Memtest: Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file

[Gumby]

I have my machine setup with the boot loader, although I only have Windows 7 installed. In the boot loader I have an entry for Windows Memory Diagnostic as a tool.

Although I am able to boot into Windows 7 without any problem, if I select Windows Memory Diagnostic, I receive the error: "Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file."

Error code: 0xc0000428

File: \boot\memtest.exe

I once used a Windows 7 recovery disk to recover from an error [required device is inaccessible]. Although my booting issue was repaired, I suspect that the digital signature for this memtest.exe may have been corrupted... I'm not sure when this happened since I do not use the Memory Diagnostic regularly.

I do not think my C:\ drive is failing as it passes CHKDSK and the SMART characteristics are all perfect.

Therefore, I'd like to know how I can correct the digital signature problem for the memtest file. My system is functional as-is, but it would be nice to be able to use the Memory Diagnostic at boot.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Layback Bear]

Welcome to our forum Gumby.

This might help and can't hurt. Please read completely and give it a try.

By Brink:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[Gumby]

Thanks for your reply

I ran the integrity check, but I received the result, "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations."

Any more ideas?

 

[Gumby]

Well, your thinking was correct, although apparently sfc does not validate the memtest.exe file.

I decided to compare the memtest file on my C:\ drive to the one on my Windows 7 installation DVD, and sure enough the file on my C:\ drive was a very different size.

So, I copied the file from the DVD to the \boot folder on my C:\ drive. This in itself was a bit more involved. Because the \boot folder is a hidden and protected system folder, I needed to choose to unhide system files and folders, and then take ownership of the folder before Windows would allow me to copy and replace the memtest file there. Once I had done that, I re-hid the system files and folders, and rebooted my machine.

From there, when I got to Windows boot manager and selected Windows Memory Diagnostic, it started as expected. Problem solved!

Thanks for giving me the idea!

 

[Layback Bear]

Good thinking and good work.
Happy computing.