Windows XP fails to boot

[Waador]

I just recently started having issues with my Dell Inspiron 2200. It is an old laptop, but it never had a problem this major before.

My laptop froze so I held down the power button to restart it since I couldn't access the Start menu. Once it loaded up, I got an error message saying explorer.exe has failed. Nothing showed up, no desktop icons, no taskbars, nothing. I was able to send the error report but that's it. After restarting it a few times, it got worse.

Now my laptop doesn't boot properly. It shows the Windows XP splash screen and then it goes black for a minute. Afterward, I'm given different boot options (Safe Mode, Last Settings, Regular, etc.). No matter what I click, it leads me back to the splash screen and followed by a blue screen that reads:

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: (time)

After that, it's back to the splash screen and the process repeats.

I tried putting the Windows XP CD in and changing the boot method to CD-Rom only (disabling all other options in the Bios menu), but I just get a black screen that reads something along the lines of "No bootable devices found -- press F1 to retry or F2 to access BIOS menu".

I just don't know what to do anymore. Anyone have any suggestions?

[WMBrown]

Hi,

Check the below threads to eradicate your problem :

• Stop:c0000218{Registry File Failure}registry cannot load the hive
• STOP:c0000218 {REGISTRY FILE FAILURE}
• STOP: C0000218 {Registery File Failure}
• Stop c000218 (Registry File Failure).......Help
• Windows server 2003 STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} Error

[Raine]

Manual steps to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

The procedure that this article describes uses Recovery Console and System Restore. This article also lists all the required steps in specific order to make sure that the process is fully completed. When you finish this procedure, the system returns to a state very close to the state before the problem occurred. If you have ever run NTBackup and completed a system state backup, you do not have to follow the procedures in parts two and three. You can go to part four.

Part one
In part one, you start the Recovery Console, create a temporary folder, back up the existing registry files to a new location, delete the registry files at their existing location, and then copy the registry files from the repair folder to the System32\Config folder. When you have finished this procedure, a registry is created that you can use to start Windows XP. This registry was created and saved during the initial setup of Windows XP. Therefore any changes and settings that occurred after the Setup program was finished are lost.

To complete part one, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.

For more information see this Link form Microsoft

[Waador]

Hey WMBrown and Raine, thanks for posting. I read through those links and tried everything that was mentioned but to no avail. I can't get the "Welcome" screen from the XP CD, can't get to the Recovery Console, can't run the Guided Help from a USB, nothing. It all leads back to the c0000218 error.

Is there anything I'm missing? My laptop seems to not be reading the XP CD or anything else. It just continues to loop around.

[Waador]

Sorry for all the questions, but I had an idea. Is it possible for me to format my laptops hard drive, reinstall Windows XP and start all over without a recovery CD?

Besides that, I feel like my only other solution is to introduce my laptop to a hammer.

Also, if it is possible for me to do this, my other question is how can I do this in the current situation my laptop is in?

[timon]

it is impossible that with bootable cd you are not getting windows welcome screen. If you have bootable disk you will get this welcome screen without it you can not repair or install window...

welcome installation screen

[Calvin K]

you can use a windows xp recovery program..and repair,it will helps you out at certain limits
By using this application you can restore your laptop to previous healthy working states....try this
best of luck...

[Waador]

Thanks for the replies.

I found out that the Windows XP CD that I was trying to use was faulty which is why it wasn't booting when I was telling it to. I managed to get another copy of my original "Windows XP Professional with SP2" CD. I was able to get the Welcome screen with the options to set up or run the Repair Console, but for some reason I get errors no matter which option I choose.

If I choose to set up, I get a "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA" blue screen error. If I choose to run the Registry Console, I get to the part where I have to choose "1. C:\WINDOWS\". As soon as I press "1" and Enter, I get a "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL".

I tried looking for help on these and I read the Microsoft page, but I honestly don't understand it. I'm not all that great with computers so this all seems foreign to me. A lot of the help topics I find on these issues detail what to do after I install, not prior to installing/not being able to install, so it's like I'm hitting dead ends.

[Waador]

Just posting an update on my situation.

I ran Memtest86 and my computer passed with no errors, so the error can't be faulty ram. Anything else it can be?

[Eric B]

Here is some similar solution from Microsoft look the link below :

"Stop 0x0000000A Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal" Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade

How to debug a system after you receive Stop Error IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0xA)

HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL...!