Vista will not boot. File ntkrnlpa.exe Windows cannot verify signature

A

arnolfini

Member
Hello fine folks at vista forums. I have a laptop that refuses to boot. It is running Vista and the message I get is:

\windows\system32\ntkrnlpa.exe
Windows cannot verify the digital signature of this file

When booting to F8 startup options and choosing skip driver verification, I get a message that states Windows cannot start because the NLS data is missing or corrupt.



Things I have tried:

Boot to safe mode with no luck. Machine doesn't get past first line, "config" I believe
booting to recovery DVD
startup repair from recovery DVD and from Vista install DVD
sfc /scannow
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=e:\ /offwindir=e:\windows
sfc cannot start the repair service
searching for "pending.xml" file for sfc to run (not present)
turing windows modules installer to manual for sfc to run
running chkdsk /f /r multiple times
rebuilding BCD
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /fixmbr
Upgrade install from DVD
Custom install from DVD (produces Windows.old, which I would like to avoid)
replacing files from install DVD such as ntkrnlpa.exe, hal.dll, etc.
loading registry hive into working system
resurrecting registry files from \windows\system32\config
system restore
loading NLS files from working Vista installation
(all files were backed up before copying files from good installation)


Please help me get this system to boot.

All data is backed up. Any help would be appreciated. I would like to avoid having to do a custom install or reinstall if possible, as I don't know how to concisely retrieve the files from Windows.old and make the system look and behave exactly as before.

Thanks for your time.
 

My Computer

System One

Welcome
To me it sounds like the problem is your hard drive. Try and use Ubuntu, which is normally used to save your stuff. If you cannot load Ubuntu, it is a hardware problem, probably the hard drive.
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer
After you resolve this problem, download Macrium Reflect. It is used to back up your system (get the free edition) and you would be back in business, just as things were before any new problem
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thank you Rich for your reply. I had a feeling it was the drive so I had ordered another one and it has since come in. So, I will be okay with hardware. I will try the solutions you mentioned for preserving the system and moving it to the other drive.

I'll report back once complete.

Thanks again.
 

My Computer

System One

You are very welcome. When you report back with your results you will be helping others with a similar problem.
If it is your hard drive, anything not saved will be lost. My suggestions will help you going forward.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif]I ended up getting a new hard disk since the old one was making some unpleasant grinding noises.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif]I put the old drive in a usb external enclosure and copied all files from the old drive to the new one verbatim using a brilliant tool called [/FONT]Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif], which stops for no permissions errors or any errors, for that matter. You start it, set the source and target folders, and it just goes til it's done, skipping nothing.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif]Then I proceeded with the "Custom Install" from the Vista DVD to the new drive containing the old files. Once complete I created 2 new users; one with the name of the old system I wanted to restore and another one as a "working" account. Then I used a [/FONT]Microsoft fixit[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif] tool for automatically moving files out of Windows.old to the new user, which actually worked very well (surprisingly!).[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif]You have to do this from the 2nd "working" account. The tool moves the files from the old user name in Windows.old to the appropriate places in the new user account with the same name. The [/FONT]same name[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif] part is important. Program files need to be re-installed, however.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif]It's back up and running well. Thanks for your replies; it's appreciated.[/FONT]
 

My Computer

System One

You are welcome and I thank you for roadkill. I was not aware of the software and will now be able to help many others thanks to your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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