Fresh Installation not Booting

[Insoft]

Hello All,

I installed Win 7 x64 on my PC which was running Win XP SP3 x64 without any problems.

I formatted my drive and did a clean install. After install my sytem wont boot and it says
File: ntoskrnl.exe
Status: 0xc0000428
Info: Windoes cannot verify the digital signature for this file.
My BIOS is the latest for my Gigabyte G31M-ES2C and I formatted the complete hard drive before install using GParted. I have cleared my CMOS memory and I tried reinstalling and repairing the system too. I checked my TwinMos 2GB RAM for errors and it is fine too. I have two hard drives both SATA WDC caviar blue 250gb (master) and 160gb(slave).

I still cant figure of why this happens. Does someone has a method to solve it and get my system running again.

-Insoft

 

[Wallonn7]

Hi Insoft and welcome to SF!
The error code indicates that the issue is related to file corruption. Just to add to what you have dont to fix this, most likely a Repair installation would take care of this problem.
You can also try to press F8 during the boot process and then select the option "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement"
Otherwise you should follow the repair steps to do a restore or to copy the file from a known good location.
If there are bad sectors on your hard disk, then running CHKDSK /R from the command prompt would also fix this as it did for you.
Let us know the results.
Hope that helps.

 

[theog]

First remove your SLAVE HD.

Try a full clean & full format in command prompt.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

First remove your SLAVE HD.

Try a full clean & full format in command prompt.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Hello Insoft, welcome to Seven Forums!


If you are trying to install Windows 7 from the XP desktop, that may be why you're getting that specific error.

Do as has been suggested by theog and wipe secure erase the target HDD after you have backed-up everything you need to save, then boot the Windows 7 installation media to do a clean install I'm going to add the information below as you may find some of it useful.


Have a look at Step One of the Optimize tutorial below; after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, then boot the Windows 7 installation media to do the wipe secure erase to the HDD / SSD and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

:info: Whether you use diskpart to run either the clean all command to completely wipe a HDD / SSD or just the clean command to remove the format configuration data and don't use diskpart to create at least a single partition to do the installation to, letting the Windows installer do the format, the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition will be automatically issued, if you want to make your own decision whether this partition is added, study these two (2) options below.

• If you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
• If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the clean all then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[Insoft]

Tried all methods above and didnt work. Then I tried secure erase and installed the OS again. Now I get winload.exe 0xc0000428 error.

 

[theog]

Where did you get your Windows 7 from?

 

[Insoft]

I just tried restarting now it is CI.dll . I am using a CD from my company. We have a few unused licenses. I used the same disk for another computer and its working.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You did this Step One completely and it didn't help.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation


... and you followed Method One of this one to boot the Windows 7 installation DVD?

DISKPART : At PC Startup

 

[Wallonn7]

I just tried restarting now it is CI.dll . I am using a CD from my company. We have a few unused licenses. I used the same disk for another computer and its working.

It sounds as a hardware issue...
Download Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD) to be sure.

 

[HammerHead]

Shot in the Dark

I see you have two HDisks. Did you disconnect the one that was not the target (boot disk)? I always disconnect the extra disks until I get the OS installed. Did I say alsways? Yesterday I loaded one up and did not disconnect the extra disks and the install put the 100mb system partition on one disk and loaded the system files to the target. It done some really wierd things. I noticed the problem and unhooked every disk except the target cleaned it off and the load went great.

 

[Insoft]

I did that and still after reinstall I got a BSOD screen with same error. But, the first time no file name was mentioned. I kept on clicking enter and at last I could get into the system. I entered the first time installation data like PC name, password etc. Then I restarted and the system now keeps going to Startup Repair instead of giving errors really weird. As of now I have disconnected my slave harddrive. Will I get same error if I try x86?

 

[gregrocker]

Try running Startup Repair from the DVD, not the one which autostarts from the installed OS which may be corrupt. Startup Repair Post back any results.

Do you have access to another WIn7 installer you can try? All versions can be unlocked in any retail installer by running the eicfg removal tool on the ISO, then burning another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed with verify, or writing ISO to flash stick using this tool with WIn7 in dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

Install to wiped HD with no other HD's or peripherals connected. Clear the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS While in BIOS setup set SATA controller to AHCI.

If installation bluescreens again, enter Device Manager using the method at the end of this tutorial: Device Manager - Access During Windows 7 Installation to uninstall any devices showing in error, likely the video card. This may allow install to complete so you can install device driver from desktop.

For any future errors, please post back or google the verbatim error text and numbers.

 

[Insoft]

I tried startup repair from the disk without any no success. Removed all the peripherals too. Tired using diskpart to erase the drive completely. I cant find the option to set SATA to AHCI though. I have anyways reset my CMOS.

Funnily whatever the file maybe the error is the same 0xc0000428, Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file, but the file name keeps changing if I click enter and proceed. After a few files it is ntoskrnl.exe and that doesnt change on further try.

As a last resort I am trying to grab another CD and try again. Thanks for your efforts to help. Anyways I think if it doesnt work I am going back to XP .

Edit: Tried with another disc and also using a USB drive. Still the results were same.

Can it be due to my ATI radeon 5450 1GB DDR3 video card?
​

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back or google the verbatim error text and numbers. I am researching the error number but would like to be more precise in the results studied.

