How to Fix STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE Error 0xC0000218
The STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), identified by the error code 0xC0000218, occurs when Windows is unable to load a vital Registry file or hive necessary for the boot process.
This issue typically arises due to Registry corruption, damaged system files, outdated or faulty drivers, or issues with memory modules or the storage disk.
Before diving into troubleshooting steps, it’s recommended to reboot your computer, disconnect any non-essential hardware, and disable any overclocking settings if applicable.
How can I resolve the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE blue screen in Windows?
1. Initiate Startup Repair
- On encountering the error screen, power down the computer. When you power it back on and Windows begins to load, press and hold the Power button to shut it off. Repeat this process three times, and on the fourth time, Windows should automatically enter the Repair mode.
- Allow the system scan to complete. If it indicates that Automatic Repair couldn’t fix your issue, select Advanced options.
- Choose Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options once again.
- Click on Startup Repair.
- Pick your user account from the list that appears.
- Input the password for your user account, click Continue, and allow the Startup Repair to address the issues obstructing Windows’ load process.
- After the repair process, attempt to boot into Windows and check for improvements.
When confronting the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE BSoD, the simplest and most endorsed fix by Microsoft is to utilize the Startup Repair feature, which resolves various issues hindering Windows startup, including Registry hive problems!
2. Execute SFC and DISM Scans
- Access Windows Recovery Mode and click on Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options.
- Click on Command Prompt.
- Choose your primary user account and input the password.
- In the Command Prompt window, enter these DISM commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth,DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth,DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. - Then, perform this SFC scan command:
sfc /scannow
- Once the scans are complete, restart your computer normally and check if the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE error still occurs.
Corrupted system files frequently lead to the blue screen error. To remedy this, it is crucial to execute DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker) scans, which will replace any defective files with cached versions located on your system!
3. Conduct a System Restore
- Boot into Windows RE (Recovery Environment) and click on Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options.
- Choose System Restore.
- Select your main user account and enter the password if prompted.
- Click Next to continue.
- Select a restore point created prior to the appearance of the issue, and then click Next.
- Confirm the restore settings and click Finish.
- Press Yes on the confirmation dialog.
- Wait for the system restore process to finish; this might take around 15 to 45 minutes.
- After the restoration, reboot into Windows normally and check if the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE 0xC0000218 error has been resolved.
4. Remove Conflicting Drivers
- Boot into Safe Mode using the recovery environment.
- Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, then select Device Manager.
- Identify any devices marked with a yellow exclamation point or those recently updated, right-click on them individually, and choose Uninstall device.
- Enable the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then click Uninstall.
- After uninstalling the drivers, exit Safe Mode, restart Windows, and verify if the problem persists.
5. Address Disk Problems
- From the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot, and then go to Advanced options.
- Click on Command Prompt, select your user account, and enter the required password.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk /r - If prompted to schedule the scan for the next start-up, press Y followed by Enter to confirm.
- After that, restart your computer and allow Check Disk to repair any drive issues.
In many instances, problems related to the storage drive—especially the areas where Registry files are stored—cause the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE blue screen error in Windows. Running Check Disk can help fix these drive issues, such as bad sectors.
6. Investigate RAM Issues
In my experience, RAM-related problems can frequently lead to the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE error. It’s advisable to run the built-in RAM diagnostics tool, Windows Memory Diagnostic, from Safe Mode in Windows.
If this tool does not resolve the issue, consider using Memtest86+, a more advanced RAM testing utility that assesses individual memory modules and identifies even minor issues. If any problems are found, replace the faulty module and check for improvements.
7. Reinstall Windows
If the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE error persists, the final resort is a fresh installation of Windows. Since this process may result in data loss, ensure you back up crucial files to an external storage device in Safe Mode.
To reinstall Windows, connect a USB drive to another PC > navigate to Microsoft’s official page > download the Media Creation Tool > create a bootable Windows USB using the tool > insert the flash drive into the problematic PC > adjust the boot settings to prioritize the USB drive > launch the Windows setup and proceed with the installation.
One of these methods should help resolve the STATUS_CANNOT_LOAD_REGISTRY_FILE issue in Windows. If the problem still exists, it may point to a hardware malfunction, and visiting a local repair shop for further inspection is advisable.
If you have any questions or additional fixes to share, please leave a comment below.
Leave a Reply