BleepingComputer.com: Unable to boot into Windows 7: Boot critical file C:\Windows\system32\drivers\vmbus.sys is corrupt

When i boot up my computer it doesnt reach the user login screen before it loads of startup repair. It looks for a fix but it doesnt find one. In the diagnosis the only error it shows is 'Boot critical file C:\Windows\system32\drivers\vmbus.sys is corrupt'. I have booted kaspersky repair disk and run a full scan which found no viruses or malware etc. From the startup repair window i have tried a system restore which had the same problem when attempting to boot. I can only access the system recovery options screen.

I am running windows 7 32bit, and i dont have a windows 7 disk but do have the windows 7 32bit iso file that i used to install windows 7.

I would be grateful for any help to resolve this issue.

Thanks in advance.

but do have the windows 7 32bit iso file that i used to install windows 7


so burn the win7 iso to dvd and see if you can boot to it and run the repair

I'm guessing i will need the product key? Is the any way to find the product key like i would normally be able to do from the control panel if it could boot normally?

If i did the repair install, would i lose all my files?

sorry ,sounds like you are using a bootleg copy of windows ,we do not offer help with bootleg copys of windows

<<...sounds like you are using a bootleg copy of windows...>>

Not necessarily, IMO.

<<Is the any way to find the product key like i would normally be able to do from the control panel if it could boot normally?>>

I see none that don't involve using software which is legal, free, and supports Win 7...but there may be a way via a linux distribution.

http://www.howtogeek.com/64600/how-to-recover-windows-and-software-keys-from-a-broken-computer/

Louis

hamluis, on 16 January 2012 - 09:44 AM, said:

agreed ,i may have miss jugded ,but i put the looking for the key and using a iso file to install it ,if im wrong i apogilize

another avenue also involving linux

extract file from your ISO
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/42776-extract-files-windows-7-installation-dvd.html

boot PC using a linux distro like Damn Small Linux
include the needed file on the boot CD or flash drive and copy it to your C:\Windows\system32\drivers directory

<<agreed ,i may have miss jugded ,but i put the looking for the key and using a iso file to install it ,if im wrong i apogilize
hamluis>>

No apology necessary.

No one has to be "wrong"...whenever there is merely a difference of opinion in the way that two different individuals see anything. I find it somewhat remarkable when any two persons agree on their individual interpretations of anything.

Accident reporting by "witnesses" has proven that .

Louis

Take out hard drive.

Place in another computer as a slave drive, note the drive letter that it's given for the partition that windows is installed on. (There may be more than one partition)

Download ProduKey, extract contents to desktop.

As admin run a dos box, change directory to the location of ProduKey, your desktop then run the following command where X is the drive letter of the partition that your OS is installed on (NOT DRIVE C).

ProduKey.exe /regfile X:\windows\system32\config\software /stext C:\results.txt start notepad.exe C:\results.txt

Click on File then Print.

Oh and whilst you have access recover everything from it you want to recover.

Job done

This post has been edited by akwe-xavante: 17 January 2012 - 12:57 PM

I tried extacting the files from the ISO and using Produkey to extract the key, and it didnt find anything. I also tried copying the system 32 config files from the broken computer onto a usb and then running Produkey to find the key, but that didnt return anything either, which is a puzzle. The broken computer in question is a laptop, so i cant really take out the hard drive (should have mentioned that before). I will try copying the system file from the iso and replacing it with the corrupt one on the broken laptop, and if that doesnt work ill try the repair install. At the moment i am backing up stuff to a usb then this comp in case it all goes horribly wrong. Does anyone know how to access the google chrome profile data from the notepad file explorer? When i go to c:/users/username/ there isnt an AppData folder, just Documents and Desktop etc. I'm gussing its got something to do with seeing hidden files and folders, but im not sure and would like to backup a few things from the appdata folder if i could access it. Not sure if something like this this would work?

Quote

What is the manufacturer and model of the laptop?

Many laptops have the product key on a sticker affixed to the underside of the laptop. Usually, it is near the manufacturers label with the model and serial numbers on it. The label says "Proof of License Certificate of Authority Microsoft". Under the barcode it should say Product Key followed by the product key.

James

to view AppData folder
you will have to go to Control Panel --> Appearance and Personalization --> Folder Options
view tab
check - show hidden files and folders
click Apply
you should now be able to see the folder

Quote

All laptop hard drives are removable. Some easier than others.

caperdog, on 23 January 2012 - 12:59 PM, said:

Is there a way to do that from the recovery environment, such as a command in the command prompt?