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#1
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
Back on Sept. 13th, I first got this error:
Stop: 0xc0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SYSTEM or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. Did a chkdsk /f, no bad sectors. Tried restoring system from a previous restore point, still same error. Virus and malware scans showed the system was clean. I still could boot up using Last Good Config. One day I decided to try applying windows xp updates. Did that and it rebooted fine. Then I did a cold boot and it booted fine. I thought my problem was solved. Shutdown the PC, didn't turn it on again for two weeks. But when I did, hive error again. Everyone and their brother told me my hard drive was going bad. For several months now I had still been able to boot up using Last Good Config. However, the other day that stopped working, and then I had to boot up be going into safe mode, doing a chkdsk /f and then reboot for it to come up. I bought Norton Ghost then cleard off my second hard drive - D: drive and copied the C: drive to it. I removed my old C: drive and replaced it with my old D: drive, now my new C: I booted up the PC and it booted fine. So, I shut it down and popped in the new 1 TB drive I bought to take the place of my old D: drive. I turned on the PC and hive file error again. I don't get it. How can it sometimes find the hive files and sometimes not? I mean either they are corrupt or they arent. Right? While my user account is an adminstrator on the PC, I don't have the Adminstrator password. So, I've been hesitant to try the recovery console. I really want to avoid having to do a whole brand new install of XP. I have my original hive files in the windows/repair folder. I don't know what these files do. Could I just copy those over my current ones or will that mess things up? I don't have any other hive files from before my problem started other than those. |
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#2
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
D B wrote:
Back on Sept. 13th, I first got this error: Stop: 0xc0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SYSTEM or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. Did a chkdsk /f, no bad sectors. Tried restoring system from a previous restore point, still same error. Virus and malware scans showed the system was clean. I still could boot up using Last Good Config. One day I decided to try applying windows xp updates. Did that and it rebooted fine. Then I did a cold boot and it booted fine. I thought my problem was solved. Shutdown the PC, didn't turn it on again for two weeks. But when I did, hive error again. Everyone and their brother told me my hard drive was going bad. For several months now I had still been able to boot up using Last Good Config. However, the other day that stopped working, and then I had to boot up be going into safe mode, doing a chkdsk /f and then reboot for it to come up. I bought Norton Ghost then cleard off my second hard drive - D: drive and copied the C: drive to it. I removed my old C: drive and replaced it with my old D: drive, now my new C: I booted up the PC and it booted fine. So, I shut it down and popped in the new 1 TB drive I bought to take the place of my old D: drive. I turned on the PC and hive file error again. I don't get it. How can it sometimes find the hive files and sometimes not? I mean either they are corrupt or they arent. Right? While my user account is an adminstrator on the PC, I don't have the Adminstrator password. So, I've been hesitant to try the recovery console. I really want to avoid having to do a whole brand new install of XP. I have my original hive files in the windows/repair folder. I don't know what these files do. Could I just copy those over my current ones or will that mess things up? I don't have any other hive files from before my problem started other than those. In terms of corrupting your registry, it could be, that during the shutdown phase, the files aren't getting flushed to disk. Normally, a command would be issued, to flush the OS cache, the disk controller cache (on the disk itself), out to the platter. And then it would be safe to shutdown. Soon after that, the PC turns off the power. If that was not completing in time, it could result in a report of problems later. But then, you'd probably also see reports of other file system errors, when running CHKDSK. Your System Restore points, have copies of your registry, And those snapshots should be taken, while the system is healthy. Doing a restore then, should put good copies of the registry back on the disk. As long as you haven't turfed them, then you might still be OK. ******* This is an example, of recovering from a completely corrupted registry. It relies on the copies in System Restore, to finally repair the damage. The "empty" registry files, used in the first step here, aren't sufficient. System Restore puts back some copy of a "good" registry. The "empty" registry files, are used for the first reboot, so you can get the computer running again, and then use System Restore. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 ******* You can probably find a link, that will tell you how to set the Administrator password. http://kb.iu.edu/data/arni.html Paul |
#3
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
On Jan 2, 6:04*pm, Paul wrote:
