Windows 7 freezes turn into inability to boot into anything

gregrocker · 18 Jan 2012

Test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan. If you can't boot into it, try resetting the BIOS to defaults and trying the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key at boot. You can also try the HD Diagnostics on your boot disk which is booting.

You may have a bad burn or ISO on your Win7 Installation DVD or System Repair Disk.
Confirm the ISO or download another - we can help you with that if you tell us your licensed version. Then burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Next try writing confirmed ISO to flash stick using Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown menu. Boot under USB, Removable or HD's using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key with the HD set first to boot in BIOS setup.

Once HD is confirmed, wipe it using Diskpart from DVD/Repair CD or use the wiping utility on your boot disk. SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

This should force the installer to autostart. Follow these steps to Clean Install Windows 7

cnauta · 18 Jan 2012

Essenbe,
I'm familiar with the command prompt (I began working with computers back when there was only DOS!).

Diskpart, though, I'm not familiar with.

BTW - the Safety Scanner finished running and didn't find anything. Should I try MalwareBytes or go right to playing with Diskpart?

UPDATE
Thanks Greg! I'm currently running WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostics from within Windows Safe Mode. It will be another half an hour or so before it's complete. I'll post the results when it's done.

essenbe · 18 Jan 2012

See if you can boot into your windows installation disk, or you can do it from the repair disk. Follow the instructions Greg Rocker gave above. That is a very good tutorial on how to optimize a hard drive for reinstallation. When you get to the point of typing clean all, it will take several hours. It will look like nothing is happening, but it is. I think I would use the diagnostic disk for the hard drive first to make sure you are not reinstalling to a bad drive. Disconnect the power or data cable from all drives except the one you are working on. Read that tutorial before you start. This is an example of what you will want to do. I did it to my USB drive just for an example. You won't have all of those drives listed so it will be easier. You can tell by the size. When you boot to the disk, at the first window, do not select your language. Hold down the shift key and press F10. That will give you a command window. After following the tutorial, you will not format the drive, you are going to do it in the command prompt, just install. Read the tutorial first to make sure you understand it. This is what it will look like.

Attachment 193824

cnauta · 18 Jan 2012

gregrocker said:

You may have a bad burn or ISO on your Win7 Installation DVD or System Repair Disk.
Confirm the ISO or download another - we can help you with that if you tell us your licensed version. Then burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

How do I determine/confirm that I have a good or bad burn on my Win7 Installation DVD?

essenbe · 18 Jan 2012

Do you have access to another computer while doing this. You can download one if needed. Boot into the installation disk. You will have a one time boot option. It should tell you on the splash screen. Mine is F11 some are F12 or F2. start tapping the key after post, while the splash screen is still on. Select the device you want to boot to.

cnauta · 18 Jan 2012

OK, Western Digital Data LifeGuard Diagnostics Extended Test finished and everything PASSED (this is the only information and result given). Unless there is another program to test the hard drive, I am forced to say that the hard drive is not the problem.

I'm going to take a little break to get some dinner and "digest" the instructions given to me (from Greg & Essenbe).

Essenbe, I'm a little confused about your last past. I know about getting into my boot menu in order to boot to CD/DVD. How does this help me determine if my Windows Install DVD has a good (or bad) burn? If I can get to the boot menu does that indicate a good burn?

Also, Greg seems (I could be misunderstanding it) to indicate that I should run Windows install from a USB stick. I think I can handle that, but do I need to do that instead of just using my Windows Install DVD?

(BTW - please do not interpret any of these questions as indignant or impudent. I just want to make sure I'm doing it right).

Oh, if none of the major anti-virus/anti-malware programs detect this virus, how in the world do I prevent it from coming back?

I used to use Norton but got fed up with the yearly license/re-purchase charges. I then went to Viper but that had problems with Windows 7 so I finally settled with MS Security Essentials. Should I change to something else or keep Security Essentials?

gregrocker · 18 Jan 2012

The point of trying flash stick install if a new DVD burn fails is to help eliminate the installer, ISO, burn, OD or DVD as the cause. I'd try the new DVD burn first using ImgBurn at 4x speed if you didn't before.

Where did you get WIn7? Did you download the ISO? Are you confident of its integrity?

MSE or Avast are most recommended here for good protection with best performance, along with the Win7 firewall kept updated.

I see you ran SFC but did you ever try a Repair Install?

cnauta · 18 Jan 2012

gregrocker said:

Where did you get WIn7? Did you download the ISO? Are you confident of its integrity?

I ordered it from Amazon. It's the full retail OEM package (Windows 7 Home Premium).

I WAS confident of its integrity until it was mentioned that something might have gone wrong.

I see you ran SFC but did you ever try a Repair Install?

No I didn't. At this point, do you think it would be beneficial? (not being sarcastic, just asking a genuine question).

gregrocker · 18 Jan 2012

I approach troubleshooting steps as shown in the blue link.

If SFC cannot sort problems that are not revealed by the logs or System Resources detailed in steps, then I advance to Repair Install as a last resort before Clean Reinstalling.

That's why I thought I should mention it since it seems a step might have been skipped.

On the other hand it seems you have a Trojan that received an Action Center warning but has not been able to be found by several good methods. So if you're ready to go completely clean then it is almost always the solution to most of these intractable problems once hardware has been ruled out.

I would focus on getting a perfect reinstall, adapting these steps based on thousands we have helped with Clean Reinstalling Windows .

essenbe · 18 Jan 2012

I use MSE and Malwarebytes. Needless to say, the best antivirus is not going to dangerous sites and know what you are downloading and from whom. But, in reading on the internet I saw where it was said that this type virus normally comes fron an infecte USB stick. Whether that's true, I don't know. I think what Greg meant was that if you can't boot from a DVD drive, you could use a USB stick. I always do as it goes faster and is much easier to carry around than a DVD disk. I would never try to put words in Greg's mouth, but I think he meant to burn it to USB if your current DVD does not work. If you need help downloading an ISO, we can help. The Universal USB installer he linked to is a very good tool. I use it all the time.