untateve Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 My computer was working fine yesterday but locked up this morning. I shut it off, come home, and I cannot get it to boot up. Not even in 'safe mode'. Here is the error message: Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\system 32\config\SECURITY or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. Beginning dump of physical memory. Physical dump complete. Contact your system administrator or technical support group. I am a computer moron, so please be gentle. Am I f'd? Can all be saved? Help, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 (edited) My computer was working fine yesterday but locked up this morning. I shut it off, come home, and I cannot get it to boot up. Not even in 'safe mode'. Here is the error message: I am a computer moron, so please be gentle. Am I f'd? Can all be saved? Help, please. 1298084[/snapback] I have see this error before. I have seen it go away. I have had to completely rebuild to get past it. I have done things in between. But I don't do a lot of PC work, so I don't want to recommend a fix (as most of my fixed include screwing around for a while until I can get the machine to respond to one of my methods) Ursa or h8 could probably tell you the best method for recovery. It's not likely that all is lost, though. Edited January 31, 2006 by Caveman_Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonorator Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 well, either just this file is corrupt, or you have more that are corrupt as well, which could either be due to a hardware (disk drive) problem or a virus. in any case, a corrupted registry is not good. if this were me, i would find my windows startup CD and boot from that. once i'm booted, i would copy off all of my data that i wanted to keep (unless you have up to date backups). after that, you can try and just replace the one corrupt file. go to the c:\windows\system32\config directory and you should see the SECURITY file, which your machine is saying is corrupt. rename it to SECURITY.OLD and then try to copy a replacement version of the file. you can get a replacement either from your backups, from the windows CD, or from another computer running the same operating system. after that, try to boot. if no boot and you get another error, you have more extensive corruption. you can keep trying to replace files, or give in. if you have a full backup of your system, you can go back to that. otherwise, get your data off and reformat, restart over ... others have have some slick norton-type utilities that may help with corrupted registries ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 My computer was working fine yesterday but locked up this morning. I shut it off, come home, and I cannot get it to boot up. Not even in 'safe mode'. Here is the error message: I am a computer moron, so please be gentle. Am I f'd? Can all be saved? Help, please. 1298084[/snapback] Is this XP or 2000? There's a whole raft of Internet data on this error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonorator Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 here is microsoft's recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 (edited) If it's XP, here's a handy link on how to repair the problem: Repairing a STOP error Edit - follow tonorator's link, it's better to use the MS method, although I think the two say the same thing fundamentally. Edited January 31, 2006 by Ursa Majoris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I had the same problem. I had to use the startup disk to restore thcomputer, basically reformatting the C-drive to standards as like I first got the computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 I just got home. It's 2000. I'll check the link and let you know. thanks for the help thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I just got home. It's 2000. I'll check the link and let you know. thanks for the help thus far. 1298365[/snapback] it sounds like there may be relatively easy fixes, but if it starts getting hairy, i would NOT slick the drive or even reinstall windows. i'd probably get a new HD (they're cheap these days), install windows on it, and bring up the old one as a slave, or in one of those external usb casings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 it sounds like there may be relatively easy fixes, but if it starts getting hairy, i would NOT slick the drive or even reinstall windows. i'd probably get a new HD (they're cheap these days), install windows on it, and bring up the old one as a slave, or in one of those external usb casings. 1298368[/snapback] Good info here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted February 2, 2006 Author Share Posted February 2, 2006 well, I tried every f'n thing I could. I read the articles and I've learned all kinds of info I never hoped to learn. Still no luck. tomorrow, first thing, my computer goes into my local shop. I know the guy real well (he's in my $$ fantasy league and he does all the computer work for my practice). So, now I'm on dial up on my laptop. Dial up be slow. thanks to everyone for helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Love Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 it sounds like there may be relatively easy fixes, but if it starts getting hairy, i would NOT slick the drive or even reinstall windows. i'd probably get a new HD (they're cheap these days), install windows on it, and bring up the old one as a slave, or in one of those external usb casings. 1298368[/snapback] Why? (I'm not challenging the wisdom of the advice, I'm genuinely curious) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 well, I tried every f'n thing I could. I read the articles and I've learned all kinds of info I never hoped to learn. Still no luck. tomorrow, first thing, my computer goes into my local shop. I know the guy real well (he's in my $$ fantasy league and he does all the computer work for my practice). So, now I'm on dial up on my laptop. Dial up be slow. thanks to everyone for helping. 