System bootup error - hive file

When booting the system I get the following message: STOP, Registry file failure Registry cannot load the HIVE file :\system root\system 32\config\software. or it's log alternate. It is corrupt , absent or not writeable.

What should I do, or can I do?

1 - please remove your email address to protect you from spammers

2 - try this free, bootable diagnostic test for your hard drive: HD Diagnostic (read the details at the link)

Thanks for your help

Let us know the results of the diagnostic and we'll move on from there.

The computer I was trying to fix was my daughters at work and they have decided to take it to a local repair shop to get it fixed so I am off the hook. Thanks anyway.....Jim