Error 0xc0000428 in Windows: Causes and Fixes

Error 0xc0000428 in Windows signals an issue related to the verification of a driver’s or software’s digital signature. This error often occurs during system startup or when installing new drivers, indicating that the system is unable to verify the authenticity of the digital signature. Let’s dive into the potential causes and effective solutions for this problem.

What Causes Error 0xc0000428?

The main cause of this error is the presence of unsigned or improperly signed drivers or software. Common reasons include:

  • Driver signature is missing or invalid.
  • Corrupted boot files in the Windows system.
  • Outdated, incompatible, or misconfigured drivers.
  • Issues with the boot sector or incorrect BIOS/UEFI configurations.

How to Fix Error 0xc0000428

Depending on the specific cause, there are several approaches to resolve this issue:

1. Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

The simplest way to bypass the error temporarily is to disable driver signature enforcement. Follow these steps:

  1. Restart your computer and press F8 (or another key specific to your system) to open the boot options menu.
  2. Select Disable Driver Signature Enforcement from the list of options.
  3. Allow the system to boot and verify if the error is resolved.

2. Use System Restore

If the error occurred after a recent change, restoring the system to a previous state might help:

  1. Restart your computer and enter recovery mode by pressing F8 during the boot process.
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > System Restore.
  3. Select a restore point from before the error occurred and proceed with the restoration process.

3. Check and Repair System Files

Damaged or corrupted system files could be causing the issue. You can attempt to repair them using the following method:

  1. Open the Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will start the system file checker tool to scan and fix corrupted files.

4. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers can trigger this error. Updating or reinstalling them may resolve the issue:

  1. Visit the official website of your hardware manufacturer to download the latest drivers.
  2. Alternatively, open Device Manager, locate the problematic driver, right-click, and choose Update Driver or Uninstall, then reinstall the updated version.