Windows XP Registry Repair

This article describes how to recover a Windows XP that will not start because the registry is damaged. This procedure does not guarantee full recovery of the data but will help to recover the system to its previous state. In Windows XP you can recover a corrupted registry. Corrupted registry files produce different error messages. See Knowledge Base articles about error messages related to registry issues.

This article assumes that normal recovery methods have not solved the problem and you can only access the system using the Recovery Console. If a backup Automated System Recovery (ASR Automatic System Recovery) is the best option for recovery, we recommend using the backup ASR before attempting the procedure described in this article. Note : make sure replace all five registry hives. If you only replace one or two sections, can cause potential issues because software and hardware may have settings in multiple locations in the registry. When you start or restart a computer based on Windows XP , you may receive one of the following error messages: Can not start Windows XP because the following file is corrupted or missing: WINDOWS SYSTEM32 CONFIG SYSTEM Can not start Windows XP because the following file is corrupted or missing: WINDOWS SYSTEM32 CONFIG SOFTWARE Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry can not load the hive (file): SystemRoot System32 Config SOFTWARE or its log or alternate The procedure described in this article use the Recovery Console (System Restore ) and indicate the steps in order to ensure that the process is completed correctly. After completing this procedure, the system returns to a state very similar to that in which it was before the problem occurred. If you have ever run NTBackup and completed a system state recovery, not to follow the procedures in parts two; you can go to part three.

Part One

In this part, start the Recovery Console, create a temporary folder, make a backup of existing files in the registry to a new location, delete the registry files from their current location, and then copy the files registry from the recovery folder to the folder System32 Config .

After completing this procedure, a registry is created that can be used to restart Windows XP .This registry was created and saved during the initial installation of Windows XP , so you lose any changes and settings made after installation. To complete part one, follow these steps: Start the Recovery Console. In the command prompt Recovery Console, type the following lines, pressingENTER after you type each one of them: 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.bakcopy 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 Type exit to exit Recovery Console. The computer restarts. Note : this procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed in the folder C: Windows . If you are in a different location, be sure to change C: Windows folder for Windows properly. If you have access to another computer, to save time copy the text in step two, and then create a text file called, for example, C opiaReg1.txt . To create this file, run the following command to start the computer in Recovery Console: batch Regcopy1.txt The batch command in Recovery Console can be processed in sequence all commands in a text file. When using the batch command is not manually type as many commands.

Part two

To complete the procedure described in this section, must log on as administrator or an administrative user (a user who has an account in the Administrators group). If you use Windows XP Home Edition , you can login as administrative user. In this case, you must start Windows XP Home Edition in Safe Mode. To start the computer with Windows XP Home Edition in Safe Mode, follow these steps: Note : print these instructions before proceeding. You can not see them after you start the computer in Safe Mode. If you use the NTFS file system, also print the instructions in Knowledge Base article Q309531, which is referenced in step seven. Click Start-> Shutdown -> Restart -> OK. Press the F8 . In computer configured to start multiple operating systems, you can press F8 when the Startup menu appears. Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate Safe Mode and then press ENTER . If you have a dual boot system or multiple, use the arrow keys to select the installation that you want to access, and then press ENTER . In part two, you copy the registry files from the location where the copy was made of security using System Restore. This folder is not available in Recovery Console and is generally not visible during normal use. Before starting this procedure, you must change some settings to make the folder visible:Start Windows Explorer. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options -> tab View -> Hidden files and folders , click to select Show hidden files and folders , and then click to clear the check box Hide protected operating system files (recommended) . Click Yes when the dialog box that confirms that you want to display these files. Double-click the drive letter where you installedWindows XP for a list of folders. It is important to click the correct drive. Open the folder System Volume Information . This folder appears dimmed because it is an ultra-hidden folder. Note : This folder contains one or more folders _restore {GUID} , as _restore {87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8} . Note : you may see the message following error: Can not access C: System Volume Information. Access is denied . If you see this message, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base for instructions to access the folder and continue with the procedure:309531 How to Gain Access to the System Volume Information Folder Open a folder that has not been created at this time. You may have to click Details on the menu View to display the date and time of creation of folders. Under this folder can have one or more folders starting with “ RP x.These restore points. Open a folder to locate the subfolder Snapshot , the following path is a folder location Snapshot for example: C : System Volume Information _restore {-73EF-47BC D86480E3-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8} RP1 Snapshot Copy the following files from the Snapshot folder to the are the registry files that were backed up in System Restore . Because you used the registry file created by Setup, this registry does not know that the restore points exist and are available. It creates a new folder with a new GUID under System Volume Information and a restore point that includes a copy of the registry files copied during part one. This is because it is important not to use the most current folder, especially if the mark date and time the folder is the same as the date and time. The current configuration system does not know the previous restore points. To make the previous restore points available, you need a previous copy of the registry from a point previous restoration. registry files that were copied to the Tmp folder subfolder C: Windows move to assure their availability in the recovery console. need to use those files to replace the registry files currently stored in the folder C: Windows System32 Config. By default, Recovery Console does not have access to all folders and files can not copy the System Volume folder. Note : the procedure described in this section assumes that you run the FAT32 file system on your computer. Part Three In this part, you delete the existing registry files, and then to copy the registry files from System Restore folder C: Windows System32 Config : Start Recovery Console. In the command prompt recovery console, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each: the c: windows system32 config sam del c: windows system32 config security del c: windows system32 config software del c: windows system32 config default del c: windows system32 config system copy c: windows tmp _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE c: windows system32 config software copy c: windows tmp _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM c: windows system32 config system copy c: windows tmp _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM c: windows system32 config sam copy c: windows tmp _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY c: windows system32 config security copy c: windows tmp _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT c: windows system32 config default Note: some of the above command lines have been adjusted to make them readable. Note : in this procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed in the folder C: Windows . If you are in a different location, be sure to change C: Windows to the appropriate Windows folder. If you have access to another computer, to save time copy the text in step two, and then create a text file called Regcopy1.txt , for example.

Part Three

Click Start -> All Programs-> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore and Restore my computer to an earlier time. References For additional information about how to use the Recovery Console this information Applies to: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Microsoft Windows XP Professional.