Will not boot

Hey. After a powercut, my Dell Dimension 9200 Windows Vista Premium 32bit refuses to boot properly. It kept taking me to the boot options (safe mode, normal, etc) but whenever I selected an option it just restarted my computer and took me back to the same options. A never ending loop! I managed to find a page on another forum which told me how to freeze my computer from rebooting, and my PC showed me a blue screen with the error message of PROCESS1_INITILIZATION_FAILED.

I have followed the steps in this tutorial (I also posted this message over there), but to no avail. When the OS selection list comes up, there is nothing to select. I click NEXT anyway as advised earlier in this thread, and I then can told that "Windows canot repair this computer automatically". I clicked the 'View diagnostic and repair details' blue link at the bottom, and all test are completed except for the very bottom one:
Root cause found:
------------------
No OS files found on disk.

Repair action: Partition table repair
Result: Failed. Errorcode = 0x490
Time taken = 125ms
---------------------
---------------------

The same problem is still happening to my computer. I am willing to revert my computer back to factory settings if this is the last resort, but only if it is possible to back up my files from some kind of menu (since, as explained, I cannot even get the login screen of my computer to get to my desktop).

Any help would be greatly appreciated as it is important I get my computer up and running as soon as possible! Thank you very much.
UPDATE: I tried running a fresh install of Vista on the hard drive from the same menu screen as in the tutorial mentioned before (the one where it installs to the hard drive partition and retains some files), but it errored and said it could not complete this. I then ran a Vista Memory Diagnosis, and it didn't show any problems.

My screen is now sitting on the Windows Boot Manager (I'm not to sure how it got here), and reads the following:
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 language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Status: 0xc000000f
Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the appliaction is missing or corrupt.

Re: Startup Repair

Hi,

Download this free app. from the nice people at Paragon - it burns itself to cd.

Click this link:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-express/

Boot the Paragon cd, select File Transfer Wizard and copy your data off.

Then try the Partition table corrector - it is under the Boot Corrector menu.

Hope it helps

Hi SIW2. Thanks for the response.

I have downloaded the program and have loaded it up on the computer. However, there isno 'Partition table corrector' option under the Boot Corrector menu. Instead there is:
* Search for Windows instalations to correct
* Correct the Master Boot Record (MBR)
* Correct the partition boot record
* Modify partition parameters
* Correct boot parameters (boot.ini, BCD)

I have tried the top option, and then clicked 'Correct the partition boot record' from here (the 'Edit the Boot.ini file' option tells me it "Can not load the Boot.ini file"). It tells me I have successfully completed boot correction, but on restart the same problem occurs.

UPDATE: I just went through most of the other options and tried them out, and although they state the job is done, my problem is still occuring. Just as a reminder just so I'm making sense, my problem currently is the 0xc000000f status on boot.

UPDATE2: I tried following the command prompt instructions as detailed in this post, but it said "The system cannot find the path specified". For some reason the pre-text before the command input is X:\Sources> which doesn't sound right.


Thanks.

Hi,

OK , at least you can use the File Transfer Wizard to save your data.

It is unlikely winload .exe is actually missing - you can have a look using the file transfer wizard , if you like - it is under C:\Windows\System 32.

It is more likely the startup process is looking in the wrong place, or doesn't know where to look to find winload.exe. That ties in with the partition table error message.

Once you have your data safe, you can try the following :

1. Make sure the Vista partition is marked as Active ( Flagged On in Linux speak). It should be the System partition (Boot in Linux speak).

Use any bootable partition manager to check that.

2. Shrink the Vista partition a little - just shrink it - do not do anything else - 2gb is plenty.

3. Boot the Vista dvd, start to install , select Custom Install, when you get to this :



Select Drive Options(advanced), extend the partition again , then abort the installation.


That may sort out the problem - then try starting up , or try startup repair.

Hope it helps

I am about to continue with your instructions, but there is no system32 folder under \Windows\, but for some reason it has instead transfered most of my files and all the Windows files to \windows.old\. Should I continue with your instructions or should something different be done?

UPDATE: Sorry, I am reading through your instructions and I'm afraid I'm not sure how to shrink the Vista partition. I skipped this and moved onto the custom Windows intall, but when I click Drive options (advanced), it does not let me select Extend as that option is greyed out.

Name - Total Size - Free Space - Type
DISK 0 PARTITION 1 - 298.0GB - 130.9GB - Primary

I have formatted my hard drive and am now Installing Windows. I figure that all of my files and folders have been deleted, but hopefully my earlier backup had some luck.

I will let you know what happens when it has finished installing. Thanks.

UPDATE: Formatting and reinstalling worked. Lost all my files as the backup onto disc earlier didn't seem to work, despite it telling me it did. Thank you for all your help.

Stupid question, but I take it there is no way to recover any files?

UPDATE: I am using this program which seems to be recovering files. Most of it is image cache stuff, but I'm hoping it picks up vital documents and so on. I can hope. I'll let you know how it goes when it is finished (tomorrow at this rate).

If you have reinstalled and have a Windows.old folder - everything that was on the partition before the install will be in - you've guessed it, the Windows.old folder.

You can boot into your new Vista installation and fish your files out of the Windows.old folder using windows explorer.

No need to use an undelete program.

Just seen your second post - if you formatted the drive - you will no longer have the Windows.old folder.

You might like to check this out

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/4429-recover-files-after-format.html

Hi SIW2. I used Pandora Recovery and it managed to get back some Word documents and my e-mails (along with a lot of other stuff which I didn't need, such as the internet image cache), which was great. I am reading your post and notice that Recuva seems to get the highest file count. Do you know if this program recover things such as internet favourites and game saves (by this I mean installed games, not Solitare or Chess)? Thanks.

I used Recuva and it did recover a huge number of files (almost 2 million). Not all of them are in recoverable state, and it is going to be impossible to filter through these one by one because sadly almost all of the Path details aren't there. I have backed up all the documents it found, but I was wondering if you knew what I had to search from the results to find my internet feeds and favourites (Firefox)? Thanks.

Hi ,

Firefox favourites are in bookmarks.html - you can see if Recuva will show the .html files it has found - there will still be a lot tho.

Firefox Help - Firefox Bookmarks Tutorial   (The Mozilla Help Site)