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Windows Don't Start Because of a Corrupted Registry

By Stephen Bucaro

Windows operating system versions previous to Windows 95 stored configuration information in human readable text files like win.ini, system.ini, config.sys, and autoexec.bat. But that method was inadequate for the enormous amount of bloat Microsoft put into Windows 95. In Windows 95 and higher, configuration information is stored in the "registry".

The registry is a bloated hierarchical database used as a central repository for almost all Windows configuration information. If areas of the registry related to hardware and security become corrupted, windows can't start and you lose access to all of your files.

What could cause the registry to become corrupted?

Assuming that the error was NOT caused by an untrained individual directly editing the registry, it could be caused by a virus, a bad software application that uses the registry, a bad RAM chip, a defective hard drive, a sudden loss of power, or cosmic rays (it's possible).

How do you know if it's a corrupted registry that's preventing Windows from starting?

If, When you try to start your computer, you receive one of the following the error messages:

"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE"

"Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE"

Or something similar, or you receive the message that a password is not correct when you are positive that you entered the correct password, then it's probable that the registry has become corrupted.

How do you fix a corrupted registry?

With the method described here, you use the Recovery Console to backup the corrupted registry files. Then you copy default repair versions of the registry files to the the \windows\system32\config\ folder. You then use the default repair registry files to start Windows and access archived copies of the registry files that were created by Windows System Restore feature. You copy the registry files that were created by System Restore to a temporary folder and rename them to use as current registry files. Then you use the Recovery Console to move the renamed files to to the \windows\system32\config\ folder.

To learn more about the Recovery Console, see the related article on this Web site.