Windows 7 freezes turn into inability to boot into anything

Hi,
I hope this isn't a repeat of previous threads (I DID google to try to find an answer).

My problems started several weeks ago with random freezes and BSODs. Upon investigation I learned to run sfc /scannow which I did and it always found problems that it couldn't fix (even if I ran it 5 times in a row). At this point everything I read recommended re-installing Windows. So I did.

That fixed things for awhile, but I started to get random freezes. i ran sfc /scannow but it didn't find any errors. Eventually the freezes turned to total hangs. Then I began to have problems even getting back to Windows. I couldn't boot straight into Windows, I couldn't boot into (any of the) safe mode(s), I couldn't boot into the repair disk. What I mean here is that the boot process would proceed to a certain point (usually the Starting Windows screen) and just stop (even though my hard drive light would be running). I'm not sure how I did it (because every time I tried to re-create it I couldn't), but eventually I'd get to a chkdsk prompt and it would find and fix problems. Once that happened I would be able to get back into Windows.
I tried diagnosing the freezes, but couldn't come up with anything. One time I got into Windows Repair (from my Windows 7 install disk) and I ran Windows memory checker and it told me that I had RAM problems. A couple of years ago I ran into a bunch of BSODs that pointed to my RAM, but I was able to work around the problem. So this time I ordered new RAM (16GB (4x4Gb) of Crucial). By the time the RAM arrived my system was totally hosed (I couldn't boot into anything no matter what I tried). I replaced the RAM, fought with a stuck chckdsk switch (I have a USB keyboard and couldn't tell chkdsk not to run!) and everything was back to (better than) normal!

And then...

And then I started to get the temporary and intermittent freezes. I again googled for answers but was a little overwhelmed by all the results I found. I looked through my event manager, but couldn't make heads or tails of it. I brought up my resource manager so I could see what was running when it froze and the best I could come up with is that my network load was always huge when it froze. I have a wireless router and several items that run off of it besides my computer (Yamaha receiver, DirecTV, Wii, PS3 and my wife's laptop). I had an older USB wireless modem so I bought a new one (Netgear N600) and disconnected the Yamaha receiver and the DirecTV. There were still freezes. Then I got up this morning and all of my programs were hung. So I hit my reset switch and I'm back to my original problem.

That is, I can not boot into:
- Windows 7 normal
- any safe modes
- Windows 7 Install disk
- Windows 7 repair disk
- last known good configuration

The only thing I CAN boot into is an emergency boot disk that contains all kinds of diagnostic tools (Ultimate Boot CD). I've run Memtest but it found no errors.

I believe if I can somehow get to a command prompt to run chkdsk I can get back into Windows. But how can I do that?

Plus, once I'm back into Windows how do I diagnose the freezes? I've run a Western Digital program to check my hard drive, but it found no errors. If it's not my RAM and not my hard drive what could it be (and how do I figure that out)?

And please note that I'm NOT getting any BSODs - it just freezes.

Any/all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Some more information:

- I have MS Security Essentials and have kept it up-to-date
- I also use Spybot S&D and Spyware Blaster
- Just yesterday I updated MalwareBytes Anti-Malware and ran a quick scan - nothing found
- I have two external hard drives (500 Gb WD and a 750 Gb Seagate). I have unplugged (from the USB) the Seagate and my Netgear just to see if they are bogging down my computer (other than the RAM, they are the newest additions to my PC)
- When I try to boot into Windows repair (either from the Windows 7 install disk, the F8 menu or the Windows 7 repair disk) it usually gets all the way to the point that I see a cursor arrow on a black screen. And then it stops (although my HD light keeps blinking)
- When I try to boot into any of the safe modes I get all the drivers loaded and then it stops with the text still on the screen (again - the HD light keeps blinking)
- When I try to boot into normal windows, I get the "Starting Windows" screen and the Windows logo forms and then starts to 'pulse' and that's where I end (again - the HD light is on and blinking)
- these boot stop places are pretty consistent

I am at a total and complete loss with this issue. My gut is telling me that it's something with the hardware, but I just don't know. I'm hoping it's not MB related.

