Windows Vista Startup Hang and Boot Failure after SP1 on Corrupt Driver File (atapi.sys and ataport.sys)

During installation process of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), at the final reboot after completion of the SP1 appears to be successfully installed, the system fails to boot and startup with an error message about a corrupt driver file (ataport.sys or atapi.sys), and recommend user to boot from the original Vista installation CD to repair the corrupted files.

However, trying to repair computer via System Recovery Options does not help to recover the computer, and system automatically rolls back and revert installation of service pack to restore point prior to the installation of SP1. Worse still, any attempt to re-install Service Pack 1 again will trigger the same corrupt drive file error.

Apparently, the upgrading of Windows Vista SP1 is in great mess for many users. Above symptom is also related to other driver corrupted error which halt and hang the boot up process after installing Windows Vista SP1. Other possible error messages are:

!! 0xc0000005 !! 1588/68562 (Dfrgntfs.exe)

When starting up the computer in Safe Mode, the drivers loading will stop indefinitely at the following line, with hard disk drive no longer has any activity (reading or writing, as the HDD LED is off.

Loading: \windows\system32\drivers\crcdisk.sys

To resolve and fix the unable to boot issue due to corrupted driver, a few files that cannot be loaded during boot up process has to be restored. To do so, users can boot up via Windows Vista original RTM installation DVD, and open up a command prompt in Windows Recovery Environment to copy the files affected from the DVD to replace the corrupted files on the system drive.

1. Configure in BIOS so that first or priority boot device is DVD optical drive.
2. Insert the Vista installation DVD into the DVD drive.
3. Power on the computer. If applicable, press any key to boot from DVD.
4. Once the Windows Vista installation DVD boot completes, you’re asked to specify Language to install, Time and currency format and Keyboard or input method. Choose the the appropriate options and click Next button.
5. On next screen, there are options to Install Now or Repair your computer. Click on Repair your computer.
6. Choose the Windows installation that having problem. Usually there is only one instance of Windows Vista which is automatically highlighted. If so, simply click Next button.
7. If you are offered any automatic repair options, cancel all of them until coming to System Recovery Options screen that offers several choices beginning with “Startup Repair” and ending with “Command Prompt”.
8. Click on Command Prompt to open a command prompt window. The command prompt shell should show folder location as X:\Source, where X drive is the source installation files on Windows Vista DVD.
9. Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\ folder (use cd C:\Windows\System32\drivers\ command, assuming C is your system drive), and backup the following driver files:

   acpi.sys
   atapi.sys
   ataport.sys
   battc.sys
   compbatt.sys
   intelide.sys
   msahci.sys
   pciidex.sys
   wmiacpi.sys
   crcdisk.sys (if affected)

   The command to backup can be of rename or copy. For example:

   copy acpi.sys acpi.sys.backup

   or

   ren acpi.sys acpi.sys.backup

   Alternatively, create a backup folder with mkdir backup command in “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\”, and then copy all files to the backup folder with copy *.* backup\ command, assuming C is Vista installation drive.

10. Then copy the original files from similar path in X drive (where the source files from DVD is mapped) to replace and overwrite the files in Windows Vista installed system drive. The commands are:

    copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\acpi.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\acpi.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\atapi..sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\atapi..sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\ataport.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\ataport.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\battc.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\battc.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\compbatt.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\compbatt.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\intelide.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\intelide.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\msahci.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\msahci.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\pciidex.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\pciidex.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\wmiacpi.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\wmiacpi.sys
copy x:\Windows\System32\drivers\crcdisk.sys c:\Windows\System32\drivers\crcdisk.sys (if affected)

    If prompt for overwriting destination file, answer Yes.

11. Type Exit to close the command window.
12. Restart the PC.

The PC should be able to boot up and log on into Windows Vista desktop now. The system should prompt that Windows Vista SP1 has successfully installed, however, some files have been replaced with older versions with resolution above, so it’s wise to reinstall SP1 with standalone update package.