Using Startup Repair to repair a boot failure due to a missing file

  • Makale

In this post, we describe how to use Startup Repair to repair a missing file that is preventing Windows Vista from booting. The goal is to familiarize yourself with Startup Repair so that you can use it when you or your customers need it. We really hope no one will need to use it :); but if you do, this knowledge might come handy.

Warning: Try this at your own risk. If things don't work as planned, you might not be able to boot into your Vista installation or might even loose your data.

Preparation: Before we try to make Vista unbootable, please make sure that your machine has a good restore point. The restore point is not needed for file repair, but would be useful if things go wrong. To create a restore point: search for System Restore in the search box from Vista's Start button --> click on "open system protection" --> click Create. And then follow the instructions to create a restore point.

Making Vista unbootable: To demonstrate how to use Startup Repair to repair a file we will move the %windir%\system32\winload.exe file, which is a must have for booting Vista. We cannot easily delete this file from Vista itself, so we'll use Windows RE to delete it, as follows:

  1. Boot into Vista installation DVD
  2. Choose your language settings and click Next
  3. Click Repair your computer
  4. Choose your operating system and click Next. This should bring up System Recovery Options
  5. Click on Command Prompt

Once on the command prompt move the winload.exe file from your Vista installation. For example, if Vista is installed on C: run, move C:\Windows\System32\winload.exe C:\Windows\System32\winload.exe.backup.

Now restart your computer using the Restart button on System Recovery Options.

Your Vista should now fail to boot! It should instruct you to use "Repair your computer" from the Vista installation disc.

Repairing your computer: To repair your computer using Startup Repair follow these steps:

  1. Boot into Vista installation DVD
  2. Choose your language settings and click Next
  3. Click Repair your computer
  4. Choose your operating system and click Next. This should bring up System Recovery Options.
  5. Click on Startup Repair

Startup Repair should now start diagnosing your system to identify the root cause of the failure. Once it has identified the root cause, it would automatically start repairing your computer. If you are curious to know what Startup Repair did, you can click on the details link and see which tests Startup Repair ran to diagnose the problem.

After Startup Repair has finished the repairs, click Finish to reboot your computer.

Your computer should now be able to boot normally into Vista!!

Note -- If your computer cannot boot into Vista even after repairs, then go back to System Recovery Options and run System Restore.

That's it! This is how you use Startup Repair for most unbootable situations.

-Parveen

Comments

  • Anonymous
    February 12, 2007
    How about if the Windows Vista install DVD is not available?  How can I install the standard WinRE to the HDD without having to do some advanced OEM tasks?  In WinXP it was a simple run command that started up Windows Setup and added it to boot.ini.  This is extremely frustrating because I need to access Startup Repair and I don't have the RAID controllers for this laptop.  Windows Vista is advertised as having advanced repair options, but it requires them to be installed at OEM. Please reply to this comment as I'm subscribed to email alerts. Thank you, @Matthew

  • Anonymous
    May 31, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 27, 2010
    Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.<a href=" www.nikedunknow.com/">Nike Dunk</a> 　　We always say ‘we are the future’. Indeed. We, the younger generation represents modern knowledge, new concepts, ambition and great desire for success. But, have you ever thought of this question: how can we be successful in the 21st century, which is full of great challenges and fierce competitions? In my opinion, there are two important factors. 　　First, we have to catch the opportunities and face the challenges. China has successfully entered the World Trade Organization, Beijing has won the bid for the 2008 Olympic Games… If we want to be successful, we have to seize these opportunities. SARS and AIDS, environmental pollution, growing population… We have no choice but to solve these problems with our own hands. Thus, catching the opportunities and trying our best to cope with the difficulties is necessary for us to succeed in the 21st century. 　　Secondly, we have to learn to cooperate and compete. Last year, when SARS was spreading rapidly in China, scientists all over the world cooperated with each other and prevented the disease from spreading in a short period of time. At the same time, they were also competing against each other to see who could conquer the disease first. By cooperating and competing, the world develops day by day. Therefore, we, the younger generation, must know how to cooperate and compete. 　　Ladies and gentlemen, we are standing at the outset of a new century, we are at the gate of a new era. Looking back, the 20th century is a century of great developments and remarkable changes. Looking forward, the 21st century is a century full of opportunities, challenges, cooperation and competition. I believe, if we can seize the opportunities, face the challenges, cooperate and compete, success in the 21st century belongs to him, to you and to me. <a href=" www.nikedunknow.com/">Nike Dunk shoes</a>