Err Msg: STOP: C0000218 ...Registry Cannot Load the Hive (104203)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
This article was previously published under Q104203

SYMPTOMS

When you install Windows NT or Windows NT Advanced Server from a CD to a machine whose C drive is a SCSI drive with a DTC3290 SCSI controller, Setup may fail, displaying the 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.

CAUSE

During the installation process, Windows NT expects to read certain information from the SOFTWARE registry hive. Due to a hardware problem, this cannot be done.

RESOLUTION

This problem was not reproducible at Microsoft. If you run into this problem, the following steps may help:

  • Use only hardware listed on the hardware compatibility list (HCL).
  • Ensure that the SCSI bus is properly terminated at both ends.
  • Try a different SCSI cable.
  • DTC has a firmware upgrade that fixes certain over-run problems.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/29/2003
Keywords:kbHardware kbsetup KB104203
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.