Help! Blue Screen of Death!?

I have the same error message.  It is pretty bad.  Looking for answers as well!  Thanks.

Hi, I have a very similar if not the same problem:

Every time I boot my computer it says the system has not been shut down properly and gives me the 4 options. however which ever one I choose it goes to the BSOD saying:

stop: c0000218{registry file failure}
the registry can not load the hive (file)
\systemroot\system32\config\software
or its log or alternate
it is corrupt, absent or not writable

Begining dump of physical memory
phys mem dump incomplete
contact your system admin/tech support
groups for further assistance

I've tried booting from the windows cd but it just hangs after I have confirmed i want it to boot from the cd. I've also tried using a boot disk but that doesn't get me anywhere: I cant access C (hard disk) or D(CD) drives.

all 4 diagnostic lights are green,

my computer is a 4500 dimension

 

thanks,

Rich

Hi,

The Blue Screen of Death Errors are specific to situations. Whenever you have a Blue screen of death, you would see a Stop and a bunch of numbers. like STOP 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. This is an example. if you could repost with the error message then it can be resolved accordingly.

 

And as for your error Richard, I would like to nkow if you have Windows XP Home Edition or the Windows XP Pro edition

Message Edited by naveen_rang on 05-12-2004 05:10 AM

Ok, First of all this is a Dimension 4600 and the blue screen of death gives the following string of numbers: 0X00000051(0X00000003,0X00000003,0X00000000,0XE14F2000). I am running Windows XP Pro.

Stop 0X00000051 is on of the nastiest error in xp and its really tough to get rid of unless your REAL calm and patient .And fixing this error over the phone is another nightmare.And "We want service" and "want it fixed now!!!!" well windows dont jump to no ones tune.So remember the faster you want your windows fixed the longer it takes ....

The fix below will should be followed "if" you do not have any important data on your comp and you are very clear that this will "wipe" your computer clean.

This is what your do

1. Insert the resource cd into the "Top drive (cd or dvd which ever is the top drive").

Press F12 when you see the dell logo "before" your get the blue screen error

now if this dosent work cuz you dont see dell or it passes too fast

(information on the steps below)http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1032262 

1.press F2 when you see dell  enter setup which should look like this http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/syssetup.htm#1138127

2. Use your down arrow key and highlight boot sequence  || Press Enter

3. highlight CD ROM , IDE CD ROM or Atapi Cd rom || Press Enter

(This should get the cd rom to the top of the list )

Now press Alt B or Esc to restart the computer.

The system will boot to the Dell Dimension ResourceCD and the Windows 98 Startup Menu appears.

Press the or key to highlight Start computer with CD-ROM support, then press the key.

At the MS-DOS® prompt, type the following:

x:\

where x is the drive letter for your CD drive.

more info about the below script http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?dn=1011054

when you get a d:\ ...>  or and a:>_

Type "debug "   || Press Enter

You will see  --__     (on the next line)

-F 200 L1000 0        || Press Enter
-A CS:100                 || Press Enter
xxxx:0100 MOV AX,301   (where xxxx is some number)  || Press Enter
xxxx:0103 MOV BX,200    || Press Enter
xxxx:0106 MOV CX,1         || Press Enter
xxxx:0109 MOV DX,80        || Press Enter
xxxx:010C INT 13                 || Press Enter
xxxx:010E INT 20                 || Press Enter
xxxx:0110                             (Leave this line blank) || Press Enter
-G

 The message Program terminated normally appears.

Now remove the dell dimension resource cd and insert the Operating CD Windows Xp

press ctrl+alt+del to restart your computer

 

Locate your Windows XP operating system CD.

Remove any external devices from the notebook computer, such as PCMCIA cards, external mice, external keyboards, external serial or parallel port device, external monitor, external USB peripherals,

After several moments of initializing some modules, the Windows XP Setup screen appears.

Press the key.
The Windows XP Licensing Agreement appears.

Read the license agreement.

Press the key to agree.
Setup will search for previous versions of Windows

Use the arrow keys to highlight the Unpartitioned space.

 

Press the key to install.
The message A new partition for Windows XP has been created on (hard drive size) MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
This partition must now be formatted. appears.

After completing the format, setup will examine your computer and copy files to the Windows installation folders. This process will take some time. Once it has completed, setup will initialize and then restart the computer.

Do not press any keys when the message Press any key to boot from the CD appears. Let Windows boot normally.

The amount of time it takes to complete the above process will vary depending upon the size of the hard drive and the speed of your system. You will not be prompted for anything during this time.

