C0000218 Registry file error

[wavodavo]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and would like some help please. I have a Dell Dimension E510 that I still run Windows XP Home Edition on for my older programmes. Few months ago, it failed to turn on and after replacing the relative hardware, was able to turn it back on. But as it boots up, dreaded blue screen of death comes up with the C0000218 registry file error and the registry cannot load the hive file \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE - it is corrupt, absent or not writable.
Normally after some Google searches, I can normally fix any problems but was struggling with this on. I kept searching and found a reply somewhere that said if you replace the SOFTWARE file in \SystemRoot\System32\Config\ from the Repair file on the computer. I did this and now booted up fully but now has seemed to have reset my personal folders and any settings that I had configured - even though the folders are still on the hard drive. I think all the programmes are still there but unsure.
I have now cloned my hard drive to a larger one as the original was failing but now I think I made a mistake by overwriting the SOFTWARE file.

Cheers

Dave

 

[ImWolf]

Dave,

Who ever advised you to replace one of those files in the Config directory with a file from the Repair directory forgot to tell you a few things;

A) You should always make copies of what you are about to replace (eg: Software.sav)
B) Users who go to this extreme fix typically copy all 5 (DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, and SYSTEM) Registry files at the same time.
C) When this process is completed, your configuration reverts to a point in time when those files in the Repair directory were created.

Depending on how many changes you made since they were saved, you might be stumbling across erratic or none functioning software in the days ahead. :*(

 

[wavodavo]

Dave,

Who ever advised you to replace one of those files in the Config directory with a file from the Repair directory forgot to tell you a few things;

A) You should always make copies of what you are about to replace (eg: Software.sav)
B) Users who go to this extreme fix typically copy all 5 (DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, and SYSTEM) Registry files at the same time.
C) When this process is completed, your configuration reverts to a point in time when those files in the Repair directory were created.

Depending on how many changes you made since they were saved, you might be stumbling across erratic or none functioning software in the days ahead. :*(

Hello,

Thank you for you response. I always try to backup everything where possible. When I did try and backup or copy the SOFTWARE file it wouldn't let me do any of it and just threw up an error.
That was the change I made.

 

[ImWolf]

Dave,

Not sure what you were using when WinBloze told you "NO, you can't do that"..... But it's in these times when everyone should have a boot-able flash drive with "Boot-Repair-Disk 64" on it. You can D/L a copy here. When you boot this up, you can do anything you want with your file system.

Download Boot-Repair-Disk 64-Bit - MajorGeeks

Boot-Repair-Disk is a Linux-based bootable DVD designed to repair any Windows computer that won't boot. It is a tool for when all else fails. Available for http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/detail...

www.majorgeeks.com

Then, you'll also want to D/L Yumi.... which unlike other utilities allows you to put multiple ISO's on a thumb drive and creates a menu system so that when you boot up the machine, you can choose which ISO to launch.

Download YUMI 2.0.5.1 for Windows - Filehippo.com

Download YUMI 2.0.5.1 for Windows. Fast downloads of the latest free software! Click now

filehippo.com

Yumi is a standalone single file program that doesn't need to be installed anywhere. You just double click it and look at the easy to follow GUI to create your emergency flash drive.

Wolf