Why is windows failing to start? Status: 0xc0000225?

Question

I'm doing a fresh windows install (win 7 home prem) and keep getting this screen saying:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation disk and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click next.
3. Click repair your computer.

If you do not have this disk, contact your system administrator or or computer manufacture for assistance.

Status: 0xc0000225
Info: An unexpected error has occurred.

I don't know where to begin to attempt fixing this. I have the windows disc I'm booting from and I can't find anything like this situation on the net, everything I read was for operating systems that were already installed.

Answer 1

if you are booting a CLEAN INSTALL disk that you KNOW to be reliable, then that error is most likely caused by a hardware incompatibility. an example, your hardware is old and has a hard drive interface chip that needs a special driver, not included with windows installation(this usually means it needs an F6 to slipstream in the driver that windows needs) the way you find out is to look on the mainboard makers site which may tell you how to install 7 on that standard of hardware. The other likely cause could be the drive itself is not working quite right, eg its too old or too new compared to the drive interface chip. for example most new drives are now LOWER current eg 0.5 amps instead of 1 - 2 amps. so fitting an old disk to new drive interface might mean it just cant drive it hard enough. so whats the mainboard make/model, and whats the disk drive make/model? your bios can tell you most of that. *** note many mainboards, Dell/HP, or self build Gigabyte MSi etc will have a PATCH for SOME hard drive models that dont work quite right right with their chipsets. Equally some hard drive makers also make patches for a few hard drives. it just happens that way, so check both of yours, the mainboard for firmware fixes/bios updates, and the particular hard drive model too.

Answer 2

It doesn't sound like you booted to the disk at all! Put the DVD in push f12 or whatever brings up the boot menu load the CD erase all partitions and then click new.



After your fully installed the brand new copy of windows should load.



Make sure you default your bios settings and put in a fresh battery

Answer 3

That status message is a boot error. If you've recently installed new hardware remove it and the error should go away during the install, after the windows installation is complete you can re-install the new hardware. Otherwise, choose a selection and move on. Start with selection number 2 by selecting your language. I have been messing with computers, and fixing or updating them, for over 30 years and have only ever seen the repair feature work only once so...give that a shot if choosing your language fails and cross all your limbs for luck.



It is very likely something dumb in the boot sector that selecting 2 will just ignore, bypass, and continue the installation however it could also be a hardware issue which is why if you have installed a new video card or something removing it will bypass this error.

Answer 4

This method will clean, format, & give you a recovery partition on the HDD



Begin Windows 7 installation.

Insert the Windows 7 ISO CD or USB Flash drive



At the Windows Language → Time → Keyboard pane → press Shift + F10



CMD Prompt

X:\Sources>diskpart

DISKPART> list disk

DISKPART> select disk [0]

DISKPART> clean

DISKPART> create partition primary size=4096

DISKPART> cre par pri

DISKPART> list volume (jot down drive letter for ISO device - CD or Flash e.g. D:)

DISKPART> sel vol [0] (looking for larger RAW volume)

DISKPART> format fs=ntfs quick

DISKPART> sel vol [1] (looking for RECOVERY volume)

DISKPART> for fs=ntfs quick label="Recovery"

DISKPART> assign letter=F (must differ from all listed drives)

DISKPART> active

DISKPART> exit

Leaving DiskPart. . .



X:\Sources>xcopy D: F: /h/i/s (D: → DVD/CD F: → Recovery Part)

– ALLOW TO RUN –

877 files copied





X:\Sources>D: (use assigned DVD/CD drive letter D:)



D:\>cd/boot

D:\boot>bootsect.exe /nt60 F: (F: Recovery Partition)

D:\boot>exit



Remove disk, reboot the computer

Install Windows 7 on the largest partition





*May receive BOOTSECT.EXE is not compatible with this version of Windows

Remove the CD or Flash Drive & Windows should install



\\☺

Answer 5

ok