This can be another problem caused by Norton crapware. Uninstall if you have it and replace with free Avast 6 or MS Security Essentials. If the problem arises after copying in any files to the wiped reinstall, run a full Malwarebytes scan.

Is this a failure of Win7 to start after it successfully installs- the title makes it unclear? Does it start and run at all after install? If so what is installed or changed just before the problem manifests? If so try to System Restore to before the problem.

Try Last Known Good Config from F8 Advanced Boot Options. If you have installed a plug n play device with known driver signature problems, disable Drive Signature Enforcement from the F8 menu until you can find another driver for it.

Then from DVD try SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot

Accessing Device Manager from desktop or via installation method I posted earlier, are there any Devices in error? Can you update drivers, and have you checked for newer via optional Windows Updates after enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware?

Does your computer or mobo model have a BIOS update pending?

What is the output from Startup Repair from the DVD?

Can you try another HD, and swap your RAM? Test both again using these troubleshooting steps

Is this perchance Volume Licensing Key activation from your employer?

 

[theog]

Try running this tool:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-microsoft-standalone-system-sweeper.html?ltr=M

 

[Insoft]

Dear All,

@gregrocker, I will try explain my present situation and how I arrived at it again in Detail.

I used diskpart to completely clean and partition my 250GB hard drive. I created a C partition of 117 GB and a D partition of 115 GB this time.

Then I installed a fresh copy of Windows XP SP3 on my C partition. Then I tried to install Win 7 Ultimate SP1 from the USB I created from my original disk. (I have disabled Floppy drive in BIOS though I don't have one, but I cannot find an AHCI option there though).

After initial steps the files were copied to the system and the Setup restarted the computer for continuing with the setup.

Here starts my dilemma. The Windows Error Recovery popped up with the following message:

File: CI.dll
Status: 0xc0000428
Info: Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file.

Then I just clicked enter ignoring the error. The Windows Error Recovery gave another message as follows:

(Note: No file name was specified this time.)
Status: 0xc0000001
Info: An unexpected error has occurred.

I hit enter again and the Boot Menu showed up and I selected Earlier Version of Windows and my XP loaded without any trouble. (Though I wonder why it doesn't forcefully load the Windows 7 setup.)

I restarted my PC and I got the Windows Error Recovery screen with the following message.

(Note: No file name was specified EVEN this time.)
Status: 0xc0000428
Info: Windoes cannot verify the digital signature for this file.

I clicked enter and It automatically took me to the Boot Manager and into Windows 7. I again got the 0xc0000428 error WITHOUT any file name.

I clicked enter and I got the following error again:

File: \Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe
Status: 0xc0000428
Info: Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file.

I kept on clicking enter and I always kept getting Windows Error Recovery with the same error (same ntoskrnl.exe file) and the Windows boot manager.

Before the boot manager shows up I get random errors too.

I have verified that both my CDs and USB have the complete Win 7 files and I confirmed whether the files that gave errors existed manually from my Win XP.

Just a bit out of context: On my previous try, after clicking enter for a few times at Windows error recovery the installation resumed and the installation completed successfully. But then I kept getting the same errors AS NOW after restarting the freshly installed system.

My BIOS is already the latest for my Mobo.
I am posting my PC Details here again:

Motherboard: Gigabyte G31M-ES2C Rev 2.3
Bios: Award Bios version FJ for G31M-ES2C (Latest. I reflashed it again today before reinstalling XP and Win 7)
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 Prescott 541
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3
Ram: TwinMOS 8D7T5MK8-TATP 2G PC2-6400 400 MHz
Hard drive: WDC Caviar Blue 250 GB (In Use) & WDC Caviar Blue 160 GB (Disconnected)

@theog, gregrocker I will try your suggestion and post my outputs soon.

Edit:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=e:\windows gives message 'There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. Restart windows and run sfc again.'

I do not have any antivirus installed. There are no devices in error, though I suspect the video card. Startup repair from the disc is unable to find any error. It is a retail copy of Win 7 Ultimate and not Volume Licensing copy.

I tried two hard drives and I get the same result. I will try a RAM swap later though. I am sorry about the title I meant to say that the installation itself never completes.

I will disable Drive Signature Enforcement and run Standalone System Sweeper and post back the results.

 

[Insoft]

I disable driver signaturre enforcement and was able to boot to the system to complete install.
I checked the Device Manager and found no Device errors. http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8371/unlednk.png
I have NOT installed any driver ( ATI Radeon HD 5450 or Onboard LAN, Audio).

Funnily enough before disabling the driver enforcement I got 0xc0000428 for tcpip.sys and wmilib.sys .
Any ideas? Is it better to disable driver signature enforcement permenantly (lol). Or I will check if it persists after I install the drivers. Thanks for your suggestion gregrocker.

If I do not disable Driver Signature Enforcement then the system goes to Startup Repair automatically.But the repair fails.

 

[gregrocker]

Install, update and run a full scan with Malwarebytes.

Then install, update and run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials, use as your permanent AV.

Run Startup Repair several times from the DVD or Repair CD, not the one which autostarts: System Repair Disc - Create. Once it reports clean then run again SFC -SCANNOW Command

Update the driver for your video card, in Safe Mode if necessary.