Windows 7: Windows startup frozen

I did the clean install from upgrade months ago, and it has all worked very well.
Yesterday, using MSE, I got a 'severe threat' warning. I think I told MSE to clean the computer, and it showed after I clicked on that button that no threat now existed. Maybe that was my mistake. I know one of the other buttons was 'take recommended actions' or something like that.
Regardless, it all worked fine, and I shut it clear down. Today it hung on startup and wouldn't get to the logon window.
I don't have a system image.
I booted from the Windows 7 disk and initiated 'Startup Repair'. It has been "searching for problems" for 30 minutes now.
Just getting to the Startup Repair took a long time.
This is on an HP laptop with plenty of memory and disk space.
I do have system restore points and have not tried them, went straight to Startup Repair.
Thanks!

If you ever had a virus, it might be on those restore points.

Also, the startup repair can take a long time, just let it sit.

Worst case, you can make a repair install, which is basically just doing an upgrade install over your install now.
If even that fails, then I would just nuke and reinstall (IMO).
Come back and talk to us before you go down that route though.

~Lordbob

I walked through reboot with the install CD;Startup Repair; System Restore and waiting....let you know what happens next.
It does show a command prompt open window that is in X:\windows|....
right now. I haven't messed with that.

That is just startup repair running. I ran it one time for like 3 hours...

~Lordbob

It told me I didn't have any restore points, but I KNOW I made one just a few days ago manually. It only offered to make a new restore point. So I cancelled out of that.

System repair finished and reported it had found zero problems. Do I need to run system repair 3 times as suggested elsewhere in the forums? I tried to reboot from the hard drive after it said zero problems, and its hung in the 'Starting Windows' mode again.
Thanks!
Wallypedal

Sounds like it might be worth running it again then.

If the 3rd time does not work, do a repair install.

~Lordbob

Lordbob,
Is there a tutorial on the 'Repair Install' procedure? I want to preserve files/folders if I can...
Wallypedal

Repair Install

~Lordbob

Since the first instruction says "Start Windows 7, and log on to an administrator account." and I can't start Windows 7 or login, this doesn't work too well for me.......

Boot into it, and do an UPGRADE install over it.

~Lordbob