Registry cannot load the Hive (SAM) file error... and Windows fails to boot.

[Andrew]

I have installed Windows XP. The system seems to shut down normally as of now. When I started it today, then it failed to go into Windows and restarted. After that I ran chkdsk and it said that the recycled folder has a non zero file size. The system then restarted again. Once again it tried to check the disk and said it had an invalid time stamp in MS Dos sts, the system restarted and then same series of events and I got an error saying that hyberfil.sys had an error and system restarted. After that I got "STOP 0000218 registry file failure. The registry cannot load the hive (file)\ systemroot\ system32\config\SAM or its log or alternate. It is corrupt, absent or not writable"

Does anyone know how to solve this issue? Thanks

[Anywhere]

Did you try to use the hard disk drive diagnostic utility from the hard disk drive
maufacturer to see if the hard disk drive has failed and/or if there is some other error (memory, cables, etc.)

[Dr.pter]

Have you testedd any clone drive sometime back and it worked fine, if so, then are they Sata or Ide drives. You can try leaving the old hard drive connected and then go into the Bios and set your clone drive as first boot device.

[Tomthegreat]

Check the below article to solve your issue:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822705

[Anywhere]

I think that the SAM has to be replaced by a backed up copy, there is a copy of the SAM in the restore points, you can try one of that. You just have to use a method other than the Recovery Console to do the replacement, you can use a BartPE disk or mount the drive in a USB enclosure and do it with another windows installation, check the below link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316751

[Andrew]

Thanks for the reply, it seems the BartPE CD looks like the way to go for.

[MattyBoy]

Have you tried to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting, if not then follow the steps given in this link - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545