Computer doesn't turn on, maybe a virus?

Discussion in 'Software' started by Josh222, Aug 14, 2007.

  1. Josh222

    Josh222 Private E-2

    Hey! So basically my friends computer doesnt turn on properly.
    He gets a screen saying
    "Windows has not started properly, choose a mode:
    Safe Mode
    Safe Mode with networking
    Resume last settings etc"...

    No matter which one you choose windows still doesn't boot. A blue screen comes up which reads:
    "STOP: C0000218 {Registry File Failure}
    The registry cannot load the (file):
    \systemboot\system32\config\SOFTWARE
    or its log alternative
    It is corrupt, absent or not writable"

    We've put the recovery disc in etc and no hope. Any advice on what to do would be great thanks.
    Oh, and this happened just after he defragged his computer. He restarted it after the defrag and this started happening...
     
  2. hopperdave2000

    hopperdave2000 MajorGeek

    Try this link:
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us
    You have a corrupt registry hive file (duh! The error message told you that!). The above link is a step-by-step guide on fixing the problem. You'll need your XP CD so you can enter the Recovery Console. Be sure to follow each step exactly as described; there's some command typing involved so be VERY careful when typing the commands and don't mess up or skip one by mistake. You'd be better off printing the article for reference whilst peforming the repair. You might want to read thru the steps a couple of times first, just so you have a good idea of what's happening... good luck!

    hd2k
     
  3. Josh222

    Josh222 Private E-2

    Thanks for the reply buddie!
    I finaly got it to boot from the recovery disc, it all went well!
    Except now i get a new message!

    Its now a black screen that reads:
    "<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll
    is missing"

    Any ideas?
     
  4. hopperdave2000

    hopperdave2000 MajorGeek

    Same link as above!!! Or try this one: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320252/en-us
    Or this one: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184/en-us
    And maybe this one too: http://icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp
    The last one is really good for all sorts of boot-up WinXP problems; you might want to add it to favorites, or print it out... good luck!

    hd2k

    BTW- I recently had the dreaded "hal.dll" error a couple of weeks ago and I fixed it with a safe, in-place reload of WinXP over the top of itself. Worked perfectly!
     
  5. Josh222

    Josh222 Private E-2

    Thanks for the reply!
    I'm having more problems. Read all these links etc, but i cannot get into the recovery console!
    It tells me to press 1 at a certain time, I do it and nothing happens.
    Is there an alternative way to get the console up/get round this hall.dll thing?
     
  6. hopperdave2000

    hopperdave2000 MajorGeek

    Booting to your Windows XP CD and pressing 'R' when it says 'press "R" to repair Windows in the Recovery Console' doesn't work? One of the prompts after you press "R" will install a non standard keyboard driver if you press whatever it says; so don't press ANYTHING right away until you get to the part where it asks which windows install you want to repair; then it'll prompt for the password. If it doesn't get that far, just post what's happening, and we'll try to help.

    hd2k
     

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