win xp boot problem

imm using windows xp and it has a problem regarding its booting process
an error comes out right after the windows xp logo starts up

STOP:C0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\SystemRoot\System 32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable

Beginning dump of physical memory
physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator a technical support for further assistance.

POST PLS.
I HAVE MANY IMPORTANT FILES ..... :eek:

I ran into a problem similiar to this a long time ago, only exception being all my main registry files were corrupt. it is repairable and you should still have your data, worse comes to worse, slap your current hard drive in a secon computer as a slave and grab your info.

Is this a fresh install of Windows XP?

if so check this
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;830084

If not, try this one.
This is the one that got me going again.

Quote:

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How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q307545
SUMMARY
This article describes how to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry. This procedure does not guarantee full recovery of the system to a previous state; however, you should be able to recover data when you use this procedure.

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http://support.microsoft.com/default...kb;en-us;30754

If you have any problems witht the directions let me know.

thanks guys
i really appreciate it
more power !!!!!
ALELUIA