Windows Boot Manager Error file:\windows\system32\drivers\ksecdd.sys

Question

Please can you help with the above mentioned problem, on 15/08/2010 my mum downloaded the latest vista update. while she was playing freecell or solitaire yesterday (16/08/2010) Her system crashed, I did a memory check and there was no problems reported, so did a restart and it crashed again, It suggested a startup repair which I did, but Vista couldn't fix the problem. The Windows boot manager screen is as follows...

File:\windows\system32\drivers\ksecdd.sys

Status: 0xc0000221

Pease can you help as she's really expecting me to fix this over night...

OK I'm studing for my M.C.D.S.T at the moment, but it takes time to go through it all.

Answer 1

Hi,

You don't CD to C:    -   to change to a drive you just type  C:   and hit enter

CD is how you maneuver around a drive once you are on it. To go back to X: you would

just type X:  and hit enter.

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Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

Answer 2

Sorry, But I've tried Startup repair first yesterday, but it could not be repaired, so I sent the information flow to Microsoft, can't get in to command prompt either as stated in previous message...

I'd love to do these things, but when I use F8 from restart to go into safe mode with command prompt to do anything in, the computer starts to upload the data the crashes and goes back to the...

File:\windows\system32\drivers\ksecdd.sys

Status: 0xc0000221

So it will not even upload all the necessary files to go to command prompt... 

which I noticed you spirit x had offered another person as their solution as to thesfc/scannow suggestion.

Answer 3

Hi,

If using a Vista boot disk be sure to set the BIOS to CD/DVD 1st - Setup/Settings (BIOS/CMOS)

often F2 as you boot so watch the screen - remember to set it back when done.

Try Startup Repair from the Recovery Console (if you have one) or from a Vista disk - if you do

not have a Vista disk you can borrow a friends (they are not copy protected) or make one. Also

your System maker will sell the physical disks cheap since you already own Windows.

This tells you how to access the System Recovery Options and/or with a Vista Disk

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/326b756b-1601-435e-99d0-1585439470351033.mspx

Try StartUp Repair from Recovery Options and/or a Vista disk.

How to do a Startup Repair

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

Also from the COMMAND PROMPT of Recovery Console (if possible) or a Vista disk

SFC /scannow

Hit Enter

and after that runs

chkdsk /f /r

Hit Enter

( Spaces between C and /   k and /  and f and / )

Retry Startup Repair after Chkdsk.

If needed after those you can try System Restore from the Recovery or Vista disk.

How to Do a System Restore in Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

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If needed :

What to do if Windows won't start correctly

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/What-to-do-if-Windows-wont-start-correctly

What are the system recovery options in Windows Vista?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/what-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-windows-vista

What happened to the Recovery Console?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/What-happened-to-the-Recovery-Console

If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.

How to Make a Bootable Disk in Vista

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/7050.aspx

Download: Windows Vista x86 (32 bit) Recovery Disc

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

Download: Windows Vista x64 (64 bit) Recovery Disc

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

How to Make a Windows Vista Repair Disk If You Don’t Have One

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-make-a-windows-vista-repair-disk-if-you-dont-have-one/

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

Answer 4

I'd love to do these things, but when I use F8 from restart to go into safe mode with command prompt to do anything in, the computer starts to upload the data the crashes and goes back to the...

File:\windows\system32\drivers\ksecdd.sys

Status: 0xc0000221

So it will not even upload all the necessary files to go to command prompt... 

So should I just transfer all her data to another HDD and format to reinstall vista... which I'd rather not do because of the time involved or is there something I've missed...

Please help me, as I know this sounds silly but my mum is getting really angry with me not being able to click my fingers and it works...

Answer 5

We'll need to do a general troubleshooting to see if we can identify and resolve the problem. Skip any steps that require booting into normal mode for now and then reply with results. Use the disk or safe mode where required (if unable to boot into safe mode either, skip those steps as well).

Bluescreen errors typically mean hardware or driver issues (though it could also be software).  Read the posts and follow the procedures set forth by Spirit MVP in the following thread regarding the Blue Screen of Death.  They should help you resolve your problem.http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistarepair/thread/3deab2fa-4000-4136-8c78-a3d22b1db009.  A lot of that is duplicated below but it also offers some other options and explanations of bluescreen errors.  What we really need now is the EXACT and ENTIRE text of the bluescreen message - just copy it down and post it in a reply.  If the system shuts down too fast to copy the message (and you can get into safe mode), go to Start / Control Panel / System / Advanced System Settings / Advanced / Startup and Recover / and uncheck the box to Automatically Restart. Also check the box to Write an Event to the System Log and select Complete Memory Dump and check Overwrite any existing file. This will freeze the program on the bluescreen so you have time to copy the information.  Can you boot into Safe Mode with networking? Skip any steps here or above that require you to be able to boot normally if you can’t stay or get booted (and the same for safe mode if that’s the case there as well). Post back when you’ve done whatever you can.

You can also use SkyDrivehttp://news.softpedia.com/news/SkyDrive-Microsoft-s-Windows-Live-Storage-Service-in-the-Cloud-61977.shtml to upload dump and text files related to the error (as you discover them throughout this and the above processes) which may help us identify the problem.  Just post back the link to where they are.

If the System Restore doesn't work, do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk.  Here's the procedure: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html.  To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence.  To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup.  Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit.  Put the CD in the drive and reboot.  When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer or perhaps in safe mode with networking if that is working).

If that doesn't work, try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or do so from the command prompt on the disk).  Then let's check some of your system files:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator (you can skip this step if using the disk).