To get into a command prompt from a repair or installation disk. When you ran memtest86 how long did you run it? you should run it for at least 7 passes, usually overnight. You may also want to run the Misrosoft stand alone system seweeper to ensure your problems are not from a virus.

essenbe,
No, I didn't allow Memtest to run that long. I'll try it tonight.

In regards to the stand-alone system sweeper, I'm downloading that now and will try it out.

I know I'm no expert, but it sure doesn't seem/feel like a virus. But best to check it out and remove that option from the list of possibilities.

Two more thoughts:

- I have friend telling me that a hacker has gotten into my computer and removed the start-up part of your operating system. This doesn't seem right since I can't boot from my Windows 7 Install disk (and I keep my wireless DSL modem and PC protected). But anything's possible.

- When I re-installed windows I didn't reformat my Hard Drive. I wanted to, but I hit the wrong button and simply removed the partitions (the Windows repair partition and the normal Windows 7 partition). Could this be causing problems?

cnauta said:

Two more thoughts:

- I have friend telling me that a hacker has gotten into my computer and removed the start-up part of your operating system. This doesn't seem right since I can't boot from my Windows 7 Install disk (and I keep my wireless DSL modem and PC protected). But anything's possible.

- When I re-installed windows I didn't reformat my Hard Drive. I wanted to, but I hit the wrong button and simply removed the partitions (the Windows repair partition and the normal Windows 7 partition). Could this be causing problems?

I would defently not try to repair but do a fresh install ,That is most likly giving you the headache

They probally got you with malware that does root searches for keys and took your key and left you empty handed

Anything is possible

You can also call MS to make sure your key hasn't been used or security of your product breached

They could issue a new key for security purposes if you were hacked just have to let them know about it

Many times that is what fixing computers is, thestin all the possibilities and eliminating one thing at a time. As Irecall, you said that ram has been indicated twice before and after the new ram. That makes testing ram more important. Here is a tutorial on running memtest86. Just remember in testing ram, the problem can be the ram sticks or the dimm slots on the Motherboard. You have to check both which can make it a long ordeal. When you finsh those, run startup recovery from the repaid disk. You may have to run it 3 times. But, after each time try a normal boot. If the normal boot fails, run startup repair again. Do this for 3 times at least. Once you get into windows, enable driver verifier. This puts strain on your drivers. The object being that if a driver is causing this, you want it to crash so which driver can be determined. This should be a good start. Let us know how these go.

Solarstarshines is right. It is usually easier to do a repair install or a clean install than finding and fixing the problem. My only thing is that we need to make sure it is not a hardware problem causing this. If it is hardware, even with a clean install, we are going to see the same problem again. If it is not a hardware problem, I would think a clean install might be good with a clean all from diskpart. If we get that far we will give you help in doing that. Let us know if you get into windows.

Essenbe,
I will definitely test my RAM tonight, but I wanted to let you know that once I put the new RAM in I have not (yet) run into any indicators that it might be the problem.

I have downloaded the MS Stand-Alone scanner and am running it (and am surprised it is actually running! I saw the "Starting Windows" screen and thought to myself "that's as far as THAT is going to get". I'm glad I'm wrong.)

Huh.

The MS Stand-Alone scanner just stopped with this error message:

Windows Defender Offline cannot be started.
Error: Unable to detect a Windows system drive. This could be
due to missing drivers, an encrypted drive [it isn't], or a corrupted
Windows installation.

Error Code: 0x8004cc01

UPDATE
I rebooted into the Stand-Alone scanner to try again, and this time it DID hang on the Window's start-up screen. -sigh-

Try to run startup repair from the repair disk. Do it the way the tutorial says with attempted normal startups between each one. See if it can find an installation. If we can't get into windows, we have a problem.

Also, do you have current backups of all of your personal files? Documents, pictures, music and such.

I'll try to get someone who is familar with the codes, but I think the 0x00000124 is a hardware code. Try taking the 2 dimms out and placing the other 2 sticks in the other 2 slots.