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Registry cannot load the hive(file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE

December 31st, 2007 Leave a comment Go to comments

Here is an interesting issue I ran into with two of my Virtual Machines (only used to run Blackberry Redirector).  They started dropping like flies.  First only the one VM had the issue, then the another…    It would go into an endless loop of going into windows then blue screen with : Registry cannot load the hive(file):
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE

After some searching I found this fix which worked, however I needed to re-setup the outlook profile.  But it works…

The Fix for Windows 2000 Pro – but the same works for XP just substitute “windows” for “winnt”:

1.  Go into BIOS and set first boot device to CD
2.  Insert your Windows 2000 CD into your  CD drive and boot your computer to  the CD.
3.  When the menu appears choose “Repair”
4.  Choose your OS. (usually only one listed)
5.  You will get a command prompt, here you type (without the <enter> that’s for “press enter”):

md tmp <enter>
copy C:\windows\system32\config\system C:\windows\tmp\system.bak <enter>
delete C:\windows\system32\config\system <enter>
copy C:\windows\repair\system C:\windows\system32\config\system <enter>
exit <enter>

Your computer will now reboot.  Feel free to take out the CD but make sure you do not boot to the cd, don’t touch the keyboard during the boot process (for most bios).

You should then be back into windows.  I had some configuration to do but I am not sure if that was because I recently restored the entire VM from tape (trying to fix the issue) or from this process.

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