D B wrote: Back on Sept. 13th, I first got this error: Stop: 0xc0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SYSTEM or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. Did a chkdsk /f, no bad sectors. *Tried restoring system from a previous restore point, still same error. Virus and malware scans showed the system was clean. *I still could boot up using Last Good Config. *One day I decided to try applying windows xp updates. *Did that and it rebooted fine. *Then I did a cold boot and it booted fine. *I thought my problem was solved. *Shutdown the PC, didn't turn it on again for two weeks. *But when I did, hive error again. Everyone and their brother told me my hard drive was going bad. For several months now I had still been able to boot up using Last Good Config. However, the other day that stopped working, and then I had to boot up be going into safe mode, doing a chkdsk /f and then reboot for it to come up. *I bought Norton Ghost then cleard off my second hard drive - D: drive and copied the C: drive to it. *I removed my old C: drive and replaced it with my old D: drive, now my new C: *I booted up the PC and it booted fine. *So, I shut it down and popped in the new 1 TB drive I bought to take the place of my old D: drive. *I turned on the PC and hive file error again. *I don't get it. *How can it sometimes find the hive files and sometimes not? *I mean either they are corrupt or they arent. *Right? * While my user account is an adminstrator on the PC, I don't have the Adminstrator password. *So, I've been hesitant to try the recovery console. *I really want to avoid having to do a whole brand new install of XP. I have my original hive files in the windows/repair folder. *I don't know what these files do. *Could I just copy those over my current ones or will that mess things up? *I don't have any other hive files from before my problem started other than those. In terms of corrupting your registry, it could be, that during the shutdown phase, the files aren't getting flushed to disk. Normally, a command would be issued, to flush the OS cache, the disk controller cache (on the disk itself), out to the platter. And then it would be safe to shutdown. Soon after that, the PC turns off the power. If that was not completing in time, it could result in a report of problems later. But then, you'd probably also see reports of other file system errors, when running CHKDSK. Your System Restore points, have copies of your registry, And those snapshots should be taken, while the system is healthy. Doing a restore then, should put good copies of the registry back on the disk. As long as you haven't turfed them, then you might still be OK. ******* This is an example, of recovering from a completely corrupted registry. It relies on the copies in System Restore, to finally repair the damage. The "empty" registry files, used in the first step here, aren't sufficient. System Restore puts back some copy of a "good" registry. The "empty" registry files, are used for the first reboot, so you can get the computer running again, and then use System Restore. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 ******* You can probably find a link, that will tell you how to set the Administrator password. http://kb.iu.edu/data/arni.html * * Paul- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Thanks for the info, Paul. My snapshot folder doesn't have anything prior to December 30th. So, I wonder if it's even possible for me to get a good config at this point, since my problem started on Sept. 13th. |
#4
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
D B wrote:
Thanks for the info, Paul. My snapshot folder doesn't have anything prior to December 30th. So, I wonder if it's even possible for me to get a good config at this point, since my problem started on Sept. 13th. If you're flushed System Restore by turning it off and then on again, you're screwed. System Restore is the most convenient way, to keep snapshots of your registry. If you dump all your restore points, it's going to make repair very difficult. If you're not relying on System Restore, or have turned it off, you should be regularly using backup software, to keep things safe. It sounds like you might be getting close to the point, of needing to reinstall everything. If you no longer have a good set of registry files, it is going to be pretty hard to get things running properly again. The "empty" registry files that are available on C:, are no good for long term operation. They're a crutch, suited only to getting the computer to boot. If you want all your settings preserved, then you need the full registry files to do that. And they're available in System Restore, as long as you didn't flush them. I've allocated only 5% (3686MB) to System Restore, and my restore points go back to Oct.22, 2010. So I have plenty of copies of the registry if I need them. You must have a tiny setting for SR, to only go back to Dec.31, 2010. The percentage setting, is in the System control panel. There is a tab in the System control panel, with details about System Restore. The second place to look, is Start : Programs : Accessories : System Tools and the System Restore in there, is what you use to return to a previous time. Paul |
#5
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
On Jan 2, 7:10*pm, Paul wrote:
D B wrote: Thanks for the info, Paul. * My snapshot folder doesn't have anything prior to December 30th. *So, I wonder if it's even possible for me to get a good config at this point, since my problem started on Sept. 13th. If you're flushed System Restore by turning it off and then on again, you're screwed. System Restore is the most convenient way, to keep snapshots of your registry. If you dump all your restore points, it's going to make repair very difficult. If you're not relying on System Restore, or have turned it off, you should be regularly using backup software, to keep things safe. It sounds like you might be getting close to the point, of needing to reinstall everything. If you no longer have a good set of registry files, it is going to be pretty hard to get things running properly again. The "empty" registry files that are available on C:, are no good for long term operation. They're a crutch, suited only to getting the computer to boot. If you want