Registry files got corrupted – How to get back windows data?

The Windows Registry stores all the information, related to OS and applications installed. This results a severe problem for smooth operations of applications. The data on hard drive goes inaccessible. Although repairing of registry files is possible but is not an easy job. It demands a deep technical knowledge and time as well. Hence, for faster and safe recovery of the data it is better to opt for any Windows data recovery utility.

Lets take a case:

It may that when we restart our computer with Windows XP, the system refuses to boot further with an error message and remains hanged. As the system fails to boot, the data in the drive remains inaccessible and any Windows data recovery software is a wiser choice to get back your valuable data.

Following are the error messages :

“Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM”

OR

“Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE”

OR

“Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate”

OR

“Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate”

Resolution
To resolve this registry issue, repairing of registry files is required. In order to replace the files, first you have to take backup of the old registry files, repair them and again place them in the registry folder. These are the steps to be followed:
• Try inserting the Windows XP CD and restart the computer. Prior to this, inside BIOS, change the boot device as the CD-ROM drive.

• Go to the Recovery Console command prompt and enter the following lines:
• md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
• The above step takes the temporary registry that is generated during system start-up. This process may start the system, however data may remain inaccessible. Hence, you need to go to the previous restore points and copy the registry from there.

The above steps may resolve the issues, however, sometimes unavailability of restore point or recent backup, leaves the data inaccessible. This situation has only solution, which is to recover the data by using powerful Windows data recovery software.