1300287[/snapback] I hope you have BU's of data on the drive. If not and it REALLY is irreplaceable data, consider a new HD for re-build, take the old one out before repair, and I can give you some links to co's that can retrieve it. It ain't cheap, but.............it depends on what the data is worth! Good article on this in PC Mag last month. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted February 2, 2006 Author Share Posted February 2, 2006 I hope you have BU's of data on the drive. If not and it REALLY is irreplaceable data, consider a new HD for re-build, take the old one out before repair, and I can give you some links to co's that can retrieve it. It ain't cheap, but.............it depends on what the data is worth! Good article on this in PC Mag last month. Good luck! 1300300[/snapback] I had just about everything vital backed up. I was able to install another version of windows and got the rest that was vital. I couldn't get to the music i've down loaded but perhaps that's just karma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I had just about everything vital backed up. I was able to install another version of windows and got the rest that was vital. I couldn't get to the music i've down loaded but perhaps that's just karma. 1300308[/snapback] I don't think the music would qualify as 'irreplaceable data'. Not worth $500+. Again, Good luck. And let us know nwhat happened! Peace rr26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Why? (I'm not challenging the wisdom of the advice, I'm genuinely curious) 1300298[/snapback] Doing this would allow the data (as opposed to the programs) on the old drive to be accessed. Thus any letters, MP3s, etc, etc, would be retrievable as the old drive would show up as D (or E). Further, he could retrieve his email (if he uses a client as opposed to web based email), his IE favorites and all the other stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Why? (I'm not challenging the wisdom of the advice, I'm genuinely curious) 1300298[/snapback] why wouldn't you format the drive (as someone else suggested)? that should be pretty obvious. data loss. you can try and make backups first, but backing up a hard drive on a computer that can't boot can be a pain in the ass. why wouldn't you do a new windows install? that's an option...but it MAY not work. and even if it does you probably still have to reinstall all the programs and chit. but new hard drives are cheap. install windows on a new HD and you upgrade your storage space and speed, and get all your data on a newer (more reliable) drive. if the old drive is still fine and it's just the one corrupt system file, then you slap it in one of those USB cases and you've got some nice portable storage. so i guess the main advantages are 1) upgrading your hardware, and 2) a fix you KNOW is going to work the first time with no further issues, which in a case like this one COULD end up saving you hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Love Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 why wouldn't you format the drive (as someone else suggested)? that should be pretty obvious. data loss. you can try and make backups first, but backing up a hard drive on a computer that can't boot can be a pain in the ass. why wouldn't you do a new windows install? that's an option...but it MAY not work. and even if it does you probably still have to reinstall all the programs and chit. but new hard drives are cheap. install windows on a new HD and you upgrade your storage space and speed, and get all your data on a newer (more reliable) drive. if the old drive is still fine and it's just the one corrupt system file, then you slap it in one of those USB cases and you've got some nice portable storage. so i guess the main advantages are 1) upgrading your hardware, and 2) a fix you KNOW is going to work the first time with no further issues, which in a case like this one COULD end up saving you hours. 1300415[/snapback] Gotcha. I thought there was an implication that a refromatted drive would somehow be inferior and not good enough to use. I wasn't even thinking about getting the data off of the current drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKF Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 well, I tried every f'n thing I could. I read the articles and I've learned all kinds of info I never hoped to learn. Still no luck. tomorrow, first thing, my computer goes into my local shop. I know the guy real well (he's in my $$ fantasy league and he does all the computer work for my practice). So, now I'm on dial up on my laptop. Dial up be slow. thanks to everyone for helping. 1300287[/snapback] Hope there is no kiddie porn on there. The first thing I do when I help a person with a computer problem is copy their hard drive and take what I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted February 5, 2006 Author Share Posted February 5, 2006 It turns out my hard drive was fried. My system was old--still using 2000. Rather than spend the $$ fixing/upgrading, I just got a new system. I'm still on dial up and will be til tuesday. My dsl modem was also out of date and could not be set up with XP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 It turns out my hard drive was fried. My system was old--still using 2000. Rather than spend the $$ fixing/upgrading, I just got a new system. I'm still on dial up and will be til tuesday. My dsl modem was also out of date and could not be set up with XP. 1305734[/snapback] I hope you kept the old HD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted February 5, 2006 Author Share Posted February 5, 2006 I kept my old hard drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 I hope you kept the old HD. 1306053[/snapback] I kept my old hard drive. 1306056[/snapback] Why? It's fried, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 Why? It's fried, isn't it? 1306283[/snapback] Security at least, if he can't use it as a slave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted February 6, 2006 Author Share Posted February 6, 2006 Security at least, if he can't use it as a slave. 1306309[/snapback] I type a lot of my reports from home. It was a given that I'd get my hard drive back due to confidentiality concerns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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