Registry File Failure c0000218

Hello Experts,
Just recently, my Sony VAIO laptop crashed on me. I just woke up one morning, and it displayed this message on a blue screen:

"Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete"

When booting up the laptop, it starts off normally. It shows the VAIO icon, and then displays the Windows loading bar. After it is done loading, it displays that message above.

A few months back, the hard drive crashed, and I replaced and upgraded it with a 250G Hard Drive, so it would be hard to believe that this new Hard Drive has already crashed.

Any Ideas?

Thanks