Windows XP Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}

C

coombesy

New Member
Hi,

My friend at uni has a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop that has recently stopped work and when you try to boot up you get the following screen:

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.

Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance

This laptop, being a Dell, doesn't have an OS disk with it so I cannot format the hard drive and reinstall. Any ideas of a possible fix?

Thanks in advance,
Chris
 
I have since done a diagnosis (PSA+ Pre-boot System Assessment) run after pushing f12 at start up that reported the following error:

Error Code 0142.
Msg: Error Code 2000-0142
Msg: 0: Drive Self Test failed. Status byte = 79

Thanks Chris
 
You can repair that damaged "software" file by copying and replacing it with the one from the following location:

"C:\WINDOWS\repair\software"

If you do not have XP disk then from some other computer download Linux Ubuntu and burn it to the CD.Now put that burned CD disk in that non working computer,boot from it,select first option called "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" and after Ubuntu has been loaded,go to your hard disk drive and then go on the following locaton:

"C:\WINDOWS\repair" and from there copy the file called "software".Now go on the following location:

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\config" and there paste and replace that file called "software"




Cheers!
 
Hi S.T.A.R.S

Thanks for your reply, couple of questions, what program is best to burn the iso to the disk? and do I then need to remove Ubuntu afterwards in anyway?

Thanks for the help im downloading it now
Chris
 
I use Power ISO to burn the ISO image files to the CD-ROM disk.
As for the removing,you will not install Ubuntu so there won't be anything to remove.You will just boot it from the CD.
 
Hi S.T.A.R.S,

I did as you said how ever this hasn't fixed the problem all that happens now is the same error message comes up but the laptop restarts straight away, I tried to rerun Ubuntu but now that just freezes at the run from cd screen any ideas?

Thanks Chris
 
coombesy said:
Hi S.T.A.R.S,

I did as you said how ever this hasn't fixed the problem all that happens now is the same error message comes up but the laptop restarts straight away, I tried to rerun Ubuntu but now that just freezes at the run from cd screen any ideas?

Thanks Chris
Click to expand...

Ubuntu freezes??????Well if it does,it is NOT because of your Windows problem lol.If simple Ubuntu is freezing from the CD then something is definetely wrong with your computer hardware or maybe just the Ubuntu CD is damaged/scratched...

Anyway your Windows does not work because that registry file called "software" is damaged and you said you replaced it on the way I said and that it still doesn't work.So the only way to fix this is to repair your operating system using it's CD disk.If you don't have it,you should get one or at least borrow it from someone.

You can however take that "software" registry file from some other working computer and copy it over your "software" registry file on your computer,but you will be damn lucky if it will work since you have different hardware.

Anyway like I said...you must REPAIR your Windows operating system using it's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disk.
 
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