The registry cannot load the hive (file)

Problem: The following blue screen appears

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 writeable.

After the message, the computer automatically reboots.

These solutions assume that you have decent knowledge of the windows directory structure and command line. You must boot into the Windows XP CD and select Recovery Console. This is where the nitty gritty starts.

Solution 1:

cd system32\config
ren software software.bak
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\software

If for any reason, there is no regback (which occurs in many cases), then you will have to use Solution 2.

Solution 2:

cd system32\config
ren software software.bak
copy c:\windows\repair\software

[reboot]

Warning: This second solution will allow Windows to bootup. However it will restore the system to it's first successful installation time. Registry entries will not exist for installed products. If you get to this stage, it is good to perform a System Restore on the computer to an earlier time. If you cannot perform a restore, then you might as well start reinstalling software that is essential.

To my knowledge (as of the time of writing this), If you get to this point, you might as well pull the data you have to get off and reinstall the OS. Otherwise, if you can work around it, then things should of course be peachy.

Any comments and suggestions are welcome. I will modify this article accordingly.