troubleshooting dilema

Troncoso · 07-09-2008, 01:27 AM

i'm attempting to fix a laptop. its not mine, and i don't have any knowledge of how it's been used, or what was going on when it quit operating properly. so, throw me a bone if some info is kind of vague. this is the problem. i really hope someone can help. this is a laptop handed down by a friend who has passed on. the problem: (I'll type up my observations as i turn on the PC)

press the power button
a screen appears that is calculating system RAM passed and extended RAM passed (i have the option to enter setup at this point)
windows loading screen appears
a black screen appears for about 10 seconds where you hear the hard drive spin briefly
an error message appears which says:

Code:

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

then the process restarts, over and over again. nothing different happens

my best guess is (obviously) a registry file went missing or corrupt, an important one, and the only way i see to get it restored is by booting from a OS disk. any other opinions or ideas?

Kill Bill · 07-10-2008, 07:47 PM

It's time to reinstall the OS The worst that can happen is that the problem is physical.

07-09-2008, 01:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Troncoso Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 212	troubleshooting dilema i'm attempting to fix a laptop. its not mine, and i don't have any knowledge of how it's been used, or what was going on when it quit operating properly. so, throw me a bone if some info is kind of vague. this is the problem. i really hope someone can help. this is a laptop handed down by a friend who has passed on. the problem: (I'll type up my observations as i turn on the PC) press the power button a screen appears that is calculating system RAM passed and extended RAM passed (i have the option to enter setup at this point) windows loading screen appears a black screen appears for about 10 seconds where you hear the hard drive spin briefly an error message appears which says: Code: 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 then the process restarts, over and over again. nothing different happens my best guess is (obviously) a registry file went missing or corrupt, an important one, and the only way i see to get it restored is by booting from a OS disk. any other opinions or ideas? Last edited by Troncoso; 07-09-2008 at 01:33 AM.

07-10-2008, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kill Bill Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ireland Age: 12 Posts: 998	It's time to reinstall the OS The worst that can happen is that the problem is physical. __________________ Macbook Pro 2.5GHz 17'' matte,2.5GHz C2D Penryn,2GB 667MHz,8600M GT 512mb,250GB 5400RPM, Mac OS Leopard (Latest Firmware) with Vista Ultimate A.K.A bootcamp.

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