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STOP:C000007B {Bad Image} Error on Startup

Question:I have a HP c700 Presario laptop with Windows Vista and it won't boot up to Windows or safe mode. I have get an error that says STOP:C000007B {bad image} and \\??\\x:\Windows\system32\basesrv.dll

I tried the startup repair and recovery disc. When I use the recovery disc it loads files it says
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "next".
3. Click \"Repair your computer\".

I tried a friends Vista disk but that didn't work either and just got this message:

File:\\windows\\system\\32boot\\winload.exe Status:0xc0000098 Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.

I hope you can help me with this because they didn't give me a Vista disk with it I only have the Vista key sticker on the back of the machine. I just downloaded a Vista recovery disk that didn't help either. Please help me as this machine is now out of warranty and I do not have the money to get another one or this one fixed. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Answer: If you can borrow a copy of Vista from someone then you can boot to the DVD and try and do a startup repair and see if it fixes the problem.

Most computers will have either a recovery DVD or a recovery partition so you can restore the computer back to the way it was when you bought it. When you boot the laptop do you see any message saying something like press F2 or Del for system restore or recovery? If so then you can go that route and restore your computer off of the recovery partition. Keep in mind that it will wipe out anything you have on the laptop so any files such as documents and pictures will be deleted. Plus any software you installed after you bought the laptop will need to be reinstalled so hopefully you have a backup.

If you do end up having to reinstall Windows from scratch from a borrowed DVD then you can use the key on your sticker with someone else's copy of Vista to activate Windows.