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JJ01
Asked: 2009-10-01 22:28:42 +0800 CST

How to fix error starting Windows SBS 2003 - STOP: c0000218?

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I recently lost a hard drive RAID 5 array controller which caused total loss of the array. I am able to restore using our Shadow Protect backup. After the restore, when I start Windows 2003 server, I receive the following stop 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 writeable.

Any ideas on how to fix this issue?

windows-server-2003

6 Answers

  1. Looks like the SOFTWARE Registry hive got corrupted; this is quite a bad scenario, usually requiring a restore from backup, an O.S. repair from the installation media or, as a last resort, a full reinstallation.

    You can try starting the Windows Recovery Console from the O.S. media and then running a disk check (CHKDSK); maybe it's just a file system corruption issue.

    You can find some other tips here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822705.

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  2. Can you load the SOFTWARE registry hive using a live CD? This will at least you know where to start looking.

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  3. Probably a disk error or controller driver issue.

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  4. If System Restore has been running you should be able to get a copy of the registry as detailed at KB307545. It is for XP, but should still be applicable.

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  5. First, did you restore to identical hardware? If not, did you use the Hardware Independant Restore feature of ShadowProtect?

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  6. In our case the software registry file had a CRC error, leaving the Windows 2003 server in an endless boot loop with error number c0000218. I tried the repair file system (chkdsk) from Windows recovery console. No improvement.

    I found http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_a_stop.htm which has an awful lot of steps.

    I tried this less complex solution.

    • Use the screw driver to remove the Samsung Evo 840 mSATA boot drive from the chassis. Plug that mSATA in an mSATA to USB converter. Fire up Windows XP in a VM. Plug the USB drive. The USB drive mounts without a hitch.
    • Then create c:\backup\corrupt-registry\ folder.
    • Copy all these 5 files {system, software, sam, security, default} from c:\windows\system32\config\ to the backup folder. (this is when the OS informs me about the CRC error: 1 file could not be copied)
    • Delete the 5 files from c:\windows\system32\config\
    • Copy the 5 files from c:\windows\repair\ to c:\windows\system32\config\
    • Safely remove the USB drive
    • Plug the mSATA back into the chassis
    • Power up the computer

    Boot registry issue c0000218 is now fixed.

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