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STOP 0x0000C1F5 / 0xC1F5 / C1F5 Revisited

Posted by: Tom Karpowitz in Vista on Oct 06, 2009  


It has been almost a year and a half since I first experienced a STOP 0x0000C1F5 on Vista and discovered a workaround for the problem (see my original post on the topic here).  Since that time, I have received tens of thousands of page hits, hundreds of comments, countless side conversations, and even a few donations as a result.

 

Several people contacted me to inform me that there is FINALLY a fix available from Microsoft for this problem.  It seems that the Windows 7 beta disc (and, of course, the Windows 7 RTM disc) includes a “silent fix” for this issue.  Apparently, when you boot a Windows 7 disc and it is identifying potential partitions for installation, it silently fixes any problems with $TxfLog that it finds… so if you boot it to the “Install Now” prompt, abort the installation, remove the disc, and simply boot Vista off your hard drive, it should fix itself.  This is described in KB970101.

 

I have personally not tried this approach because, thankfully, I don't have any systems that are experiencing the STOP code.  But if you are, and you happen to have access to a Windows 7 disc, you might want to try it... and please post your results here.  If you don't have a Windows 7 disc, by all means try my original fix.

 

I think it’s interesting that Microsoft  (1) never really acknowledged the breadth and impact of this problem, (2) never came up with a workaround until now, (3) never mentioned that there were ANY workarounds until now, and (4) didn’t give me any credit.  Well, actually (4) doesn’t surprise me at all.


Comments (38)
  • |2009-10-08 10:40:39 Steve  - Using Windows 7 Disk Worked.
    I have a client that encountered this error. I downloaded a Windows 7 Pro disk. Burned it and started it in the PC. I went all the way there to where it asks me to Upgrade or Custom and I turned it off and took out the disk.
    When Vista started back up it loaded the Startup Repair tool and ran for a couple mins. Then it started right up no problems at all.

    Sad they can't just create a actual fix without having to download or purchase windows 7 to fix a Vista problem.

    Microsoft, what will they screw up next.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-12 12:25:31 Sean- Followed same steps as S
    Used a Windows 7 beta disk got to the upgrade section shut down computer and Vista booted.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-14 19:17:45 Anonymous  - Thank you... you are the best... !!!
    Thank you... you are the best... !!!


    With WIndows 7 is the easyest way...

    Like you said... after restarting ... choosing "Start normal" and then you see, how this Fix will be unpacked and updated ...

    Thanks...
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-20 01:33:31 Tore Jacobsen  - Worked great
    Thank you mucho!!
    Downloaded a Windows 7 ultimate (piratebay)
    Burned and booted on it.
    Went to the "install now" screen an canceled.
    Booted and had the chose of Normal and something like "boot repair". Went with boot repair, took aprox 10 min. And after that Vista booted like normal. :P

    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-20 16:35:08 Mea  - =(
    7 isnt avaible anymore in RC ... :(
    What do I do?
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-21 10:28:30 Steve
    Your right Windows 7 RC isn't available anymore through Microsoft.

    If you are familiar with torrent sites you can get a release disk from them. I used The Pirate Bay for my download as did Tore.

    Don't worry about copyright or legalities because your not downloading the disc to steal Windows 7, your only downloading it to fix a flaw in a program.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-27 23:08:29 Jake  - Need some help...
    If I just go out and buy Windows 7, should this fix work? I am not familiar with what "RC" means. Do I need a beta or RTM version, or would a current commercial version on Windows 7 work?

    I figure I can go buy WIndows 7 from Best Buy, do this fix, and then return the disk.

    Thanks.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-10-27 23:27:20 Tom Karpowitz
    @Jake: "RC" = "Release Candidate". It's the development stage between "beta" and "RTM" ("Release to Manufacturing", the final release which is actually being mass produced and sold).

    *Any* build of Windows 7 >= beta will work, including the RTM version that you can buy at Best Buy. How you get your hands on a Windows 7 disc is up to you... :D
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-11-03 09:40:43 Henrik  - Thanks
    Booting from Windows 7 RTM Disc Worked.

    I had this problem on HP Desktop with Windows Vista, and wasn’t able to book normally, safe-mode, or even start System restore from the original recovery discs.

