Windows Vista is not starting due to missing or corrupt files.

Tyical symtpoms of files missing or corrupt in Windows Vista are:
  • Windows Error Recovery starts and runs automatically upon boot.
  • Receiving an error message requiring running WinRE (Windows Repair Environment).

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  • Some procedures in this checklist may require an account with administrative privileges. If prompted, click Continue or enter administrative username/password during those procedures.
  • If computer has a Medialess load, start WinRE by pressing F8 (Advanced Boot Options - Repair your computer).
  • If computer does not have a medialess load, Start WinRE by booting to Vista OS Backup Media DVD
  • Startup Repair may run more than once if the error was not resolved on the first run through of Startup Repair.
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How Windows RE Works

Startup Repair information:

NTOSKRNL.exe is missing or corrupt

Example of a NTOSKRNL.exe error Message.

  1. Start Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

  2. During Startup Repair, at the Do you want to restore your computer using System Restore? message, click Cancel.

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  3. Computer restarts, Startup Repair runs again for a total of three times.

  4. At the Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically screen, click Don't send.

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  5. In Windows cannot repair the computer automatically screen, click View advanced options for system recovery and support.

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  6. At System Recovery Options, click Command Prompt.

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  7. At the Command Prompt, type C:, and press ENTER.

  8. Type bcdedit, then press ENTER.

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  9. Under the heading Windows Boot Manager, verify "default {default}" exist.

    Note: (default} may say {current}.

  10. Type, bcdedit /delete {default}, then press ENTER.

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  11. Type, bootrec /rebuildbcd, then press ENTER. Answer Yes to any prompt by pressing y, then pressing ENTER.

    Note: If this is run without deleting the default entry, the procedure fails.

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  12. Type exit, then press ENTER.

  13. Click Restart.

Startup Repair runs automatically

  1. Startup Repair attempts to locate and resolve issues with the computer.

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  2. When prompted with Do you want to restore your computer using System Restore?, click Restore.

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  3. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Finish. This screen can vary, dependant on if a problem was found or not.

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  4. Computer restarts.

  5. If the problem was resolved, the computer restarts into Windows Vista.

  6. If the problem was not fixed, the error may present itself again.

  7. Run Startup Repair again.

  8. If Startup Repair runs more than three (3) times, you are prompted with View advanced options for system recovery and support.

  9. For further troubleshooting, select one of the following options:
    • System Restore
    • Command Prompt
    • Last resort - Recovery Manager. Recovery Manager is not available if accessing WinRE via Vista OS Backup Media DVD.

Run Startup Repair from Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) on hard drive

Important: This is only available if operating system has not been reloaded using OS Vista backup media DVD.

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) on Hard Drive

The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) can be used when troubleshooting issues where the computer cannot boot into Windows. It can be used for automatic diagnosis and recovery using Startup Repair, or it can be used to manually recover the computer using the tools available from within the environment such as the Registry Editor or System Restore.

  1. Turn on the computer.

  2. After the Gateway BIOS logo appears, repeatedly press the F8 key. The Advanced Boot Options menu opens.

  3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to select Repair your Computer, and then press ENTER.
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  4. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, select the appropriate keyboard layout, and then click Next.
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  5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, select the user account that has Administrator rights, and then click OK.
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    Note: The Administrator account is disabled by default.

  6. In the System Recovery Options window, select the appropriate option.
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  7. From within the Windows Recovery Environment there are a variety of tools that can be used for troubleshooting.

  8. Select Startup Repair.

  9. If prompted, Do you want to restore your computer using system restore?, click Restore.

  10. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Finish. This screen can vary, dependant on if a problem was found or not.

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  11. Computer restarts.

  12. If the problem was resolved, the computer restarts into Windows Vista.

  13. If the problem was not fixed, the error may present itself again.

  14. Run Startup Repair again.

  15. If Startup Repair runs more than three (3) times, when available, select View advanced options for system recovery and support.

  16. For further troubleshooting, select one of the following options:
    • System Restore
    • Command Prompt
    • Last resort - Recovery Manager. Recovery Manager is not available if accessing WinRE via Vista OS Backup Media DVD

Run Startup Repair using Vista Operating System disc

  1. Place the Windows Vista Media Backup DVD into to the optical drive and start the computer.

  2. Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.

  3. On the Install Windows screen, click Next.

  4. On the Install Windows screen, select Repair your computer.

  5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Next.

  6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, select the appropriate operating system, and then click Next.

  7. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, select Startup Repair.

  8. The Startup Repair attempts to locate and resolve issues with the computer.

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  9. If prompted, Do you want to restore your computer using system restore?, click Restore.

  10. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Finish. This screen can vary, dependant on if a problem was found or not.

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  11. System restarts.

  12. If the problem was resolved, the computer restarts into Vista.

  13. If the problem was not fixed, the error may present itself again.

  14. Run Startup Repair again.

  15. If Startup Repair runs more than three (3) times, when available, select View advanced options for system recovery and support.

  16. For further troubleshooting, select one of the following options:
    • System Restore
    • Command Prompt
    • Last resort - Recovery Manager. Recovery Manager is not available if accessing WinRE via Vista OS Backup Media DVD

Recovery with Automatic Backup

Complete a recovery with automatic backup.

Full Factory Recovery

Note: This option completely erases the C: partition and reinstalls factory-shipped files from the recovery partition.

Complete a Full Factoy Recovery.