Vista - IaStor.sys + BSOD = Can't BOOT Windows

Hey guys,

I tried updating my HDD controller drivers in Windows Vista & by accident updated one with the wrong driver now I'm getting iaStor.sys error & BSOD on BOOT

• Can't use System Restore from HDD
• Tried System Restore from CD and get "Can't fix error"

Does anyone know how to uninstall a driver using System Restore? Maybe using the command prompt? I know that if I can rollback the driver Windows will boot

Thanks,
MartinC

Hi Martin and welcome to the forums

How far along the Boot process can you get? Have you tried pressing F8 after the BIOS POST and selecting 'Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)'? If you are lucky, this will work (it has for me on a couple of ocassions). Failing that, you could try a Repair Install For Vista.

Hey mate, good to be here

I get all the way past POST, I can reach the Windows start-up menu (F8):

• System Restore = Won't execute (Must still use default Windows drivers)
• Safemode = BSOD (Once it hits something like "disk CRC")
• Last Known Good Config = BSOD

I can't do a repair install because my ACER laptop came without a Vista disk, and I have important files on the computer too. I can't belive that a simple mistake like using the wrong driver will make the system unusable. Problem is no one uses command prompt anymore!!! LOL

Hi Martin,

From what you have said about 'Safe Mode', I don't think that this will work, but you can give it a go. Reboot into 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'. You will need to log on. At the prompt, enter 'rstrui' and provide administrative credentials when prompted. You should be able to use System Restore as normal when it appears. If that doesn't work, then you might have to look at the possiblity of using an adapter (external hard drive enclosure) in order to access your drive from the machine you are using to post to the forum. These are obtainable in both 3.5 and 2.5 inch versions and, since you have a laptop, you will require the 2.5 inch version. These interface by USB and come with a separate power supply, although some 2.5 inch models are supplied with power via the USB bus (sometimes with 2 USB cables). Whilst this will not enable you to repair the faulty driver, you should be able to access and copy over the important files, although this is not guaranteed. You can then reinstall your HDD to your laptop and try the following. After the POST has completed, there should be a key (typically F11, but check your manual) that you press in order to access the in-built recovery partition. Be aware though, that this will recover your system to its original state and that ALL files and data will be lost. If you are successful with this, then immediately create a recovery disc by following the instructions in the manual. The creation of such a disc will help with similar problems in the future and should not affect system recovery using the recovery partition as described above. If you don't have access to your manual, please reply with details of your ACER laptop, i.e. model number (fill in your system specs in your User CP)and I should be able to supply you with a link to the manual.

Thanks for your help Dwarf, what I did was use command prompt to delete iaStor.sys, Vista booted, now A-OK.