    I tried to boot on Windows 7 RTM and aborted the installation when Installation screen showed with the “Select language”, and afterwards I were able to boot the computer from the original System restore discs. I didn’t try to boot normally, because I wanted to reinstall it anyway, but my guess it would have worked too.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-11-17 08:49:07 Angeline  - Cheers!!
    I tried that with the windows 7 disc and it worked perfectly!! :D
    So much easier than messing with the hot fix microsoft suggested...I think they need to add you to their team
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-12-01 16:22:51 Pamela  - Wonderful Windows 7
    Hurrah!!! Windows 7 Ultimate worked in 5 mins. Thank you so much for the tip, there's hope for technophobes everywhere with people like you to help!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-12-09 16:35:50 Ethan  - awesome work
    Great and simple fix. I'm glad I found your site before I tried a bunch of things I now know would not have worked. Thanks dude.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-12-13 14:59:32 Will  - Persistence pays off....
    Yea! It worked - I happened to pick up an RC theother day knowing full well that it wouldn't really be WIN7 for me - but I've now found a fix for the dreaded 0x0000C1F5 error. In my instance I loaded to the point of install then backed out. I tried the startup repair but just got the same 0x0000C1F5 failure. I finally just let it start by itself - it worked. Back into VISTA! Why am I happy about that? Anyway - getting WIN7 for my own system now. Thanks for your help.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-12-22 17:40:47 Adam  - It Works!
    Thanks for the great info on this. The process worked very well with the Windows 7 disk!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2009-12-30 19:25:55 AJ  - Windows 7 solution worked
    Just wanted to thank you for the help. I tried the linux solution and it didnt work for me (deleted the file but still got the same error whenever I tried to reinstall the OS via recovery drive or CD/DVD). When I did the Windows 7 it worked perfectly! Thanks again for the help!!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-01-07 21:35:01 DP
    Don't know, tried both "solutions" with no success!!!! Guess I will have to reformat the hdd, this really sucks out loud!!!!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-01-13 19:10:47 Sandman  - Perfect! Fix does work
    Tried your fix suggestion for this error. It worked like a charm. I used a retail version of Win7. All you have to do is just insert the DVD and it will fix the log file ($TxfLog). At the first prompt screen just close it and it will restart your PC or Laptop. That's it and it is that simple good luck to everyone. Thanks a million.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-01-17 00:42:34 DP  - No Work Here
    I am glad this worked for all of you but it did not work for me at all!
    I am now in the process of reformatting my hard drive and installing windows 7, maybe I should go back to XP???
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-02-15 19:14:03 john
    thankyou it works fine that realy helps,window 7 the way forward.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-03-01 06:04:49 Paul Clarke  - Thanks
    BRILLIANT - This might just have been the single most usefull fix I have seen for ages.

    Now a certain university student will be happy that her laptop is fixed.

    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-03-04 21:11:19 mattyo  - all i have to say is.....wow
    IT worked :D reinstalling Vista as I type. I installed
    linux and ran the Diagnostics tools then did this fix :P
    ps ... your the best
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-03-18 19:00:38 Nibbs  - Thanks dude! saved my rep..
    :0
    Hey, I just came across this exact issue on a friends laptop. They didn't have a clue and I have to admit that I didn't either. that is until I read this article.
    I got to the disk selection stage of a Windows 7 install on the offending Vista laptop, cancelled everything, restarted and Vista was back up and running.
    Sadly I still had to clear all the crap up that the user had there in the first place, but it saved me a reinstall and and a lot of agg.

    Thanks for your advice, Luv ya..
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-03-25 14:18:18 Anonymous  - Thanks for the info
    Woohoo!!! I definaltely agree with Paul that this is easily the most useful fix for Vista in a LONG time. This worked like a charm. Used the Windows 7 RC1 disc on my venture. My customer will be happy that their computer is alive again without a reinstall. Thank you!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-04-16 02:56:34 Carbone  - Incredible
    Just got this error on a customer's pc. I saw it for the first time and I have never seen an error on the files of the harddisk that prevents from booting from VistaPE. Absolutely incredible. Thank you, dude!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-04-21 02:10:23 Carbone  - It didn't work
    So I tried this option, but booting from the Win7-DVD (RTM) didn't work, the Vista-DVD still gave C1F5. I booted until "Install now" and until disk management before I canceled setup.

    Sadly I didn't copy your insctructions from the other site exactly enough for manual repairing, so I can't say if this would have been successful, but I doubt about that, since the 7-DVD should have worked. But wiping the disk did it.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-01 01:27:59 Jim  - Question for Tom
    My Pc is infected bigtime and I got the BSOD with the error you described. Since its a dell with the restore on a hidden partition and I also have the Vista restore DVD I dont really care about getting it to boot I just want to reinstall Vista from the DVD or from Cntrl F-11. My question is since I dont have Win 7 around cant I just reformat the drive to fix the problem? Will reformating the drive solve the messed up file and BSOD issue? And if so how can I get in to reformat the HD since I cant get past the BSOD? Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-01 09:33:12 Tom Karpowitz
    @Jim: No, you cannot just reformat the drive... at least not with a Windows-based disc or installation. That's the problem in a nutshell; pre-Win7 OSes like Vista (or the Windows PE-based system recovery partition on your Dell) will barf when they see a disk with the filesystem in this state, even if you are trying to do a fresh install/repair.

    Since you are planning to reinstall and therefore don't care about the contents of the current installation, you can use any "alternative method" (Linux-based, Unix-based, DOS-based, etc) disk/tool to format/partition/wipe/whatever the existing C: drive. THEN you will be able to use either your DVD or the restore partition to reinstall your system.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-01 13:45:37 Jim  - Follow up for Tom.
    I will be brief because I really appreciate your help. If I put the drive in or attach to a Vista Pc as a slave drive which I did to recover my data can I click the drive and reformat by using the other PC to reformat it? If not can you suggest some program I can find on the net that will easily reformat the drive? Thanks in advance for your help. If I cant find a way I am stuck buying another hard drive I guess.
    JIM
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-01 16:24:43 Tom Karpowitz
    @Jim; If you can move the drive to another Vista or XP or Win7 or whatever computer and "see" the drive (without crashing the host PC!) you can just use normal Format techniques provided by Windows to format the drive. Be sure to select the correct disk and partition!

