If you tried to expand a VMware virtual disk on a Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 VM, or you just messed up your Windows then you might have run into this nasty error when trying to boot:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
File: \Windows\system23\winload.exe
Status: 0xc0000225
Windows failed to start (0xc0000225) - error screen
I got a bit worried when I saw this, since I didnt really want to set up a new VM for my development environment. It was an easy fix though, lucky me. After looking around on the web a bit, it was pretty clear that Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 really does not like it when you resize its partitions behind its back. It renders the disk unbootable and that needs to be fixed.
Windows Vista:
Boot up on your installation DVD. Choose country and keyboard layout and click “Next”. At the next screen and choose “Repair your computer”. It will fix this problem. If you don’t have the installation DVD you might be in trouble 
Windows Server 2008:
Windows Server 2008 unfortunately is a bit different than Vista when it comes to repairing this partition, but don’t worry it’s quite simple what we need to do.
Boot up on your Windows DVD.
Select your keyboard layout and click next and on the next screen click “Repair your computer”
At the System Recovery Options screen, select the Windows Server 2008 OS from the list, and click “next”
Select the “Command Prompt” option and type:
cd recovery
startrep
When it’s done, click “Finish”. It will now reboot. Select “Start Windows Normally” during boot.
Checkdisk will run automatically before starting windows up, to make sure everything is fine.
Related posts:
- Vista / Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 activation problem: 0×8007232B – DNS name does not exist
- Failure adding assembly to cache… Windows Vista gacutil problem / error
- Very loud sound (beep) using Windows Server 2008 and VMware
- How To Expand A VMware Disk, using GParted
- Recycle application pool in Windows Server 2008
great thanks
hold on i didnt get it where is located Windows Server 2008 OS from the list, i couldnt find it
Hey Georgi
Well to be honest, I can’t help you much other than say that after I clicked the “Repair your computer” it was there in the list I got.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
I virtualized my phsyical system to XenServer and then I got the same message. Your solution worked here too!!!!
Many thanks.
Mine wasn’t this simple. My CD wouldn’t boot so I changed the boot sequence so that when I restarted it it was MEANT to boot from the CD but it didn’t do anything and was just this message again. Safe mode doesn’t work. I have no idea what the hell I’m meant to do! ARGH!
Hello Rachel
That sounds a bit odd . Aren’t you the lucky one :-]
Well I havent tried that particular problem (my problem was just being fast enough to get into the phoenixbios), but you could try:
- Boot the CD / DVD from your host computer to verify it
- Convert the CD /DVD to an ISO and mount that instead.
There has to be some problem that has nothing to do with the messed up VM. I did a google on “vmware unable to boot from dvd” and theres quite a few pages that pop up although a lot of them are old.
Best Regards,
Thomas Lund