I'm in a mess. My Compaq Laptop running XP Pro has this morning decided to completely screw itself up. Yesterday I had been working on it normally, doing Word processing bits and emails etc. When I turn it on, it starts doing a scandisk function, tells me there is no problem, and then gives me the following message: STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent or not writable. Beginning dump of physical memory Dumping physical memory to disk I have tried using the Installation Disk to do a repair function, but everytime I get that far, it doesn't offer me a Windows installation to repair, merely a Partition. I have tried everything I can think of, from starting in every other mode: Safe Mode, Using Most Recent Successful settings (none of which allow me to start Windows at all), ChkDsk, etc, to Trying to create a new partition within the existing one so that I could install a second version of XP to access my settings and back them up. But it won't let me do this, and I'm stumped. Could anybody tell me how I could repair my installation? I'm not the world's most computer literate person, but can find my way around fine. I've never had a hiatus quite so serious as this one though. Could I perhaps use Recovery Console, and in which case, how does it work? All suggestions extremely welcome. Jeremy

yes!!! i can finally help someone!!! **hopes the reader is ready for this "technical" message** if you want to use the recovery console, i can't help you. it makes no sense to me. ***************************************** this suggestion is a bit extreme, requires a working knowledge of building computers, a desktop computer with a free USB port, and $35+shipping. if your hard drive is removeable (if you've never opened your laptop before and there is a warranty sticker, take it to wherever you got it), then you can take it out and get an adapter cage. you can get one from: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=506073&Sku=D13-1004&CatId=1204 then, you can set it up like a normal spare hard drive, you can copy your personal files on to your desktop PC, and re-format your laptop's drive the same way you would a floppy disk. after that, use your XP CD and install XP again. this time, when it just lists the partition, keep installing (the formatting erased everything, remember). after THAT, put it back in the cage and put your old personal files back on it **hopes the reader understood** P.S. i can help in person if you live in Raleigh, NC

You might want to check out the suggestions at sft-cyber.com for repairing a corrupt hive file.

try running through this http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545 if you get any errors when trying to copy files across etc, then it could well be that the hive is irreperably damaged, or has disappeared. if that happens, then you may have to reinstall windows over the top, which would wipe out anything in my documents.