Solved My Vista Home Edition PC Will Not Boot Please Help!

R

Rob Sandifer

Member
Greetings To All!

Background Info:

Am running Windows Vista Home Premium
Service Pack 2
System Type: 32 bit

Hardware:

Computer Model: HP a1700n
Processor: AMD thlon X2 250 Processor 3.00 GHz

Problem:

I am unable to boot. Previously, I was able to boot successfully. When I now try to boot, I encounter a screen which says the following:

"A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed
incorrectly or damage..."

File: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Status: 0xc0000428

Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the file


What I have done to attempt to fix the probelm, as of this writing, is to install
a known good HD into my computer that I can boot from. I then ran the "Malware Bytes" program against the non-bootable drive to check for viruses. The scan came back clean indicating no viruses, etc.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Rob S.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion/RK572AAR-ABA a1700n
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+, 20
    Memory
    Total Physical Memory 1,917.94 MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE
    Screen Resolution
    1024 x 768 x 60 hertz
    Other Info
    BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.04, 12/15/2006
    Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6000.16386"

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
I am unable to access Safe Mode or any of the other boot options. I ran the startup repair option from my recovery disk, but this did not fix the problem.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion/RK572AAR-ABA a1700n
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+, 20
    Memory
    Total Physical Memory 1,917.94 MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE
    Screen Resolution
    1024 x 768 x 60 hertz
    Other Info
    BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.04, 12/15/2006
    Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6000.16386"
Have stuff you want to save?
 

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
Hi,
See if this assists you.

Do a System Restore in Safe Mode to before the problem started, if possible.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/restoresysv.html

How to access Safe Mode
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/#vista

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If it doesn't, try a Startup Repair and / or a System Restore using a Microsoft Vista DVD
Manufacturers Recovery Disks do not normally have Repair Options; they are normally a reinstall to Factory Settings option only.

Here is the guide to using the Repair Options while using a Microsoft Vista DVD.
If a friend or work acquantance of yours has one, you may borrow and use it for Repairs.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/repair-windows-with-windows-startup-repair/
Table of Contents
Overview of the Windows Vista Repair options
How to perform an automatic repair of Windows Vista using Startup Repair
Advanced Tools overview
Conclusion

If you do not have or can not borrow a Microsoft DVD there is a download of a Vista Startup Repair ISO file available which you can make into a Bootable disk to do the above Startup Repair and that method is recommended by a lot of posters in these Forums.
Unfortunately, you have to buy it.
Here is a link to it:
http://neosmart.net/blog/2011/windows-recovery-discs-updated-reinstated/





Another thing:
Malwarebytes does not check for viruses. Do you have an Anti-Virus program you can do a scan with?

I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast on this site. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials or avast! | Download Free Antivirus Software or Internet Security both are free. ONLY USE ONE Anti-Virus program, having more than one will cause problems!
In conjunction with either of them use both of the following and run them at least once a week.
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - CNET Download.com
Superantispyware
SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!

Make sure to update their definition files during the install process.
Make sure to uncheck and decline to install any extras, such as toolbars and homepages, they may offer.
Make sure to uncheck or decline to use the "Pro" or "Trial" version, if it's offered.
After they're installed and updated, restart the computer.
Run a quick scan with each one.
After each quick scan is finished, select and remove EVERYTHING that was found.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

******************** SOLVED !!!!!!! *************

Down below is the COMPLETE solution to fixing this extremely difficult problem! I say extremely difficult because I browsed through literally *HUNDREDS* of Google links before I found the link which listed the complete solution. I emphasize the word complete because literally all of the links I visited except the referenced link (down below) only listed the partial
solution and unless you had the complete solution, the problem would literally never get resolved. Specifically, all of the "partially correct" links would direct you to perform steps 1 and 2 only while omitting the most crucial step - step 3. Here is the link:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistasetup/thread/1d87f21e-2bca-4a3c-9dda-e54a1f363e4a

Ultimately, here are the exact steps, ran in the correct sequence order, which fixed my windows Vista boot problem. One last time - you must run ALL of these steps (1,2 and 3). Running only steps 1 and 2 and then stopping will NOT fix the boot problem!

Boot from the Windows DVD or a repair CD (you may have to change the first boot device to CD/DVD in the BIOS), answer a few questions, and then select the Repair option in the bottom left corner and choose:

1. Startup Repair

2. If the above doesn't cure the problem, go back to the Repair Option and this time choose Command prompt, then type these 4 commands (in all instances the capitals are for clarity only):

BOOTREC /FIXMBR and press Enter
BOOTREC /FIXBOOT and press Enter.
BOOTREC /SCANOS and press Enter.
BOOTREC /REBUILDBCD and press Enter.

3. If it’s not successful or you receive ‘No operating system found’ or ‘Element not found’ messages, go back to the command Prompt and make the partition active by typing these commands:

DISKPART and press Enter.
LIST DISK and press Enter.
SELECT DISK N and press Enter (N represents the disk you want).
LIST PARTITION and press Enter.
SELECT PARTITION N and press Enter (N represents the partition you want).
ACTIVE and press Enter.
EXIT and press Enter.

Now go back to 1 above and run it again, perhaps run 2 as well.

It took me the better part of a full week of searching through many, many help links before I found the correct one!

Regards

Robs58

 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion/RK572AAR-ABA a1700n
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+, 20
    Memory
    Total Physical Memory 1,917.94 MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE
    Screen Resolution
    1024 x 768 x 60 hertz
    Other Info
    BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.04, 12/15/2006
    Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6000.16386"
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