After the computer restarts, setup will continue with a graphical user interface. You will be required to input information during this phase.

 NOTE: Your screen may blink several times during this process. This is normal.

Personal Information

The Regional and Language Options window appears.

Click the Next button.
The Personalize Your Software window appears.

In the Name: field, type your name.
You may type your organization's name in the Organization: field (optional).

Click the Next button.

Computer Name

For Windows XP Home Edition,
the What is your computer's name window appears.

Type a name for this computer in the Computer Name: field, or you may accept the name provided.

Click the Next button to continue.

For Windows XP Professional Edition,
the Computer Name and Administrator Password window appears.

Type a name for this computer in the Computer Name: field, or you may accept the name provided.

 NOTE: For security reasons, it is highly recommended to enter an Administrator password. Do not leave the password blank.

Type a password in the Administrator Password: field and then type the same password in the Confirm Password: field.

Click the Next button.

Modem Dialing Information

 NOTE: Only computers with a modem installed will see the Modem Dialing Information section. If your computer does not have a modem, you can skip to the Date and Time Settings section.

Click to select the correct country/region for the What Country/Region are you in now? box.

Type your telephone area code in the What area code (or city code) are you in now? box.

Type the number you would use for an outside line in the If you dial a number to reach an outside line, what is it? box.

Click to select one of the items below for The phone system at this location uses: box.

Tone dialing if your phone service has tone dialing.

Pulse dialing if your phone service has pulse dialing.

Click the Next button after inputting the correct information.

Date and Time Settings

Verify that the correct Date, Time, and Time Zone have been selected. If not, do so now.

Click the Next button.

Networking Settings.

 NOTE: Systems with Windows XP Professional will now ask for further network information. You may be prompted for additional information regarding your network configuration, such as the domain name or workgroup name. If you are unsure of these settings, contact your Network Administrator or accept the default selections.

The Installing Network window appears on the bottom left side of the screen above the progress indicator bar.

Click to select Typical.

Click the Next button.

The next steps will not require any input, but will take several minutes to complete. When they have completed the system will reboot automatically.

You are now ready to proceed to the Finishing Setup section.

when you reach the desktop you will need to install drivers

To reinstall the driver you need your dell resource cd and go here https://support.dell.com/productselection.aspx put in your service tag and click go

You need to install the drivers in this order Chipset, Video ,Audio,Network, other (printer etc).then you need to install your antivirus and the only those cd which you are really going to use just cuz theres a bunch of cds which came with your dell you dont need to install them all .The less programs you have on your computer the more efficiently your windows will run.

you need to install your antivirus and do the windows updates (open internet explorer when your connected to the internet and click on tools>widows updates on the web page click "yes " to install windows updates click scan ,click review and install , click install now.

then your  done !! Yay. congratulation you have your windows up and running .

Now relax and enjoy  windows xp.

 

Hey there,

It all sounds so familiar.  I have had the same problem as you describe, also with a brand new Dimension 4600.  When I first got it, it was dead out of the box.  Couldn't do a thing with it.  After many, many calls to DELL support, a technician was finally sent and the drive was changed.  Drive no. 2 worked for a little while until the blue screen reappeared.  More phone calls, some delays but again a technician came to my house and replaced the drive again.  Drive no. 3 seems to be working nicely, but for the last two or three days I am now getting a humming sound from the tower.  Sure, call the technical support line, but it's very hard to diagnose this sound without sitting at the computer.  Wish me luck.  I wish you luck.

Murray.

 

I am going to give the fix my best shot. 

Murray

My dell was messed up from the beginning also.  I ended up having a tech walk me through opening the cpu up and plugging in a wire that had come loose.  Whats the deal?

Figured my problem out.....hard drive was fried and died.  What is the deal with the hard drives on these systems?  Looks like other folks are having the same trouble!!

 

I am on the phone now with the technical folks (actually on hold for the past 15 min), so I will report if they will take it back and replace.  Computer is just over the 1 year warranty service I bought (did not think I would need 4 year warranty!!)  Does not do anything for everything I had saved on the hard drive though!!

 

Frustration!!!!

Hey Navin:

I too have the problem of C0000218 error message.

I found your resonse begining w/ Richard. Although I have a Latitude, I'm trying the fix you discribed.

So far it's gone through all, and now reformating. Is there anything else I should be aware of. And don;t say that this fix wasn't for latidue.

Thanks

Kenny

Followed all the steps in the previous post and computer has been running normal ever since - yeah!