HI,
I bought a 2nd hand computer and when I turn it on it displays a screen that
apologises for windows xp not starting and gives me options to start (eg.
normal, safet mode etc.,) When I press enter on any of theses options it
comes up with a blue screen that says:
"STOP C00018 {registry file failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\systemroot\system32\config\SECURITY
or its log or alternate
Is is corrupt, absent or not writeable
Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further
assistance!"

Then it goes straight back to the previous screen (apologies, start options,
normal, safe etc.,)

PLEASE HELP! I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

Many thanks for any assistance you can offer!

Kind regards,
Sharon (Auck NZ)

With a second hand computer, you never know what you're getting. If the computer came with XP installed, it should have come with a recovery CD or a recovery partition. The user manual, usually downloadable online, will tell you how to use this feature to put the PC back to it out of box condition.

If the PC was supposed to have a recovery CD, then the seller is required to provide it with the computer they sold you.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"quickdraw2408" <quickdraw2408@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F6A89220-009E-4234-A44E-806B25A6BFB5@microsoft.com...
> HI,
> I bought a 2nd hand computer and when I turn it on it displays a screen that
> apologises for windows xp not starting and gives me options to start (eg.
> normal, safet mode etc.,) When I press enter on any of theses options it
> comes up with a blue screen that says:
> "STOP C00018 {registry file failure}
> The registry cannot load the hive (file):
> \systemroot\system32\config\SECURITY
> or its log or alternate
> Is is corrupt, absent or not writeable
> Beginning dump of physical memory
> Physical memory dump complete
> Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further
> assistance!"
>
> Then it goes straight back to the previous screen (apologies, start options,
> normal, safe etc.,)
>
> PLEASE HELP! I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!
>
> Many thanks for any assistance you can offer!
>
> Kind regards,
> Sharon (Auck NZ)

quickdraw2408 wrote:

> HI,
> I bought a 2nd hand computer and when I turn it on it displays a
> screen that apologises for windows xp not starting and gives me
> options to start (eg. normal, safet mode etc.,) When I press enter on
> any of theses options it comes up with a blue screen that says
(snip)

This is the third time you've posted this identical message in three
different newsgroups. Next time, don't multipost; crosspost judiciously
instead. Here's a link explaining that:
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

You got answers to all three posts that basically say the same thing:
Format the drive and clean install Windows. Install drivers and programs
from installation media.

If you didn't get a way to return the operating system to factory
condition - keypress (like HP's F10), Restore Disk, or actual operating
system CD - go back to the seller. If you can't go back to the seller,
then your second-hand computer was not a bargain since you will need to
buy the operating system of your choice at the store.

Until you have a clean install on that machine, you can't continue the
troubleshooting. If the machine has problems with a clean install, then
look to the hardware as being at fault.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

quickdraw2408 wrote:
> HI,
> I bought a 2nd hand computer and when I turn it on it displays a screen that
> apologises for windows xp not starting and gives me options to start (eg.
> normal, safet mode etc.,) When I press enter on any of theses options it
> comes up with a blue screen that says:
> "STOP C00018 {registry file failure}
> The registry cannot load the hive (file):
> \systemroot\system32\config\SECURITY
> or its log or alternate
> Is is corrupt, absent or not writeable
> Beginning dump of physical memory
> Physical memory dump complete
> Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further
> assistance!"
>
> Then it goes straight back to the previous screen (apologies, start options,
> normal, safe etc.,)
>
> PLEASE HELP! I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!
>
> Many thanks for any assistance you can offer!
>
> Kind regards,
> Sharon (Auck NZ)


With second-hand a computer, especially if acquired from a stranger but
perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest
course of action would probably be to format the hard drive and start
fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may
have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because
the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.

To answer your specific question, however:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822705


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH