Question Winload.exe – 0xc0000428

[Archangel_M]

Okay, so, a couple of weeks ago I returned home from being out of town. My computer needed to restart to install an Avast update, but upon rebooting I ran into this issue as pictured below:

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.
If you have a Windows installation disc, insert the disc and restart your computer. Click "Repair You Computer," and then choose a recovery tool.

Otherwise, to start Windows so you can investigate further, press the ENTER key to display the boot menu, press F8 for Advanced Boot Options, and select Last Known Good. If you understand why the digital signature cannot be verified and want to start Windows without this file, temporarily disable driver sginature enforcement.

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

I managed to get into the BIOS screen here, as shown below:





The problem is that I no longer have the installation disk (it's Windows 7 Ultimate x64 version), because it along with half my belongings was stolen by a former roommate who is now in prison on unrelated charges. It's unrecoverable. As well, the product key that I had written down is also gone. I'm at a loss for what to do. I sent away for a 1Tb flash drive so I could at least try to recover my files from the main hard drive, but I have no idea how to do that. I know absolutely nothing about Linux, Ubuntu, or any other non-Windows system, and I really don't know anything about Windows except how to use it. Obviously I'm in a real bind. Windows 7 was discontinued and is no longer supported, so I have no way to buy a legal copy. I just want to be able to boot up my computer and retrieve my files. What can be done?

 

[Steltek]

When you ran Rufus, did the screen look something like this? The Device will be different (first field) but everything else should match. The "Device" field should match your USB flash drive that is plugged into your laptop.

 

[Archangel_M]

When you ran Rufus, did the screen look something like this? The Device will be different (first field) but everything else should match. The "Device" field should match your USB flash drive.

View attachment 19447

Nope. Where it says Partition Scheme in your screen shot, it says GPT. That's what I did the first time, but I'm switching it to MBR now. LifeWire said to leave it alone I think, which may explain why it didn't work.

 

[Steltek]

Once you have burned it, open a Windows Explorer window on the laptop and navigate to the flash drive and look at the contents. It should look something like this:



Before you unplug the drive, you can make a temporary folder of your own on it to store files in if you have important files that you want to recover.

You said you have already gone into the desktop's BIOS and changed the boot order to boot from flash drive first.

With the desktop powered down, plug in the flash drive and power it up.

Watch closely. It will eventually flash up a message to "press any key to boot from flash drive" or something similar. When you see that, hit a key on the keyboard and wait. It may take several minutes for the flash drive to boot up. You'll know it when you get there as you will get a "Hiren's Boot CD PE background and a standard Windows desktop.

Post back when you've gotten that far, or if you have problems.

 

[Archangel_M]

Okay, so I did that following the image given. Now, when I go into BIOS setup, I go into advanced BIOS menu and the first boot option, do I use USB-FDD, or USB-HDD? Or do I do something else?

 

[Steltek]

Please list all of the options there, or post a picture of the screen.


EDIT:

BTW, make sure when you boot the machine to change the BIOS boot order that you have plugged the USB flash drive in to the computer. If it isn't plugged in, some older machines might not show the flash drive boot option at all in the BIOS.

 

[Archangel_M]

Okay, here's what is showing.





Those are the options that show up when I go into Advanced BIOS Features to select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd boot devices.

 

[Archangel_M]

When I select Hard Disk Boot Priority, I'm given options for the hard drives available. The USB flash drive I bought today shows up as an option.

 

[Steltek]

When I select Hard Disk Boot Priority, I'm given options for the hard drives available. The USB flash drive I bought today shows up as an option.

Set it to that as first boot option and exit the BIOS, making sure to save your changes.

It will likely boot up to the error screen - just restart the system leaving the flash drive alone. Make sure to hit a key when prompted.

If you get to the Hirens Boot CD PE background, don't do anything else until you let me know.

 

[Archangel_M]

Set it to that as first boot option and exit the BIOS, making sure to save your changes.

It will likely boot up to the error screen - just restart the system leaving the flash drive alone. Make sure to hit a key when prompted.

Select what as my first boot option? USB-FDD?

 

[Steltek]

Select what as my first boot option? USB-FDD?

USB-FDD probably means USB floppy drive, which you don't have.

You said the USB drive showed up as a boot option under hard drives. Make sure that the usb drive was shown as the primary hard drive boot option. Leave the original drive as second option.

BTW, make a note of these changes you are making as you may need to reverse them at some point.

 

[Archangel_M]

USB-FDD probably means USB floppy drive, which you don't have.

You said the USB drive showed up as a boot option under hard drives. Make sure that the usb drive was shown as the primary hard drive boot option. Leave the original drive as second option.

BTW, make a note of these changes you are making as you may need to reverse them at some point.

Okay, set it to USB-HDD. This is what happened when I went to restart.



Tough to make out because of the glow, but it's the Windows symbol slightly skewed.

 

[Steltek]

That is where you need to be. Wait a few minutes and a desktop should appear. Don't do anything on the desktop when it appears, just let me know when you have it.

If it pops up desktop windows, just leave them alone for now as they'll disappear on their own.

 

[Archangel_M]

That is where you need to be. Wait a few minutes and a desktop should appear. Don't do anything on the desktop when it appears, just let me know when you have it.

Okay, got the boot cd screen, but it's showing for Windows 10, not Windows 7.

 

[Steltek]

Reply

Okay, got the boot cd screen, but it's showing for Windows 10, not Windows 7.

That is fine - this is a Win10 PE based utility. It will work for what we need to do, and it is much safer than the one I originally told you to use. You won't notice any difference in the desktop - it'll work just like Win7.

When you get to the desktop, don't run anything unless I tell you to.

Let me know when you are there.

 

[Archangel_M]

Reply


That is fine - this is a Win10 PE based utility. It will work for what we need to do, and it is much safer than the one I originally told you to use. You won't notice any difference in the desktop - it'll work just like Win7.

When you get to the desktop, don't run anything unless I tell you to.

Let me know when you are there.

Okay, I'm there. Now what?

 

[Steltek]

See the "Utilities" folder in the middle of the desktop? Double click on it. In the window that pops up, double click on the "Security" folder. The, double click on the "Keyfinders" folder.

There should be two applications shown there. Double click on the one labeled "Produkey".

 

[Steltek]

When Produkey is running, press F9. Choose the option that says "Load the product keys of external Windows installations from all disks currently plugged into your computer". Hit Ok.

 

[Steltek]

Do you have a product ID and a product key shown?

 

[Archangel_M]

See the "Utilities" folder in the middle of the desktop? Double click on it. In the window that pops up, double click on the "Security" folder. The, double click on the "Keyfinders" folder.

There should be two applications shown there. Double click on the one labeled "Produkey".

Okay, done. Now?

 

[Steltek]

The product key shown is the keycode you need to install Windows 7 Ultimate. Make sure you write it down carefully, EXACTLY as it is shown. When you finish, double-check it.

Once you are sure you have it, you can close the Produkey window and all other windows to get back to the Hiren desktop.

 

[Archangel_M]

The product key shown is the keycode you need to install Windows 7 Ultimate. Make sure you write it down carefully, EXACTLY as it is shown. When you finish, double-check it.

There is no product key shown. There's just this:

 

[Steltek]

Don't exit out yet, though. Let me know when you have the keycode and are back at the desktop.

 

[Steltek]

Did you press F9 and select the option I told you to?

 

[Archangel_M]

Don't exit out yet, though. Let me know when you have the keycode and are back at the desktop.

Okay, I think I have it now. I have some CDs and DVD-R discs. Shall I uses those to input the product key, or stick with the flash drive?

 

[Steltek]

So, you have the product key (please don't post it here)? It should have said the product key was for Windows 7 Ultimate?

If so, close Produkey and all the other windows until you are back on the desktop.