all your settings preserved, then you need the full registry files to do that. And they're available in System Restore, as long as you didn't flush them. I've allocated only 5% (3686MB) to System Restore, and my restore points go back to Oct.22, 2010. So I have plenty of copies of the registry if I need them. You must have a tiny setting for SR, to only go back to Dec.31, 2010. The percentage setting, is in the System control panel. There is a tab in the System control panel, with details about System Restore. The second place to look, is Start : Programs : Accessories : System Tools and the System Restore in there, is what you use to return to a previous time. * * Paul I didn't turn off System Restore. And back in October when I tried through Windows to do a System restore, I had choices prior to Sept. 13, but none of the ones I tried worked at the time. I wonder if Norton Ghost didn't copy everything over. What really puzzles me, though, is that before I added in the new 1 TB hard drive I just bought, this morning, it booted up fine. Makes me wonder if it might be a drive controller issue on the second hard drive. |
#6
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
D B wrote:
On Jan 2, 7:10 pm, Paul wrote: D B wrote: Thanks for the info, Paul. My snapshot folder doesn't have anything prior to December 30th. So, I wonder if it's even possible for me to get a good config at this point, since my problem started on Sept. 13th. If you're flushed System Restore by turning it off and then on again, you're screwed. System Restore is the most convenient way, to keep snapshots of your registry. If you dump all your restore points, it's going to make repair very difficult. If you're not relying on System Restore, or have turned it off, you should be regularly using backup software, to keep things safe. It sounds like you might be getting close to the point, of needing to reinstall everything. If you no longer have a good set of registry files, it is going to be pretty hard to get things running properly again. The "empty" registry files that are available on C:, are no good for long term operation. They're a crutch, suited only to getting the computer to boot. If you want all your settings preserved, then you need the full registry files to do that. And they're available in System Restore, as long as you didn't flush them. I've allocated only 5% (3686MB) to System Restore, and my restore points go back to Oct.22, 2010. So I have plenty of copies of the registry if I need them. You must have a tiny setting for SR, to only go back to Dec.31, 2010. The percentage setting, is in the System control panel. There is a tab in the System control panel, with details about System Restore. The second place to look, is Start : Programs : Accessories : System Tools and the System Restore in there, is what you use to return to a previous time. Paul I didn't turn off System Restore. And back in October when I tried through Windows to do a System restore, I had choices prior to Sept. 13, but none of the ones I tried worked at the time. I wonder if Norton Ghost didn't copy everything over. What really puzzles me, though, is that before I added in the new 1 TB hard drive I just bought, this morning, it booted up fine. Makes me wonder if it might be a drive controller issue on the second hard drive. The various disk manufacturers, offer testing tools for disks. Does the new 1TB drive pass the diagnostic ? On Seagate for example, I downloaded SeaTools to test my drives. WD offers diagnostics as well. There is at least one disk manufacturer, that doesn't offer much of value at all, for downloads. And it pays to check that, before deciding what brand to buy. The companies that provide tools, should get some promotion from it. Paul |
#7
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Help! At wits end with Cannot find the hive file error
"D B" wrote in message ... Back on Sept. 13th, I first got this error: Stop: 0xc0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SYSTEM or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. Before you try anything else...run a RAM test Did a chkdsk /f, no bad sectors. Tried restoring system from a previous restore point, still same error. Virus and malware scans showed the system was clean. I still could boot up using Last Good Config. One day I decided to try applying windows xp updates. Did that and it rebooted fine. Then I did a cold boot and it booted fine. I thought my problem was solved. Shutdown the PC, didn't turn it on again for two weeks. But when I did, hive error again. Everyone and their brother told me my hard drive was going bad. For several months now I had still been able to boot up using Last Good Config. However, the other day that stopped working, and then I had to boot up be going into safe mode, doing a chkdsk /f and then reboot for it to come up. I bought Norton Ghost then cleard off my second hard drive - D: drive and copied the C: drive to it. I removed my old C: drive and replaced it with my old D: drive, now my new C: I booted up the PC and it booted fine. So, I shut it down and popped in the new 1 TB drive I bought to take the place of my old D: drive. I turned on the PC and hive file error again. I don't get it. How can it sometimes find the hive files and sometimes not? I mean either they are corrupt or they arent. Right? While my user account is an adminstrator on the PC, I don't have the Adminstrator password. So, I've been hesitant to try the recovery console. I really want to avoid having to do a whole brand new install of XP. I have my original hive files in the windows/repair folder. I don't know what these files do. Could I just copy those over my current ones or will that mess things up? I don't have any other hive files from before my problem started other than those. |
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