Dimension 8300 Starts then Freezes after Power Outage

cd \ (Enter)
cd windows\system32\config (Enter)
ren system system.bak
exit
Restart the computer and begin at Step 1 below

When you try to start or restart your Windows XP-based computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate

Step 1:

To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM, use the following steps:

• Boot the computer from Windows XP CD-ROM.
• At the message Press any key to boot from CD press Enter.
• When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
• If you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If an Administrator password is not set, just press Enter.

   

   NOTE:If you cannot pass the Administrator Password field, it may be possible to install the recovery console on the system hard drive. Refer to 'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery Console in Windows XP to install the recovery console onto the system hard drive.

  Step 2:

  At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing Enter after you type each line:

  All commands that are to be typed in command prompt are in BLUE color for clarity of the content, and pressing Enter is required for executing each command at the Recovery Console.

  cd \ - There should be blank space between cd and \ or else the command will not work.
  cd system~1\_resto~1
  dir

  • When you press enter, the screen lists all the restore points folders like RP1, RP2, RP3, etc. Look for the most recent date to determine the restore point from which to copy. It is common for the restore points to require more than one page to display. To advance though the restore points, press Enter. It is a good rule of thumb to choose the restore point folder which is dated the day prior to the occurence of the error reported.

  cd rp# (the last restore point no.) - Example : cd rp9, if rp10 is the last restore point, use restore point 9 to restore the system to a date prior to the error reported.

  cd snapshot

  dir

  Perform all of the following to reduce the likelyhood of continued error:

  copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system
  copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software
  copy _registry_machine_sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
  copy _registry_machine_security c:\windows\system32\config\security
  copy _registry_user_.default c:\windows\system32\config\default (Make sure to type a period in the _.default line)
  

  When prompted to overwrite, choose A to Copy All files.

  Remove the Operating System CD and type exit to restart the computer.

   

   NOTE:If any error message is returned while in the recovery console, use an earlier restore point.
  Example: If tried with RP9, step back to RP8 and start with Step 1.
  If an error message occurs after restarting system, attempt to boot to Safe Mode, and then restart normally.

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  Reference : How to Recover from a Corrupted