Unable to Start Rescue Disk from UEFI Boot

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

On December 18, 2024, I created a Rescue Disk on a USB drive after selecting “Use UEFI boot file for modern PCs” expecting it to function if I ever needed it. My assumption was wrong because when I tried it, the Rescue Disk did not start. Why?

I followed the instructions in the Avast article “Scan your PC for viruses using Rescue Disk in Avast Antivirus.”

“When the Boot Menu appears, select your USB device containing Rescue Disk. It may be listed as Removable Devices, USB Flash Drive, USB Storage Device, or similar (sometimes it is listed on a sub-menu with other storage drives).”

When I selected “USB Hard Drive (UEFI)” from the Boot Menu I received the error message File: \windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe, kernel is missing, ERROR 0xc000a004." The Rescue Disk would not start. Has the written procedure ever been tested and tried to determine if it actually functions when needed?

Please fix this problem so that I can create and successfully use a Rescue Disk if need. Other Avast Subscribers may be unpleasantly surprised when they try to use their Rescue Disk in an emergency.

Avast Free: v24.11.9615.2285

My laptop:
Device name {withheld}
Processor Intel(R) Core™ i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz 2.00 GHz
Installed RAM 8.00 GB
Device ID {withheld}
Product ID {withheld}
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch Touch support with 10 touch points

Windows specifications:
Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎12/‎11/‎2022
OS build 19045.5247
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0

Thank you.

2

Note: that version of Avast Free has been replaced by 24.12.9725a (build 24.12.9725.762)

I have not yet tested Rescue Disk from 24.12, so I don’t know if that will boot properly or not.

1 Like
3

Thanks for your reply. I would hope that Avast would acknowledge the problem because millions of users have created a defective Rescue Disk. This could lead to a diminution of Avast’s Goodwill.

1 Like
4

I’ve never needed to use it, do you really need to use millions?
Where can I find this information?
If you know, please post it here so people can see how relevant this tool is.

Thank you!

5

Hi,
We all hope to never need to use it.

Please check Avast Support for the article,
“Scan your PC for viruses using Rescue Disk in Avast Antivirus”

Millions is appropriate because according to Avast’s own information, they have over 435 million users. Do you agree?

6

I agree with you, but I don’t think there are even 1 million people who use this feature.
I wonder if Avast has this statistic, just out of curiosity. :sweat_smile:

7

I have now had time to boot the Avast Rescue USB that I created from Avast Free 24.12. It booted correctly on my machine without incident.

1 Like
8

Reply to rocksteady:
Thanks for the information about your successful use of the Avast Rescue Disk using v24.12. I also created a Rescue Disk using v24.12 with the same USB drive. It also provided the same ERROR 0xc000a004.

My HP UEFI USB drive boots into the UEFI diagnostics, so my laptop is functioning properly. The problem is with the Avast USB drive. Either the physical device or the Avast software is problematic.

I used a full-formatted, different USB drive to create a Rescue Disk using v24.12 {Program version: 24.12.9725a (build 24.12.9725.897)}. Of the five menu choices, only two were for the “USB Hard Drive.” Either choice provided the ERROR 0xc000a004.
USB Hard Drive (UEFI)…Displays Error Message
OS Boot Manager (UEFI)
Boot from EFI File
Notebook Hard Drive
USB Hard Drive…Displays Windows Logo then Displays Error Message

My analysis points to the Avast Rescue Disk being the problem. Hopefully, Avast will work to resolve this issue.