[undercb]

In a nutshell, Vista will not boot on my laptop. Two nights ago came in to find the auto-update saying there were new updates available to install. I clicked on install and then opened Firefox to check my email. Once the install was done it popped up a window asking for the reboot and I told it to wait 10 minutes. I walked away from the computer and went to bed. The next morning when I get up to check my email again, the startup repair window is open saying it couldn't repair whatever problems it was having. I scanned the problem details and it indicates in problem signature 05 and 06 CorruptFile. However, scanning through the repair details it doesn't list any root causes and all test performed seem to complete successfully.

Going to a dos prompt I ran a chkdsk c: /F which found 5 unindexed files but couldn't write out a log with an error code of 50 (trying to recall that part from memory, was a couple of hours ago).

Looking at the system restore points there were only 2, I tried both and neither worked. I get the same problems.

Every time I try to reboot, no matter what the selection is, whether safe mode, safe mode with networking, enable boot logging, etc. it always comes up in the startup repair and can't fix the problem.

Any ideas? I am complete stuck and would really not like to have to complete reinstall.

Thanks.

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Hi there,
do you have your Vista installation disc or an OEM recovery disc? if so you could boot from the disc, let windows files load, select the correct language, then at the next window select repair computer instead of install...

Kev...

[kevinf80]

Hi there,
do you have your Vista installation disc or an OEM recovery disc? if so you could boot from the disc, let windows files load, select the correct language, then at the next window select repair computer instead of install...

Kev...

[undercb]

Thanks for the response Kevin. The system did not come with a recovery CD or the original installation disc. It is one of those setups where where there is a hidden partition on drive X and that will reinstall. Looking through the manual if run that it appears that it will want to reformat and I would like to keep that as a last resort.

[kevinf80]

Have you tried "last known good configuration" Instructions Here

[undercb]

I have tried the "last known good configuration" method. Unfortunately, no matter what option I choose at the boot menu it does the same thing always going to the startup repair.

[kevinf80]

You can download a vista recovery disc from PCWorld this has the repair option included...

Kev.

[undercb]

I created a Vista recovery disc and booted with it. I ran the repair, and it found a problem of the boot manager being messed up and fixed it. I then took the CD out and rebooted. Start up repair came up again, and it now says "boot critical file ntoskrnl.exe is corrupt". After that is says "repair action: file repair" followed by "result: failed.error code = 0xa"

Any ideas on how to get this one fixed because start up repair doesn't seem to want to do it.

Thanks!

[kevinf80]

Hi again,

In xp it was easy you could copy that file "ntoskrnl" from your i386 folder on your HD or Installation disc and overwrite the corrupt one in C:\windows\system32 folder. Don`t think you can in Vista.
Have a read Here these instructions might help.

Kev.

[usasma]

Have you tried to run a bootable diagnostic on your hard drive? Here's a link on how to do it: http://usasma.vox.co...iagnostics.html

[undercb]

I tried the bootrex.exe method and that did not help any. I am attempting to try the bootable diagnostic but it doesn't seem to do anything. Running the advanced test, it gets to the "Analyzing Mechanics" section and then just sits there doing nothing. Sat there for 45 mins before I finally killed it.

[usasma]

Try the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test (if that's not what you're using now). If it is, then try the Seagate SeaTools.
While a bad hard drive can cause the test to lockup, so can bad memory (and other hardware problems).

If the second hard drive test locks up, then I'd suggest the bootable memory diagnostic test available in Vista ( http://www.bleepingc...utorial146.html )

[undercb]

I tried the Seagate tools running the short and long test. Everything passed on both tests. I reran the Hitachi test and it locked up again.

[Broni]

I uploaded my ntoskrnl.exe (zipped) here: http://www.filedropper.com/ntoskrnl
Download it to working computer. Move it to USB stick. Plug USB stick to bad computer.
Boot from recovery DVD one more time, but this time use Command Prompt option.
How to use the Command Prompt in the Vista Windows Recovery Environment: http://www.bleepingc...utorial147.html
I'm not sure, if USB stick will be readable from command prompt, but you may give it a shot.
If not, plenty of ntoskrnl.exe backups are located in C:\Windows\winsxs subfolders, for instance here:
C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-os-kernel_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.18226_none_6c20c750b42ddca2

[usasma]

At work USB devices are hot-swappable in the Windows RE for Vista and above.
In the XP PE mode, USB devices are only visible if they're plugged in when the system is first started.

Caveat: We use a proprietary program for a GUI within these programs, so YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

[usasma]

Duplicate post - please delete.

Edited by usasma, 14 May 2009 - 05:34 AM.