c0000218..The registry cannot load hive file..

try this...

 

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

 

see if that works.:smileywink:

" Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives. "

 

First thing to do is this,

http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=5097

 

If the registry is corrupted due to to file system errors or bad sectors, this is the best shot at repairing them. After doing this see if it will boot.

I think my software is OEM Dell. Does this mean I can't use the Microsoft fix?

Thanks,

Ed

You can but here is the risk,

 

"If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives"

 

Some say you can ignore this warning on a Dell, it is your risk.

 

Did you do the chkdsk on that drive?

Can somebody direct me to where I could get a Windows xp recovery disk for my xps 400?

Thanks,

Ed

Request CD's here  http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&redirect=1

 

 

 

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

Connect your non-bootable hard drive to another computer, as a secondary drive and boot into windows. If you can see your data on the drive, back it up Now, then follow the rest of these instructions.
 
Open Windows Explorer.  Click on Tools|Folder Options|View.  Check the box beside "Show hidden files and folders".  Apply your change.
 
Navigate to the d:\System Volume Information folder ( d: represents the crashed drive letter).
You will see a folder named something like _restore{.........}  the dots represent an alpha-numeric sequence.

In this folder you will see folders named RP0....RPnn.  Find the one with the highest number.
These are your System Restore points.  In the highest numbered folder you will see a folder named snapshot.  In this folder are registry hive files which you need to recover your system:

_registry_user_.default
_registry_machine_security
_registry_machine_software
_registry_machine_system
_registry_machine_sam

Create a subdirectory; i.e, d:\Windows\TMP. Copy these files to the TMP subdirectory.  Rename them:

default
security
software
system
sam

Note:  Be sure to lose the period (.) in the file named _registry_user_.default
Delete the files in the d:\windows\system32\config subdirectory with the same names.
Copy the d:\windows\tmp files to the d:\windows\system32\config. subdirectory.
Put your drive back in its original system.  Your system should start normally.  If you get the same error go back and choose another folder ( RPnn-1) and repeat the procedure.

If this fails to work you must reinstall Windows.