Windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing or corrupt. Status:Oxc000014C

Anonymous
2009-01-07T21:35:27+00:00

Hello - can anyone help me find a solution to my problem?

My problem:Windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing or corrupt. Status:Oxc000014C

I tried everything the sytem advised from going through safe mode etc.. I also attempted to reload my OS - which was last updated via windows update site. However, it did not work - probably because of all the updates from MS which meant that it would not load from the DVD.

It was a completely new custom system with MS Vista Untimate 64 bit, Office 2007, Asus MB, 250 GB HD ATI video card. I was using Vista for almost a year and had no probelm prior to today. All original software.

I have my thesis and several files I was working on for someone -  I was doing some consulting work for to supplement my income as a student.. Unfortunately, when I last used my system last night it was ok. Now I canot get my system to work.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2009-01-08T21:00:37+00:00

Thanks Mark for your comments.

I ended up contacting Microsoft directly and they were able to get my system up and running without me losing any of the data. Hooray for Microsoft!

My system is back to normal and I am making sure all my files are backed up on DVD's.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-14T07:57:01+00:00

    Thank You.....

    This was a great help for me...!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-18T15:20:55+00:00

    When you boot the machine with your Windows 7 installation CD then you get to the Repair screen regardless of what is on your hard disk. Since you don't, I must assume that you're still booting from the hard disk. This could happen for a number of reasons:

    • Your BIOS does not use the CD drive as its primary boot device.
    • The DVD your're booting with is not a boot DVD.
    • The DVD is marginal or damaged.
    • The DVD drive is marginal or damaged.
    • You're not pressing a key early during the boot phase when prompted to do so.

    Attempting to boot the machine with some other boot DVD, e.g. from http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/, would shed some light on this issue.

    _________________________

    ID#0124.If this was helpful, please vote by clicking the green triangle. If it solves the issue, click "Propose as Answer". Thanks.

    Raman

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-05T01:15:35+00:00

    HI Prateek,

    I am having the same problem with my laptop which is windows 8 factory installed, I am unable to boot into the windows as it says the system registry file is missing:

    \windows\system32\config\system

    error code: 0xc000014c

    I do have a windows 8 installation disk but it is not the one that was provided to me with my laptop. Can you please tell me how to fix this error?

    You help will be highly appreciated

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T15:35:05+00:00

    Hi

    Follow this it will permanently fix the issue, Its 100% sure

    c:

    cd windows\system32\config

    ren default default.old

    ren sam sam.old

    ren security security.old

    ren software software.old

    ren system system.old

    cd regback

    copy default ..\

    copy sam ..\

    copy security ..\

    copy software ..\

    copy system ..\

    Thanks! I tried ur step, and worked like a charm! :)

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