Repair Reboot Loop - Error Code: 0xc000007b

Question

Repair Reboot Loop - Error Code: 0xc000007b

Anonymous

Hello,

Starting yesterday, I have had an issue where my computer is stuck in an Automatic Repair reboot. It then says "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC." That same screen also says "Log file: C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt"

(As a side note, I've tried to find the SrtTrail to post here in case it's useful but I can't find it.)

I tried to do a reset while keeping my files, and now I get this page that says "Recovery. Your PC/Device needs to be repaired. This operating system couldn't be loaded because a critical system driver is missing or contains errors. File: \Windows\system32\drivers\protected_elam.sys

error code: 0xc000007b"

I have also attempted to access Safe Mode with Networking and it provides me with this same error.

If I go to Startup Settings and select the eighth option - I believe it is startup without Early Launch Anti-Malware (Elam?) then I can actually log into my computer and even use it. For example, I'm posting this question right now from my laptop that is having issues.

However, it seems to me that launching without using Elam is not a good long-term solution. I'm wondering if there is any way to re-install the driver so the system works again?

Another weird side note, if I play League of Legends, as soon as I start to enter the online game itself - after logging in and champ select, so when the window actually becomes full screen to play - my computer crashes again and returns to the Automatic Repair loop. The only way to get back in is to boot without the ELAM. It's the oddest thing, and it doesn't happen with any of my Steam games. League is launched using the Riot Client so I'm wondering if there's somehow anyway that has something to do with it.

Thank you so much for any help, the nearest laptop technician is something like forty minutes from me and I'm about ready to tear my hair out.

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3 answers

Answer 1

Anonymous

Do you have any third party antivirus? If yes, try to uninstall it.

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Answer 2

Hi Abigail,

My name is Igor, I have 12 Microsoft MVP awards. It's a pleasure for me to help others and I'll do all my best to help you. I'm sorry you have a problems.

May be some system file is corrupted. Please use Windows installation media and try recovery steps described at

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402603...

Answer 3

Hi Igor,

Thank you for the quick response. I followed the instructions from the page you linked, but I am still getting the same issue.

I am not sure if I was in the right place either. When I restart my computer and am sent to the Recovery screen, it gives me three options: "Press Esc for recovery", "Press Enter to try again", or "Press F8 for Startup Settings". (When I press F8, that's when I have the option to bypass the ELAM and get into the computer.)

So trying to follow your provided instructions, I instead pressed Esc for Recovery. I am then sent to a page that says "Choose an option", where I can "Continue", "Use a device", "Troubleshoot", or "Turn off your PC". I went to "Use a device" > "EFI USB Device", which brought me to a darker blue screen with a popup screen that has the Windows logo, name, and language, time, and keyboard settings. I hit "Next", which brought me to the Windows screen that just had a button to "Install now", and a small clickable link in the corner to "Repair your computer". Selecting that took me right back to the "Choose an option" page.

So, I went to "Troubleshoot">"Advanced options">"Command Prompt" and followed the instructions you provided.

After "Stage 3: Examining security descriptors" finishes, it also says "Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 6." Then, when I complete the final prompt, it says "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." I am wondering if the issue may be I am not rebooting correctly? I didn't see any option to do that, so I just turned my computer off and on again.

I also wanted to clarify with you that I am doing the Instillation media correctly. I went on a different laptop and downloaded Windows 10 onto a blank 16gb flashdrive following the instructions here:Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com). Then I just had the flashdrive plugged into my laptop while I did all of the above.

The issue remains the same, with me being able to actually access my computer only if I bypass the ELAM, and the same error message showing up upon resetting.

Thank you again for your help. Please let me know if I'm not making sense in my responses, I'm not familiar with this side of computers.

Edit: I also uninstalled and then re-downloaded League of Legends and the Riot Client which is used to launch it. When it finished downloading, my laptop crashed again, which it hadn't done all day. It seems like that is somehow triggering whatever is wrong with my laptop?

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Repair Reboot Loop - Error Code: 0xc000007b

3 answers