blue screen from safe mode

I will start with a post in this forum because I don't know where else to begin. I did have a malware problem, but my wife had logged online before I had a chance to start repairing it. I fear I may be really screwed now.

When I turn on the computer it asks if it should log in normally and then it goes to the flying window marquee and appears to be loading files. However it hangs up at this point.

So I restarted the computer and tried start up via Safe Mode. This brings me with the blue screen with the following text:

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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
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact yoursystem administrator or technical support group for further assistance.

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So, am I beyond help? Any suggestions?