Registry File Failure on a Lenovo ThinkPad

Thylinas

Hey everyone,

For the past week, every time I try to boot up my laptop (a Lenovo ThinkPad T60), I get a blue error screen with the error code: "c0000218 Registry File Failure". Upon showing this screen, the computer restarts and keeps doing the same thing over and over again.

I do have access to my ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery software during boot-up, as it's designed to work independently from windows in these circumstances. It gives me the "Restore System" option that I'm told would restore my computer to factory settings and maybe delete all of my personal files in doing so. I also have some limited internet browsing capabilities (which is how I'm posting right now).

My problems are twofold: I am studying abroad, and have pretty limited access to any university tech support. I also don't have a Windows XP Disc with me.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this error, especially on an IBM ThinkPad T60 or similar model, and if you used the ThinkVantage Software to restore the settings (AND if so, did it delete all of your files when you did?).

Thanks so much, EVERYONE, for your time. I appreciate anyone who even looks at this thread.

JebusUD

Sounds like the registry is corrupted, and possibly the hard drive. Unless you can get ahold of an XP disk you are probably in trouble.

If you use the restore thing it will probably delete your files. Is that okay with you? You may just want to do that. I don't know if it will work though since I don't know much about the think vantage software.

Red_Cascade

Hey,

We use Lenovo without our company although the R60 / R61 models (The T series is essentially the lighter version of these). Anywho from my experience if you use the blue "thinkvantage" button as you turn the machine on to boot into Rescue and Recovery, then opt to do a "factory restore" you should be presented with a couple of options.

The first is to copy files to a USB device (so you could plug in a portable drive and then copy over everthing you needed to save). The recovery would then wipe the machine and build it up from scratch. The second is to do a "custom recovery", now I have never used the second option but I understand that it lets you recover Windows while leaving any saved files in place.

TBH though if it was me I would play on the safe side and a) try the copy to usb option from R&R (if this dosnt work you can cancel the recovery before it wipes anything), or b) get hold of a linux live disk (Knoppix or something) and use that to copy all your files to a CD / USD drive. Then just run the default factory restore and start from scratch.

Topweasel

I believe using the f8 option you could either trying to logon to safemode with Command or just log on to command period. From there you should be able to copy registry files from a backup. I don't know the full method for doing so but Bing or Google can be your friend with that. You could also try last known good configuration if you recently did something or installed something that could have broken it. Another option might be to use a program called ERD commander (there is a free download that I have tested and it works though I don't know how legal it is) and boot to that and run a system restore to a date prior to the incident happening. With that you only loose system changes and not information.

Thylinas

Update:

So I tried using the System Restore option in the ThinkVantage Software. My laptop restarted automatically, however, when it went into DOS mode, it immediately started flashing the error message "Bad Command or File name" over and over again. Left to its own devices it did nothing but keep flashing this error for over nine hours today. I also get the same message when I use the "Diagnose Hardware" option in ThinkVantage. I'm a little mad that I now own a piece of shitty plastic that can neither reboot OR be restored.


Again, thanks for your input.

Red_Cascade

You may be able to get recovery CD's from Lenovo. They do pack XP recovery disks with the Vista machines so you should be able to get then for a T60.

Failing that if you can't boot to windows & R&R is broken, it may be time to find an OEM disk of XP and re-install using the licence code sticker on the base of the machine.

ronya

OP:

Did you pick "System Restore" or "Restore System"? There is a nontrivial difference.

I have a Lenovo laptop somewhere, and I've used Lenovo's restore software. I'm probably too late, but your best option was probably to boot in restore mode, then open a command prompt (it'll have it - the restore software is a slimmed-down version of Windows XP), then run chkdsk and restore the registry manually. If you've wiped your main partition ("Restore System", may have 'to factory settings' somewhere), it's too late now, though.

Restoring the system to factory settings WILL wipe your hard drive and all your documents, and should restore it to like new, unless your hard disk is physically failing. If this is the case, it's time to buy a new hard drive (for which you'll need your CDs, since the restore partition is kept on the same HDD. Yes, this is a silly arrangement, but manufacturers are increasingly using it).

System Restore, which tries to engage with your main hard disk's System Restore (part of Windows) won't wipe your documents, but if your registry was fucked already the restore would be too, which would also explain the curious result.

Lenovo's restore system behaves a little oddly, in my experience, so beware advice designed for generic computers. Luckily it's pretty solid, though. You can even backup all your stuff over the internet or via LAN or USB to another computer/external hard disk if you suspect trouble.