Shoutbox

Alright seeing as i cannot use my computer i will not be able to answer any questions you may want to ask me so i will describe what i was doing in detail.

Last night (7th May GMT) My computer was mucking about and being slow and locking up so i just help the power button in to perform a power shutdown on the machine.

This morning I tried to start up the machine and after the XP loading screen I hear some grinding noises with a black screen (Just before i would expect the welcome screen, I had these grinding noises a while ago some members may remember) after the grinds (I'm sure they are from the hard drive) I recieved a BSOD with the following written.

STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
the Registry cannot load the hive (File):
\System Root\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent or not writeable

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

I'm not really bothered about the computer any more i'll probably order/purchase a new one by the end of the week.
If anything i would like to back up some files, songs, videos etc and then format the HDD and use it as a slave in the new system.

I've wiped/reset the CMOS and tried starting Windows in various modes (Safe Mode, Last known Good Configuration etc) neither of these have had any effect.

Last time i checked i had 0 cases of (BLAH)-ware and 0 viruses. I run at least one check per day.

I have access to the Windows XP Home Disc.

I DO NOT WANT TO FORMAT AND LOSE FILES.

I will attempt to check this thread whilst at school tomorrow and once again on my fathers computer when i get back home.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

PS: My Dad refuses me to test with his computer so i do not have access to spare components or power supplies etc.

try to restore your system from safe mode, naybe that will help

quote:

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Originally posted by supersonicdarky
try to restore your system from safe mode, naybe that will help

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quote:

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Originally posted by Fukafly
I've wiped/reset the CMOS and tried starting Windows in various modes (Safe Mode, Last known Good Configuration etc) neither of these have had any effect.

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sorry, i only read the 1st part, 2 lazy to read the rest

Boot from Knoppix (burn CD, put it in, boot up), and burn your files.

or reinstall windows. (not format for all you useless noobs)

yeah basically one of the registry hives is corrupted.....

Reinstall windows. (Or if you backed up your registry, load that)

I tried re-loading windows before a while ago, it seems impossible, can someone direct me to a web page with step by step instructions.

Last time i got somewhere and it said it would install and wipe my hard drive so i refused

You should be able to boot from your windows cd, and there should be an option to REPAIR windows.
That shouldnt wipe your hard drive.

And btw, its good idea to create a partition and place all your data on that and your OS on another, so you can easily reinstall windows without losing data

nice rafy, i was about to post a message saying that it said i was about to lose the "my documents" folder, and i went I'll cancel the process and then I'll create another partition as you say, is just over 9GB enough as it is all the available space?


EDIT:

Tried to create the partition but it looks like this.

PARTITION 1: blah blah blah (58000MB total) (9600MB free)
Unpartitioned space = 8MB

So i cannot create a partition.

What happens if i delete PARTITION 1 by pressing d. It says there are system files on it and i should only delete if i am willing to lose the system files. and it may not be able to boot windows XP until i complete installation

Does this mean that i will lose my other files also?

at 4 year old computer of mine