Graphics Card Drivers causing it?

Fasuno · 12-05-2005, 01:10 PM

I currently have a RADEON 9600XT and it has been running fine for the first few months, then i got a message from ATI saying newer drivers are available. So i downloaded them and all was fine for a few weeks. Then the problems started, my pc couldnt get beyond DOS, just before the desktop a message came up, 'c0000218' \systemroot\system32\config\software. I am assuming its a dodgey driver from ATI, the only way i can fix this problem is by formatting

. How can i fix this? Should i uninstall the drviers from ATI site and install the older drivers that are on the disk the card came with? Thanks

h20-ski · 12-05-2005, 02:14 PM

You do not have to format the hard drive. My first suggestion would be to boot into safe mode and uninstall the drivers, reboot and install the latest drivers. Although if it blue screens in safe mode, then a format may be needed.

wallijonn · 12-05-2005, 02:29 PM

You could always do a sfc /scan
after getting into the recovery console.

To copy the recovery console to the hd without having to install the Cd, thereafter, you would mount the cd, then go to the cmd prompt, run, X:/i386/cmdcons, where X: is the drive letter. Then when it boots up it'll give cmdcons as the second choice.

You could expand the ATI files onto a floppy or CD, go into command console, command prompt, copy the files to the appropriate places, then reboot.

Fasuno · 12-05-2005, 02:57 PM

yeah, the blue screen is in safe mode too, but jonn's idea is worth a try

PCBruiser · 12-05-2005, 03:06 PM

That error has nothing to do with your viddrivers. It is a corrupted registry hive - the software hive to be exact. If you can get to the F8 prompt for Windows, load the option "Last known good configuration" and hope that works. If it doesn't and you do not have a recovery point or system backup - you will need a full reinstall again. Just another reason for frequent system backups. Another thing you should do is read this:

http://www.abxzone.com/abx_reviews/al/registry.html

A corrupted registry hive can happen for a number of reasons - malware can certainly do it, turning off the computer power without shutting down properly or completely can do it, a disk write failure, etc.

PCBruiser · 12-05-2005, 03:09 PM

I am going to move this thread to the Windows XP, etc. Forum from the Graphics one and leave a redirect in Graphics. This is really a Windows issue not a graphics one.

Fasuno · 12-05-2005, 03:28 PM

Do you have any idea what could be the cause of this? I have had to format about 8 times in the last few months because of this error.

PCBruiser · 12-05-2005, 03:35 PM

The same exact error? Unusual. Very unusual. Have you had any problems with your boot hard drive? Or, do you shut off the computer without shutting down completely? Any possibility of some virus or other malware? Maybe installed by some software you might have downloaded?

Fasuno · 12-05-2005, 05:01 PM

Well i have not checked everytime, i checked the first 3 times and the last time and they were the same, so i assume the other 4 were the same. I have AVG and Norton so i dont think i have any viruses, once or twice my pc has been shut down by the mains, by accident. If this system is not shut down the proper way could it cuase problems like this?

wallijonn · 12-05-2005, 05:26 PM

Norton itself could be the cause of the registry corruption.

PCBruiser · 12-05-2005, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fasuno

If this system is not shut down the proper way could it cuase problems like this?

Yes, it can. If the system is shut down at a time when it is writing something to the registry files, and writing to the registry files is a common event, then it might easily become corrupted. And the software hive is usually the largest and most frequently accessed/written to part of the registry.

Fasuno · 12-06-2005, 02:52 AM

Is there anyway i can 'repair' the software hive?

PCBruiser · 12-06-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fasuno

Is there anyway i can 'repair' the software hive?

Usually not if the "Recover last known good configuration" boot option doesn't work. When a file is corrupted, there usually isn't much you can do to fix it. Sometimes you can work on it directly with a hex editor directly on the disk sectors, but that is very tough and you really have to understand low level file structures on hard drives and direct hex editing of files. That's why you need backups.

wallijonn · 12-06-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCBruiser

Yes, it can. If the system is shut down at a time when it is writing something to the registry files,....

Don't forget the MS "fast shutdowns may cause data corruption due to very fast processors and disk drives" update.

12-05-2005, 01:10 PM	#1
Fasuno Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 376	Graphics Card Drivers causing it? I currently have a RADEON 9600XT and it has been running fine for the first few months, then i got a message from ATI saying newer drivers are available. So i downloaded them and all was fine for a few weeks. Then the problems started, my pc couldnt get beyond DOS, just before the desktop a message came up, 'c0000218' \systemroot\system32\config\software. I am assuming its a dodgey driver from ATI, the only way i can fix this problem is by formatting . How can i fix this? Should i uninstall the drviers from ATI site and install the older drivers that are on the disk the card came with? Thanks
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 02:14 PM	#2
h20-ski Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,460	You do not have to format the hard drive. My first suggestion would be to boot into safe mode and uninstall the drivers, reboot and install the latest drivers. Although if it blue screens in safe mode, then a format may be needed.
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 02:29 PM	#3
wallijonn PHX Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,570	You could always do a sfc /scan after getting into the recovery console. To copy the recovery console to the hd without having to install the Cd, thereafter, you would mount the cd, then go to the cmd prompt, run, X:/i386/cmdcons, where X: is the drive letter. Then when it boots up it'll give cmdcons as the second choice. You could expand the ATI files onto a floppy or CD, go into command console, command prompt, copy the files to the appropriate places, then reboot. __________________ D875PBZLK, MAC G4-933
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 02:57 PM	#4
Fasuno Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 376	yeah, the blue screen is in safe mode too, but jonn's idea is worth a try
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 03:06 PM	#5
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	That error has nothing to do with your viddrivers. It is a corrupted registry hive - the software hive to be exact. If you can get to the F8 prompt for Windows, load the option "Last known good configuration" and hope that works. If it doesn't and you do not have a recovery point or system backup - you will need a full reinstall again. Just another reason for frequent system backups. Another thing you should do is read this: http://www.abxzone.com/abx_reviews/al/registry.html A corrupted registry hive can happen for a number of reasons - malware can certainly do it, turning off the computer power without shutting down properly or completely can do it, a disk write failure, etc.
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 03:09 PM	#6
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	I am going to move this thread to the Windows XP, etc. Forum from the Graphics one and leave a redirect in Graphics. This is really a Windows issue not a graphics one.
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 03:28 PM	#7
Fasuno Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 376	Do you have any idea what could be the cause of this? I have had to format about 8 times in the last few months because of this error.
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 03:35 PM	#8
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	The same exact error? Unusual. Very unusual. Have you had any problems with your boot hard drive? Or, do you shut off the computer without shutting down completely? Any possibility of some virus or other malware? Maybe installed by some software you might have downloaded?
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 05:01 PM	#9
Fasuno Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 376	Well i have not checked everytime, i checked the first 3 times and the last time and they were the same, so i assume the other 4 were the same. I have AVG and Norton so i dont think i have any viruses, once or twice my pc has been shut down by the mains, by accident. If this system is not shut down the proper way could it cuase problems like this?
(Offline)

12-05-2005, 05:26 PM	#10
wallijonn PHX Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,570	Norton itself could be the cause of the registry corruption. __________________ D875PBZLK, MAC G4-933
(Offline)

12-06-2005, 02:52 AM	#12
Fasuno Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 376	Is there anyway i can 'repair' the software hive?
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode