Physical memory dump [Corrupt registry]

Need you guys again. Gremlins got loose!

Booted up my laptop (Win XP). Went into BSOD.

Here's the gist:

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 is a Dell and they do not supply XP software when you buy it. BTW. They expect you to contact them and do everything online.)

 

Your Registry is corrupt. Your options are:

1. Try booting to Advanced Boot Options screen by pressing the f8 key repeatedly during boot. Then select "Last known good" and hope it works.

2. Try running chkdsk /r from the Recovery console. I doubt that helps but we can't ignore it.

3. A repair install is next in line. Even that sometimes does not correct Registry problems.

4. A clean install will likely fix you right up. Lots of work there though. Don't forget to backup your important files.

It sure would be nice if you had a recent backup image to deploy.

 

Unfortunately, nothing worked. Dell tech support recommended "pc restore" which brings it back to "out of the box ".

They are sending me an XP disk. At the time we bought this pc, Dell didn't supply the install disk. Now they do. Go figure.......

While I wait on the mail, I'm going to get rid of the advertising junk Dell loads on their pcs. Gives me something to do, huh?

 

Well, I suppose that's the best you could hope for under the circumstances. My experience with Dell support has always been positive. I personally have a HP but do have two Dells that I bought for my son and daughter. They both came with an install CD for XP SP2.

A few years ago my son managed to get an old Dell that was hosed. I called Dell support and they shipped out a free restore CD, no questions asked. I consider that good service considering it was a used computer that had been through several owners before it came to me.

Good luck with the house cleaning and the restore.

 

T&S,
Try this:

http://www.yorkspace.com/pc-de-crapifier

mickzer.

 

I like that! Thanks mickzer. It looks like a "Use with caution" type of tool.

I hope T&S checks back since he may have need of that more than I.