dporter Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Laptop: Dell Latitude LS 500 mhz 64 or 128 mb memory PC100 (cant remember which one I have in there) OS = Windows xp 20 GB Travelstar HD Problem: At startup it loads to the windows emblem with the scrolling green bar at the bottom then goes black, then a blue screen with the following error on it: STOP: c0000218 (Registry File Failuer) The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemBoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. Beginning dump of physical memory physical memory dump complete. Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance. Since I didn't have any files on it I tried a fresh install of the OS and that didn't help. Still get the same error. Any ideas besides getting a laptop from the current decade? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROCO*AFZ* Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 as per microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822705 With that being said if you did a fresh (fully wiped install) and got the same error then it's gotta be hardware. Try ram 1st 1 stick at a time. (easier on laptops but not as easy as on a desktop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxtrot360 Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) If you reinstalled (formatting and all) Windows thaen its a hardware issue rather than a software issue. Might just be better off to buy a new one considering the age. Edited October 22, 2008 by Foxtrot360 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dporter Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 Yeah, I'm thinking it's hard drive related. I took it out and there was something rattling around when I moved it. Before it gave out the HD made a bunch of clicking noises as well. It's not too bad to get a replacement. 20 gig HD to replace it is only $30 or so online. I might also look at upgrading the memory as well. There's only one slot for RAM but I can upgrade to 256 (I checked the ram last night and it's 128). I had to take the keyboard off to get to the ram slot. Thanks for the help guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat50 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 IIRC, I got the same error message a few months back. It was a RAM issue for me. I don't recall if my HD made any unusual noises at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehgler_AS Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 The "clicking noise" thing in a running drive is usually a strong indication that the drive is about to fail -- The sound you hear is the head being rapidly retracted and seeking back to where you were trying to read data from as a result of it being unable to read data the first time (it's basically a quick self-reset of the system the controls the position of the head). It sounds to me like the small investment in a replacement drive is probably a good plan. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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