How to recover from the Registry cannot load the hive Blue Screen of Death Error
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Google Query: Stop: C0000218 {Registry File Failure} Registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
Nothing is more frustrating than a Windows Blue Screen of Death. The Blue Screen of Death will keep your PC from booting and the messages are usually pretty cryptic. This message is no different. What it means is that the SOFTWARE registry key is corrupt.
Fortunately, the fix for this error is not as painful as the message would lead you to believe. The following steps, found on the TechZone Forums must be taken to fix this error:
-Boot your PC from the Windows 2000 or Windows XP CD and go into the recovery console by choosing “R”
-Type the following at the command prompt to replace your current SOFTWARE registry key with a repair copy.
ren c:\windows\system32\config\software software.old
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config
-Then reboot your PC.
If your computer is just part of a workgroup, you should be back in business. However, if you computer is part of a Domain, you may have to reinstall some applications and run:
gpupdate /force
This will refresh group policy. In any case the steps in outlined above should let you log back in to your PC.
Technorati Tags: Windows, Registry, Blue Screen of Death
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4 Comments on this post
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malaikah said:
i just wanted to say thanks, this post saved my sanity…and my work too.. thanks a million
November 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm -
hstagner said:
malaikah,
You are very welcome. I am glad that I could save you some grief.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm -
Brad said:
Thanks so much, however i still need help.
I did as mentioned and this sorted out the problem, once i exited the recovery console the blue screen never came up and windows loaded normally, i was beyond happy at that point.
Then after i shut down my PC and switched it on again, that blue screen, with the same error came up again
I tried doing what you said again, but it didnt work this time so now im depressed again…
im so lost on what to do…i dont know if this was the problem, but the pc the error occurs on is windows xp profesional and i used the recovery console on a windows xp home disc…
December 6th, 2008 at 1:52 pm -
hstagner said:
Hello Brad,
It is likely the differences in the Windows XP versions that is causing your problem. You are replacing files with this procedure, so you want to use files from the same version of Windows XP. Even the same service pack level. I hope this helps.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
