Hi, I accidentally switched off the power to my Fujitsu laptop a few days ago and when I wanted to restart it, I received the blue screen message:

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 writable.

Beginning dump of physical memory.
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance.

I've googled for assistance and this is what I found: You should not use the method two set of instructions below if your system has an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) copy of Windows XP. Doing so will render your operating system inoperable. OEM installations create passwords and user name that did not previously exist. Therefore, in your own interest, these instructions will not remedy the problem. The easiest option with OEM copies of XP is to reinstall XP using the manufacturer’s recovery disks.

However, problem is my Windows XP Pro is OEM since it came installed with my laptop when I purchased it.

These are the CD-Roms that came with the laptop:
Laptop model: Fujitsu S7110
CD-Roms: 1) Windows XP Pro Recovery DVD 2) Software Applications 3) Software Drivers

These are the qns that I have:
1) I've seen some complicated instructions telling me how to resolve this prob with OEM copies of XP but I really have no idea what they mean since I'm a novice when it comes to computers. So I would really appreciate if someone could offer me a step-by-step solution so that I can retrieve my files from my hard disk.

2) "The easiest option with OEM copies of XP is to reinstall XP using the manufacturer’s recovery disks." --> I've tried to use this but it only has one option "Restores disk to factory default state". I don't want to reformat my hard disk as I've got valuable info on it. I've also tried rebooting in Safe Mode but nth seems to work.

Thanks very much guys!

Here are some straight foreward steps to resolve this:

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested (usually just press Enter unless you added a password for Administrator).
5. Enter cd \windows\system32\config
6. Depending on which section was corrupted, enter:
   ren software software.old
   copy \windows\repair\software
   or
   ren system system.old
   copy \windows\repair\system
7. Take out the CD ROM and type exit
8. Press F8 to get to the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
9. Select Safe Mode

If the system boots to Safe mode then run System Restore to go back to a date and time before the error occurred. You get to System Restore as follows:

Click on Start then Programs (or All Programs). Click on Accessories then System Tools and finally System Restore.

Most of the above taken from: Fix for \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM missing or corrupted Explore Ramanathan

Since you don't have a normal XP Install CD, download and create a bootable CD from the .iso file here:

XP Recovery Console

You don't burn the iso file itself to CD., you create a CD from the iso file using your CD burning software. There is a good freeware burner called DeepBurner which will do this. Another called ISO Recorder is also very easy to use.