Monthly Archives: December 2015

WDS Capture Error using 2012 R2 or 8.1 install.wim \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe Status:0xc000000f

I recently ran into an issue were a capture wim image created from a windows 8.1 (x64) and Server 2012 R2 install.wim imaged repeatedly failed on boot with the error:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. to fix the problem:

  1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
  2. Choose your language settings, and then click “Next.”
  3. Click “Repair your computer.”

if you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Windows\System32\boot\winload.exe

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: The application or operating system couldn’t be loaded because a required filed is missing or contains errors.

 

I was able to solve this issue be mounting the wim with imagex, changing nothing, and then unmounting the wim using the /commit argument.

Follow these steps (assuming your file is located c:\capture.wim and your mount directory is c:\mount)

Once the image was committed, I opened the WDS console, selected the current Capture image, and selected “Replace Image…”. I then pointed to the c:\capture.wim file previously edited.

I then rebooted the client, and tried the capture image again, this time it worked without issue. I’m not sure what mounting and unmounting the image did, but i suspect perhaps it validates or changes certain files during the mounting and unmounting that are required for the image to be bootable.