Message: ERROR MESSAGE: Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate I had this problem recently and was able to repair my registry files and not reformat. We think this error occured when my nephew accidentally began reformatting his laptop harddrive instead of a new external. As soon as the format began, the laptop closed down and only would boot to the blue dump screen every time after that. We tried booting safe mode and all other ways with no results. So here is what I did to repair: Insert OS Disk (OEM Disk OK too) Boot computer, F12 in setup Boot from CD-ROM (immediately afer) hit key to boot from disk R for Recovery Enter 1 - For drive one with C:WINDOWS Admin password: probably blank (if you dont have this or blank does not work I cannot help you with these instructions) When the Command Prompt comes up, run CHKDSK /r This may take some time. Then when that is finished, EXIT Take the disk out and let the computer restart normally. If this does not work, there are some other methods to try instead of doing the Recovery, you can choose the Setup option but please read about this before jumping in so you dont reformat the hard drive. Also, there is a post on this site for the same error code that has you enter a bunch of commands at the Recover command prompt. Mostly manually copying files form the disk and overwriting them on the drive all through the Recovery Command Prompt. I did not try this but it looked promising. Good luck and hope this post helped. I am just glad the first step worked on my machine.