Stop: C0000218 {regisrty File Failure}

[Rusty]

This is what was on my screen this morning when I turned it on. It also says: The registry cannot load the hive (file):

\SystemRoot\System32\Config\DEFAULT or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

Beginning dump of physical memory

Physical memory dump complete.

Is this a bad sign? Or is this a fixable issue? Luckily, we have wireless connection and extra laptops. Hopefully, I can get the home PC back up and running. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Danoinark]

Sorry Rusty...its all GEEK to me!!!!

Dano

[strangercreek]

The registry cannot load the hive (file):

\SystemRoot\System32\Config\DEFAULT

Was this on a black screen before Windows started?

Since this was accompanied by a blue screen I would back up any files (if you can get it to boot at all, or take the hard drive out (or have someone do it) and connect to another PC to see if it can be accessed to get your files etc).

try to repair windows, or restore registry

remember that hard drive failure is not always "sudden" and could start working fine for a while before crapping out completely

hope this helps...

[Rusty]

The registry cannot load the hive (file):

\SystemRoot\System32\Config\DEFAULT

Was this on a black screen before Windows started?

Since this was accompanied by a blue screen I would back up any files (if you can get it to boot at all, or take the hard drive out (or have someone do it) and connect to another PC to see if it can be accessed to get your files etc).

try to repair windows, or restore registry

remember that hard drive failure is not always "sudden" and could start working fine for a while before crapping out completely

hope this helps... IT DOES, AND THANKS!

The issue started this past Saturday. I was able to reboot and everything was fine, until three hours later and it did it again. So I tried deleting the java cookies (probably didn't do any good) and that helped for about 30 hours and it was at this time it was down for good. Can not get to anything at this time. I did save some of the files Monday, mainly photos though.

[strangercreek]

You can purchase a connector that will connect your hard drive directly to a USB cable, so that you try to access it. This will let you recover any files.

You can also remove the drive and plug it into another PC and access it that way (a few more steps involved and different steps depending on what type of hard drive it is).

I can't tell for sure with out actually looking at it, but it could very well be a hard drive going bad. Has the PC been unusually slow or noisy? (sometimes you can pull the cover off and hear a clicking/knocking or a "stuck" noise coming from the drive).

[Terry Beeson]

Yep... sounds like the hard drive is trying to crash... Backup the files and get ready for a new drive...

I assume you have a good updated anti-virus, right Rusty? Remote possibility it could be a virus working...

[Fishmeister]

Could this have been caused by a windows update. My desktop did the same thing, physical memory, dump complete. Never had a problem before or after I just shut mine off/on and everything has been fine since. This was early Saturday morning, I use Trend Micro for virus and spyware regularly. But my knowledge of fixing computers is to shut em off, if they don't work, trip to Best Buy! lol