    Alternatively, you can use KillDisk (http://www.killdisk.com) to erase the drive on your existing computer. The KillDisk site has downloads and instructions that allow you to make a bootable floppy, bootable USB stick, or bootable CDROM. Simply boot it on your system and erase the drive. You don't even have to let it erase completely... usually as long as the first few sectors get erased, the drive can be reinstalled with Windows just fine.

    As a side note: with either of these methods, since you will be destroying the contents of the C: partition, you will have the opportunity to blow away the D: partition entirely (the Dell recovery partition) and add its space to the new, takes-up-the-entire-disk C: partition you will create at Windows installation time. I say this because you noted that you have a Vista DVD that you can use for reinstalls/repairs and therefore may not need the Dell partition at all. Of course, if you want to preserve the Dell partition for some reason (so as to restore your computer to "factory original" bits) do NOT destroy the D: partition.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-02 07:52:24 Jim  - Thanks Tom
    You sure know your stuff. I figured that might work thats why I asked but as a carpenter says measure twice cut once lol. Last quick one if you have time. I wanted to restore to factory from D partition. If I hook up as ext. drive to XP Pc and reformat C do you know if that destroys the link Cntrl F-11 so that I cant use that to restore to factory or if I leave D alone and don't format might I be able to power on and press F-11 to get to the Dell factory restore application? Of course my preference is to get rid of the BSOD but still be able to restore to factory rather than reinstalling from DVD. I would guesss the Killdisk could mess with the D drive and ruin any chance I have or doing that. But maybe reformating C will mess me up as far as reinstalling using F-11 too. Any thoughts on that? And thanks for taking your time to help all these people. We would be lost without your BSOD fix and other computer knowledge.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-02 10:02:50 Tom Karpowitz
    @Jim: I can't speak with authority because I've never actually done it, but I *think* that if you just attach the drive to another computer, reformat C:, put the drive back in your computer, and use Ctrl-F11 it *should* still work.

    If not, the contents of the D: partition will still be there, so you could use alternative means of accessing it (e.g. use a bootable CD/DVD like your Vista install disc to boot, then select the option to boot from the hard drive and select the system recovery partition).
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-05-02 10:41:56 Jim  - Tom you are the best.
    Ty for your reply. In the world of computers "I think" goes a long way haha. Hell you thought and came up with your fix for error code. Thanks for your imput. I will try that and since you like to know I will surely post and let you know if it works so in the future if someone asks you will know for sure. Thanks again for all your help.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-06-24 17:09:37 Dennis Duncan  - Fix worked using HP Windows 7 Upgrade Disk
    Fix worked for a Toshiba Satellite L305-S5921 with STOP: 0x0000C1F5 error.

    I used the disk labeled "Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Media" from a HP Windows 7 upgrade kit (NOT the disk labeled "HP Upgrade Manager" - the kit contains 2 disk).

    Although this disk was for a 64-bit system and the Toshiba Satellite was running 32-bit Vista Home Premium, the laptop booted up normally (after running "chkdsk" for about 5 mins) after aborting the Windows 7 upgrade after seeing the "INSTALL NOW" prompt.
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-07-24 18:26:23 Anonymous  - Worked
    It worked! It doesn't seem to matter which version of win 7 you use. HP, Pro or Ultimate, as well as 32 or 64 bit. I used a Win 7 hp 32 bit on a vista HP 64 bit system and it worked fine. Thanks!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-08-03 10:04:32 Stian  - HP Pavilion dv7
    Seems like it worked on my brothers HP Pavilion dv7. When the error first occured he was using the PC, and then the error would appear every time he tried to boot. Using the Win 7 disk he was able to boot the PC again, but it didn't last long until the error occured once again. So the question is, why does this happen? Could there be a program on his PC that causes it?
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  • |2010-08-03 20:01:37 Not Happy
    This did not work for me! Followed directions exactly, ended up installing W7 and formatting HD, best thing I have done yet. Vista is a POS!!!
    ReplyQuote
  • |2010-08-03 22:39:59 Tom Karpowitz
    @Stian: I can't say for certain what is causing this BSOD on your brother's computer, but most often I have seen it associated with a Service Pack installation that goes bad or only partially completes.

    Once you have used the Windows 7 disc trick to get a bootable system, I'd encourage you to use an external or network drive to back up your important files immediately. Then, I'd suggest you try using System Restore to "rewind the clock" to an earlier date when the system seemed to be working OK. If you get that far and things still work, install Vista Service Pack 2 (reinstall it if it is already installed) and make sure things are still OK.

    If the BSOD continues to occur and it's not Service Pack related, I'm afraid I have very little guidance to give you to help to isolate the problem application/driver/whatever.
    ReplyQuote
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