Windows failed to start, 0xc000000f error

kingcrow

New Member
Hi all,

I've seen this problem a lot online, in forums etc., but none of them offer a solution for my situation, the main difference being my 'Product Recovery CD' wont load. Can anyone help!?!?
I have a Toshiba Equium Laptop, with Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit
When i switch it on it goes to a 'Windows Boot Manager' screen.
It reads: 'Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your lamguage settings, and then click 'Next'.
3. Click 'Repair your computer'.
File: \Boot\BCD
Status: 0xc000000f
Info: An error occured while attempting to read the boot configuration data.'
Before this screen appears I have options to press F2 or F12 only.
I've gone into Bios and selected to boot from the CD (Recovery CD) but it does nothing - no screen to select language etc., appears, nothing. It whurrs & spins a lot but nothing appears. I've even copied a Recovery download onto a USB and tried booting from that, but does nothing also.
It appears I cant access the Product Recovery CD to even reinstall windows
Can anyone shed some light on this problem???
Much apprecited!
 

My Computer

That sounds like a BIOS matter.

First, set the boot order of your machine so that it boots from the CD first. When the machine boots up and you see the first screen, hit the <F2> key, the <F10> key and the <F12> keys at the same time. You'll see a screen with the computer's boot order. Use the arrow keys to get to the CD drive, then hit <Enter> and it'll go to the top of the list.

Reboot. It should boot from the CD and get cracking.

On some Toshiba machines you can boot straight from the CD by pressing the <F12> and <C> keys at the same time at the initial boot screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard dv6936us
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo "Merom" T5750, 2 GHz, stock clocking
    Motherboard
    stock Quanta 30D2, v.792E
    Memory
    4 GHz, 667 MHz bus speed
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, stock
    Sound Card
    stock Realtek software-based
    Monitor(s) Displays
    stock 15.4" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    stock 1280 X 800
    Hard Drives
    stock Toshiba MK2546GSX and a Western Digital 1TB MyBook
    PSU
    stock
    Case
    stock
    Cooling
    stock plus Rocketfish model RF-LAPCOL
    Keyboard
    stock
    Mouse
    stock Synaptics Pointing Device
    Internet Speed
    Ludicrous Speed (~10.9 Mbps, more or less)
    Other Info
    Browser: Namoroka v1.9.2.3666 64-bit build. Computer specs:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01485288&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3747246
    I like chocolate milk!
Hello kingcrow,
Can you boot into safe mode or wont it boot at all ?.
If you can get to safe mode, open a command prompt and type in sfc/scannow press enter and let it scan, this will check the system files for corruption, and/or errors.
If errors are found you may need to do this more than once.

This may be a case of the MBR being damaged or corrupt.
Try the scan if you can and post your results, good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Hi,
No it wont boot at all, cant get in to Safe Mode unfortunately.. Any other ideas??

I tried the thing with the F keys thanks pauliewalnuts but again the CD wont load.
I managed to borrow a friends external CD drive, thinking I could boot from that, but no luck on that front either.

Jesh, computers are annoying sometimes...
 

My Computer

I'm in class right now but I'll think about your problem as soon as I get home.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard dv6936us
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo "Merom" T5750, 2 GHz, stock clocking
    Motherboard
    stock Quanta 30D2, v.792E
    Memory
    4 GHz, 667 MHz bus speed
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, stock
    Sound Card
    stock Realtek software-based
    Monitor(s) Displays
    stock 15.4" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    stock 1280 X 800
    Hard Drives
    stock Toshiba MK2546GSX and a Western Digital 1TB MyBook
    PSU
    stock
    Case
    stock
    Cooling
    stock plus Rocketfish model RF-LAPCOL
    Keyboard
    stock
    Mouse
    stock Synaptics Pointing Device
    Internet Speed
    Ludicrous Speed (~10.9 Mbps, more or less)
    Other Info
    Browser: Namoroka v1.9.2.3666 64-bit build. Computer specs:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01485288&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3747246
    I like chocolate milk!
Can you confirm that the Bios is recognising both the DVD/CD player and your Hard Drive, this should be on or around the first page of your Bios, thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Yeah, when you F10 your computer and go into its setup, what kind of hardware do you see? You should see your computer hard drive and the CD drive, certainly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard dv6936us
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo "Merom" T5750, 2 GHz, stock clocking
    Motherboard
    stock Quanta 30D2, v.792E
    Memory
    4 GHz, 667 MHz bus speed
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, stock
    Sound Card
    stock Realtek software-based
    Monitor(s) Displays
    stock 15.4" widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    stock 1280 X 800
    Hard Drives
    stock Toshiba MK2546GSX and a Western Digital 1TB MyBook
    PSU
    stock
    Case
    stock
    Cooling
    stock plus Rocketfish model RF-LAPCOL
    Keyboard
    stock
    Mouse
    stock Synaptics Pointing Device
    Internet Speed
    Ludicrous Speed (~10.9 Mbps, more or less)
    Other Info
    Browser: Namoroka v1.9.2.3666 64-bit build. Computer specs:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01485288&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3747246
    I like chocolate milk!
Hi guys,

Yes when I press either F2 or F12 I can see the DVD/CD drive listed, as well as something for a USB, LAN, FDD (or FNN? cant remember) and the hard drive. And I'm able to swap the order of these to boot up in.

But no F10 or F8 options available still..
 

My Computer

When this started, did you get any error messages ?, or was it a case of, you went to boot as normal and it would not boot.
Can you just explain the lead up to this problem, it may give us a clue as to what is causing this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
Absolutely no clue at all. It was working pretty much as normal, then I went to turn it on the next evening and it shows the 'Windows Boot Manager' screen..
 

My Computer

I think the next thing is to look inside the machine to check all wires and cables, both power and data.
Check that everything is seated correctly and nothing is loose.
When you are inside the machine, remove the CMOS battery for ten minutes or so, then replace it. This will clear the Bios and reset it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
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