opinions expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do
not necessarily express or reflect the views and / or opinions of
Microsoft.
****************************************************************************
**

 

[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

:
| Recenlty my Computer crashed and will not boot. The error
| message that pops up reads as follows:
|
| STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
| The registry cannot load the hive (file):
| \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
| or its log or alternative.
| It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.
|
| Beginning dump of physical memory
| Physical memory dump complete. Contact you system
| administrator or
| Technical support group.
|
| My computer is using Windows 2000 professional. I've tried
| to run it under safe mode, debugging mode..to no avail. I
| have many files in there that I don't want to lose and
| unfortunatly have not made back-up copies. Can anyone help?
|