I have a Dell Dimension 5150 that started giving me problems a week ago. I could click on Internet explore and after a few seconds it would go off and power down the computer. Then it would work for a short while and then do it again. It acted like the motherboard was going bad. I opened it up and the capacitors looked good. Today when I tried to boot up it ask if I wanted to boot in safe mode or normal. I tried safe mode and it would almost come up and then power off. Now I can power it on and it goes to the safe mode screen and then after trying to boot up it powers down and then back up. Now it comes up with the following after it cannot boot up and powers off and on. Stop: c0000218 {Registry File failure} The registry Cannot Load The Hive (File): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\Software Error. Of course it didn’t come with a recovery CD. I attempted to boot to Dell diagnostics and scan, but it will power off in the middle of a scan. I have replace the power supply. It was purchase in October of 2005 so it is out of warranty. Any Help Please!!!

sounds like a PSU problem. I believe you will have to go to dell to get a new one tho. I would honestly suggest going to someplace like tigerdirect.com and investigate getting a new desktop. you can get some very nice ... not high end units for around $300 you would have to use your existing monitor. best of luck Frank :

Disconnect everything from the motherboard except the RAM and video card. See if it will stay powered up. Make a note of where and how everything plugged in, so you can restore it exactly the same. Do yourself a favor BACKUP!

That didn't work. I had replaced the power supply and it still power off. I went to the BIOs and tried to change the boot sequence and it powered off.

After talking to Dell Support they said if not power supply replace motherboard, if not motherboard replace processor. I think it is time to get a new computer.