If using the disk, cd to C:\Windows\System32. Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run.  It will scan and try to fix some of your system files.  Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228.  Try to post any corrupted files here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk (unless there are too many).

See the folllowinng article concerning this specific error code:http://www.tomstricks.com/how-to-fix-windows-stop-error-code-0xc0000221-or-status_image_checksum_mismatch/.  As you'll note, we will be trying some or most of those options.  If you have a Vista Installation disk we may be able to replace the file to see if that helps.  Here's how: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/261616-extract-files-vista-installation-dvd.html.

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run.  It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart.   Answer yes and then reboot to run the program.  It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.  If you can't get into safe mode or normal mode, this is as far as you can go with the disk so reply with whatever results you have.  If you can get into safe mode with networking, proceed on.

If that doesn't work, then please post any error messages from the Event Viewer concerning startup (Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer).  Here's how to use Event Viewer: http://www.petri.co.il/vista-event-viewer.htm.  Look in the System section.

You may be infected with malware. Try to run anti-malware programs (in safe mode with networking ifnecessary). To fix this problem (if it is a problem) download, install, and run the following two programs:http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php andhttp://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html.  You may also want to try a free trial of Pandasoft (http://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/homeusers/solutions/global-protection/).  Before downloading pandasoft, uninstall whatever anti-virus program you are currently using (because installing and running two at the same time can cause conflicts, freezes, and all sorts of problems).  Once you've uninstalled your current AV program, download, install, update, and scan using Pandasoft.  I think you might be amazed at how much it finds that the other software missed.  Once complete, uninstall pandasoft and re-install your current AV program (unless you decide to switch which I did when I first tried it about 4 years ago).  You may also want to try the new, free Microsoft Security Essentialshttp://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Download-131683.html (with the same caveat that only ONE AV program can be installed and running on your system at any one time).  You may also want to try the free Avira at:http://www.free-av.com/ and Avast at: http://www.avast.com/index.  Reboot after completing all the scans.  You may also want to try the free OneCare athttp://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm and let it run all the options (except the registry cleaner) because that’s good maintenance (it will take some time to complete but can be done in the background).

If that doesn't work,try a clean boot http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135.  If the problem goes away then it's just a matter of tracking down the culprit causing the problem.   Follow the procedures in the article.  Once found, delete, remove, deactivate, or uninstall it.  Once done be sure to reset Vista back to normal status as explained in the procedures. If the problem occurs in clean mode then just restore the system to normal status and reboot - this solution is not going to work.

You may be having troubles with your device drivers, firmware, and/or software. Go to Device Manager by going to start / search box and type device manager and enter and then double-click on the program icon that appears.  Check each device for a red x, yellow ! or white ?.  These identify devices with problems (probably drivers, but also conflicts or something else).  Click on each for further details and troubleshooting tips.  If you need to get drivers (and you should do any you have time to do - they may help in ways beyond just resolving this problem), do so from the computer vendor or device manufacturer (NOT from Microsoft Updates).  In fact, you should turn off automatic driver updates from Windows Update as follows:http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/. Proceed as follows to get the drivers: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm.  Once you have the drivers, you can install them through Device Manager as follows:http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/193584-device-manager-install-driver.html.

Let's test your hard drive and RAM for hardware problems:

To test your hard drive, check the manufacturer and then get the diagnostic utility from:http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/302602-hard-drive-diagnostic-utilities.html (and/or get one from your hard drive or computer manufacturer if they have one available – it wouldn’t hurt to try both).  If it fails the test, replace it.  If it passes the test, then there's probably nothing wrong with it.

You can also test your RAM at http://www.memtest.org/.  If it fails, test each chip individually to find those that are bad and replace them.  If it passes, RAM is probably OK.

If that doesn't work, we'll need to do a system repair/upgrade using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (one you own or one you can borrow from ANYONE).  To do this you have to also be able to boot normally which doesn't apply here unless things change and then this may not be necessary anyway.  Here's the procedure:http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html.  Although this will not affect your data, settings, or programs, you should still backup your data before starting just to be on the safe side. You may have a lot of updates to re-install (including any service packs you had to remove).  If the version on the system came with SP1 or SP2 pre-installed and the disk is an earlier version, then you'll need to make a slipstream disk as follows:http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html.  Please reply before doing the next step as it is a radical option and I’d like to make sure we’ve ruled out all other options before taking that step.

If that doesn't work (or you don’t have the disk), then I'm afraid the only option is a clean install.  You can use Knoppixhttp://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html with a good ISO copier like: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm along with a blank CD.  This should give you enough access to the system (if you can't get in any other way) to backup your important data.  Once done, you can do a clean install either using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk or the Recovery Disk or the Recovery Partition (whatever process is dictated by your computer manufacturer – you may need to contact them for the procedure and perhaps to get recovery disks).  To do a clean install proceed as follows:http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista\_install\_03.asp (adapted as necessary by the procedures of your computer manufacturer).  Then you will need to re-install all your programs, reset all your preferences, reconfigure your network and email settings, restore your backed up data, run Windows Update with possibly nearly 150 updates pending,...

Hopefully one of these procedures will resolve or at least identify the cause of your problem. 

Good luck!Do you know when this problem began?  Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began.  Here's the procedure:http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-windows-vista-system-restore/.  Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points.  If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two.  NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.  Use the recovery disk if the system prompt doesn’t work. The recovery disk works a bit different from the above procedures but if you follow the prompts from the System Restore menu option with the above information you should be able to restore with no problems.

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Lorien - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+ --- If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.