This is an error i got today while a computer was giving the blue screen of death. if you ever see the error message:

"Stop: C0000218 {Registry File Failure} Registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE. It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable."

This is how you can fix this issue.

Boot to your CD and choose R (Recovery Console), at the command prompt, type the following:

ren c:\windows\system32\config\software software.old
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config

Reboot

But there is a small warning for computer that is a part of a domain environment. This will set all security templates to default and you may have to load a few minor applications. But it will allow windows to start back up and work normally. (If it is on a domain just run gpupdate /force to refresh all the group policy setting from the domain controllers)

I just thought I would share this one with every one.