Partition Resize Causes Devices to Stop Working

[NoahY]

Hi, I've got a fairly serious problem with my devices, though I think it is because of GParted. I am dual-booting off of separate hard drives, Ubuntu and Windows 7. The Windows 7 drive has a couple of extra linux partitions on it that I use for storage and a fallback OS. Yesterday I used GParted in Ubuntu to add 60 GB to the Windows 7 Partition - I didn't move the partition, just added 60 GB on to the end, moving and resizing the linux partition that came after it. Now, when I boot into Windows 7, it loads up fine, but none of my hardware devices, from the DVD drive to the USB mouse to the wireless network adapter, work. When I check any of these devices out in Device Manager, each one gives as an error that:

"Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source."

I can't verify that it was the resize that did this, as I was fooling around with iPod jailbreaking software recently, but it seems reasonable to think that the resize is more likely the culprit. Any thoughts on this? Google search gives nothing on this as far as I can see.

 

[whest]

Try running this - right click command prompt and select run as administrator then type or paste this in the window - SFC /scannow - this will check the integrity of your system files - you should have the W7 install dvd handy in case it finds any corrupted files.

 

[whs]

Hard to imagine that a partition extension would do that. It is, however, bad practice to fool around with Gparted in windows partitions. That program has given me a lot of grief in the past and I do not use it any more. Maybe you want to set everything back as it was before and use disk management to extend the partition.

 

[NoahY]

@whest - thanks for the help. I tried what you suggested; it found no problems. Right now I have digital signatures turned off via F8, W7 is working fine now - until I reboot of course.

@whs Not sure if I could go back even if I wanted to... I don't remember exactly how big the partition was. GParted is great, I've never had problems with it before, and I've been using it for years. If it is because of the resize, it is Windows 7 that is to blame; a multi-billion dollar corporation and its operating system can't handle a partition resize?

Seriously, I can't imagine what else could cause the problem... it's just refusing to verify the digital signatures of my hardware. It knocked out the usb ports, audio, wifi, DVD, etc.

 

[whest]

If you want a quick solution reinstall W7 and delete the current partition your going to install to during installation, and recreate it then continue to install to the new partition. At least you get rid of the headache its causing in a hurry.

 

[NoahY]

Okay, now I'm not so not sure whether it really was the iPod stuff I was fooling around with, and not GParted at all... I tried uninstalling it, and it says to use BCDedit to turn off test signing. There is a boot loader file at C:\Boot\BCD but

bcdedit /set TESTSIGNING OFF

gives the following:

The boot configuration data store could not be opened.
The system cannot find the file specified.

Using

bcdedit /set TESTSIGNING OFF /store C:\Boot\BCD

gives

The operation completed successfully.

Just for fun, I tried:

bcdedit /import "C:\Boot\BCD"

Which gives

The store import operation has failed.
A device attached to the system is not functioning.

Don't know if I'm missing something, but it seems Windows has been messed up. If the iPod stuff is the cause, then I accept full blame.

 

[NoahY]

If you want a quick solution reinstall W7 and delete the current partition your going to install to during installation, and recreate it then continue to install to the new partition. At least you get rid of the headache its causing in a hurry.

I'm sorry, I don't see how that would speed things up... this is not a clean install, I've been using it for several months and have many applications installed. I'd rather have to hit F8 every time I boot Windows than go through the pain of reinstalling everything.

 

[SIW2]

Have you got another bcd store?

Check your partitions for a hidden pale yellow boot folder.

The Default bcd store should be in the boot folder on the "System" partition.

Okay, now I'm not so not sure whether it really was the iPod stuff I was fooling around with, and not GParted at all... I tried uninstalling it, and it says to use BCDedit to turn off test signing. There is a boot loader file at C:\Boot\BCD but

bcdedit /set TESTSIGNING OFF

gives the following:

The boot configuration data store could not be opened.
The system cannot find the file specified.

Using

bcdedit /set TESTSIGNING OFF /store C:\Boot\BCD

gives

The operation completed successfully.

Just for fun, I tried:

bcdedit /import "C:\Boot\BCD"

Which gives

The store import operation has failed.
A device attached to the system is not functioning.

Don't know if I'm missing something, but it seems Windows has been messed up. If the iPod stuff is the cause, then I accept full blame.

 

[NoahY]

Hmm... I think it's fixed now. Seems it was the iPod stuff. When I uninstalled that, everything is working on reboot. And no, only one system partition, I think that whole BCD stuff was a red herring.

 

[whest]

Another one bites the dust - good to see you solved it yourself - I was thinking that you may have upgraded when I wrote my last reply, but if it had of been a differerent senario it may of suited, and I didnt have any other ideas, so i left it. Shall mark it as solved so others can benefit .