Resolved [STOP: C-0000218 {Registry File Failure} Registry cannot load hive]

WIN xp SP3 appx 5 years old.

1st problem was we lost our HP 5510 Officejet connection and were unable to install again. I found HP's site and downloaded a new driver set but nothing worked so we just gave up.

Came in this morning and found a repeating BSOD which read:

"STOP: C-0000218 {Registry File Failure} Registry cannot load hive (file) \SystemRoot\System32\config\default or it's log or an alternate It is corrupt, absent or not writable.


It then tells me it's dumping the physical memory to a disk and, after about 15 seconds, tells me that I should contact my system administrator.


OK. I'M the System Administrator and I haven't a clue! (Nepotism works!)


After spurking about with this for a bit, I discovered the "IBM Product Recovery Program (V5.8)" which gives me two choices:

1: Reformat your disk and install Windows XP, device drivers and any pre-installed apps

and 2: Run diagnostic tests.


I figured it was time to send up a rescue flare at this point... I donno want to "pluck the magic twanger" and watch the computer turn into a large doorstop

What should I do?



..............
As to why I get the BSOD suddenly... Any hints on what may have happened?


I think we can rule out the "It got sat on by a Yak" scenario, but just about anything else is on the table at this point.

It has 3GB Ram and was runnig SP3 when it decided to kill itself.


I'm more peeved than anything else, as I suspect one of the "genius children" may have tried to "fix" the computer for me and "Gebroke der schpringenwerken" instead.

 

Thanks Pete (and ARI)... I'll tackle this tomorrow or Friday. It doesn't look too hard, just something I'd not want to be interrupted while doing.

 

The link was just what the doctor ordered.

 

Something to remember for those with problems...

All too often I see posts where someone (and I have been guilty of this in the past AND in the present case) decided that "that step just ain't necessary..." and came up with a less-than-optimum final result . (the bloody thing [still don't work] [is worse than it was] [won't boot at all] [pick one] )

The instructions given are the BEST method the poster knows of to solve what (s)he PERCEIVES to be your problem, based on your (occasionally inadequate and sometimes dead-off) description OF the problem.

Answer the questions as accurately as possible when asked and follow the instructions in the given solutions as you would the 'Writ of your Faith'.

If it takes two days for the computer to do a (whatever), you may assume that the time is well-spent and necessary, else it would not have been included in the recovery steps.

Selah. This endeth the lesson.