98. How Do I Repair A Stop c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The Registry Cannot Load Hive (File): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\Software Error

This type of error usually indicated that the pc has refused to start because of a corruption within the registry. The following should remedy the problem. However, it is important that you replace all five registry hives. Simply replacing one or two could, potentially, cause other problems.

NOTE

You should not use the method two set of instructions below if your system has an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) copy of Windows XP. Doing so will render your operating system inoperable. OEM installations create passwords and user name that did not previously exist. Therefore, in your own interest, these instructions will not remedy the problem. The easiest option with OEM copies of XP is to reinstall XP using the manufacturer’s recovery disks.

Easy Method

Restart your PC.
Keep tapping the F8 Button until a menu appears.
When the menu appears use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to select the ‘Last known good configuration’ option.
4/ Once selected press Enter.
Your PC should now reinstall the ‘last know good configuration file’.
Restart your PC and see if the problem has been solved.
If it hasn’t, go on to the next method below.

Slightly Easy Method

This fix was contributed by Peter Hayes. While this fix is not 'guaranteed' to repair the problem it is worth going through the procedure before stepping up to the harder method.

Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM and restart your pc.
At the Welcome to Setup screen press R to start the recovery Console
3/ The Recovery Console will now open and the list of Windows installations will appear.
As you only have one installation on your PC you need to press the number which is relevant to your installations location. This, obviously, will typically be 1 (one).
When requested type in your Administrator password. If you haven't set an administrator password, then simply press Enter.
The Recovery Console command prompt window will now appear.
At the Recovery Console command prompt type: CHKDSK.
If CHKDSK reports file sectors run CHKDSK again only this time type: CHKDSK /R instead.
Fixing bad sectors on the hard disk can take some time, so please be patient.
After CHKDSK has finished, remove the XP CD from the CD-ROM and reboot.
Hopefully your PC should boot as normal.

Harder Method

Step One

Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM and restart your pc.
At the Welcome to Setup screen press R to start the recovery Console.
The Recovery Console will now open and the list of Windows installations will appear.
As you only have one installation on your PC you need to press the number which is relevant to your installations location. This, obviously will typically be 1 (one).
When requested type in your Administrator password. If you haven’t set an administrator password, then simply press Enter.
The Recovery Console command prompt window will now appear.
At the Command prompt type the following, pressing Enter after you have typed each line.

md tmp

copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:windows\tmp\sam.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system

delete c:\windows\system32\config\software

delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam

delete c:\windows\system32\config\security

delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software

copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam

copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security

copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Now type Exit to exit the recovery console
Finally restart your pc

Step Two

When the PC restarts log on as Administrator. if you are using Windows XP Home you can only log on as Administrator via Safe Mode.
The next step is to copy the registry files from their backed up location using system restore. However, before you can begin you need to set the folder options in Windows Explorer to Show Hidden Files and Folders.
Open Windows Explorer.
Click the Tools option on the main toolbar.
From the drop down menu click on Folder options
In the Folder options window click the View tab.
Look down the file list until you come to a section marked Hidden Files and Folders.
Click on the Radio button on the left of the option Show hidden Files and Folders to enable this option.
Next move down two lines and remove the check mark next to the option Hide Protected operating system files (Recommended).
You will receive a message informing you that editing or deleting these files could cause damage to your system. Click Yes to confirm that you want to display these files.
From the folder/directory list in Windows explorer click on the drive where you installed Windows XP
Open the System Volume Information folder (The folder appears dimmed) If you receive a System volume Information is not accessible. Access denied Error message see Microsoft Knowledgebase Article 309531.
Inside you will find one or more folders that look something like this: _restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}.
If the folders are displayed as icons or thumbnails click the View option on the main toolbar and click on Details to give a more detailed view of the files.
Select a file that was not created at the current time and that starts with RPx (these are Restore Points)
Open one of these folders and look for a Snapshot folder - for example: C:\System Volume Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}\RP1\Snapshot.
From this snapshot folder copy the following files to C:\Windows\tmp folder.

_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM

Now rename the files as follows:

Rename _REGISTRY_USER_DEFAULT to DEFAULT

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to SECURITY

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to SOFTWARE

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEM

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM

Step Three

You now have to delete the existing registry files and copy the system restore registry files to the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder: You can do this either by using Recovery Console or (if you file system is FAT32) by using a Windows 98 Start Up Disk) Whichever method you use you will be presented with a command prompt. At the command prompt type the following, remembering to press Enter after you have typed each line.

del c:\windows\system32\config\sam

del c:\windows\system32\config\security

del c:\windows\system32\config\software

del c:\windows\system32\config\default

del c:\windows\system32\config\system

Now type the following, pressing Enter after you have typed each line:

copy c:\windows\tmp\software c:\windows\system32\config\software

copy c:\windows\tmp\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

copy c:\windows\tmp\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam

copy c:\windows\tmp\security c:\windows\system32\config\security

copy c:\windows\tmp\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Please Note

When inputting the above copy information, if you get a file not found error try adding a .bak extension to each copy operation, as follows:

copy c:\windows\tmp\software.bak c:\windows\system32\config\software

copy c:\windows\tmp\system.bak c:\windows\system32\config\system

copy c:\windows\tmp\sam .bak c:\windows\system32\config\sam

copy c:\windows\tmp\security.bak c:\windows\system32\config\security

copy c:\windows\tmp\default.bak c:\windows\system32\config\default

You should only add the .bak extension if you get the 'file not found' error message, otherwise follow the instructions at step 29.
Finally Exit Recovery Console and Restart your PC (If you are using the Windows 98 startup disk simply press CTRL-ALT-DEL to restart your pc.

Step Four

After your PC has rebooted click the Start button followed by All Programs.
From the All Programs menu click Accessories.
From the Accessories drop down menu click on System Restore.
From the System Restore window click on the Restore to a Previous Restore Point option and restore your pc to a previous restore point.