1 Fixing corrupted win2k registry with winXP {anchor:Fixing corrupted win2k registry with winXP} Last week end a friend called me for help. The installed Windows 2000 showed a blue screen after boot saying that system32/config/software is no more readable. After some seconds system reboots again and again ending up at the blue screen. This file is the windows registry containing HKEY_LOCALMASHINE/Software hive. Bad news. Without this hive all software settings are lost and you have to reinstall all kind of software. lucky who has a recent backup. the backup we had was two years old. Worthless :( Lookin around and searching the web many useless commercial tools came up. Most of them stating beeing capable of fixing corrupting files... But requiring a running system. What a heck.. at the end I came across a blog entry having the right answers .... unfortunately I lost the track and am not able to remember the URL. i would loved it to mention this fine dude. the point is just boot a knoppix LiveCD , mount the filesystem and copy the file via FTP or another way to a mashine running Windows XP. winXP regedit is able to attach the file as a new hive. During loading it will detect that the file is corrupt and automatically recover it. A messagebox informs the user. Just copy the file back (do not forget to detach the hive from the registry7. and everything is fine again. Yeah and do not forget a backup at least once aa month... you never know.... 2007-03-30 00:09:38.213 2007-03-30 00:09:38.213