Hi Folks! My Windows 2000 comp has died Im getting STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SECURITY or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable. It then does a dump and restarts.. Can anyone please help me with how to recover from this, the obvious thing is install another hard drive and get the data off using this as slave, but id rather get it working as these loads of apps and stuff set up on it. Thanks in advance.

use the repair in windows2k

Yes Thats the obvious option... But I have not tried copying the entry from the \winnt\repair\security following boot up from the Win2k CD and the repair, because I can't afford to loose the data on the HD if I screw up a step. Call it lack of faith in MS, and lots of different advice on the net. Can anyone advise me step by step on a best course of action to correct this, especially if you have been there too!

You may have a faulty RAM module installed. Run Memtest x86 to check the RAM for errors. Faulty RAM often will cause file corrupted errors and file not found errors.

Memory test came back A-OK, and I've since installed another version og w2k on the computer to test and that works.. So has to be this security issue.. I've run the repair with fast repair option and it made no difference (i didn't have a repair disk though... there is a copy of security under winnt\repair.. which dates back to the 8/3/02 which is when the first install took place.. can you just copy this over.. will it work?? HELP!!!! Anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!