Windows 7: Laptop stuck in Startup Repair and can't do anything at all...

I have a Dell Inspiron N4010 running Windows 7. Last night I was printing off PDF files and listening to a CD when the song that was playing got stuck and the print job I'd just ordered stalled. Then a horrible, loud, relentless sort of whirring noise came out of the speakers and wouldn't stop and the computer was completely unresponsive. This has happened before, last December, and I did what I did then...I just forcibly shut it down. When I started it back up, I could choose between starting normally or running Startup Repair, which was recommended. I swear I chose to start normally, but I can't be totally sure. I walked out of the room to do a couple things and when I went back I saw Startup Repair running and it said it could take over an hour. I had to leave for work in 20 minutes, so I decided to just leave it on. 9 hours later, when I got home, it was STILL going. I tried to cancel, and was informed that the current operation could not be canceled. I forced a shut down again (maybe not the brightest thing but I couldn't think of anything else) and even disconnected the battery. Then I started it up...got the same choice and chose to start Windows...and Startup Repair started again. I managed to cancel and shut down with the OFF button again. Restarted and chose Windows...same thing. Restarted and chose Setup Repair, same result. I cannot do or open anything. I don't know if putting the startup discs in it would even register...and I'm not sure I even have any, as Windows 7 came pre-installed. I haven't backed up my hard drive in a loooong time and I can't afford a new machine. Help!?

(Posted via smartphone, in case you were wondering...)

By the way, I have left my laptop on again. I'm going to bed soon (I work nights), so I'll see if it's still the same when I wake up.

I would suggest taking a look at the tutorial: Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery

Heed the Warning:

I tried that...to no avail. =( Got the same choices, which is only one choice, considering the Startup Repair starts up whether I choose it to or not. I doubt it's doing anything, since it will be 'fixing' something for hours and hours with no progress!

I have seen startup repair take up to three days to repair a computer before. It is uncommon for it to take so long, but it does happen. That said, I would suggest proceeding through the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot which includes better, accurate steps for attempting the startup repair.


Additionally: Use Advanced Boot Options to select Repair Your Computer and get to the System Recovery Options. Then select the command prompt. Do the following:

chkdsk /r c:
chkdsk /r d:
chkdsk /r e:
chkdsk /r f:

.etc until you get the message that the volume could not be opened for direct access. For any drives that do not give the message:
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems
run chkdsk again as above. In other words, if it says:
Windows has made corrections to the file system
after running the disk check, run the disk check again.

I realize you may only have one disk show up in Windows explorer, but you may have more than one disk through recovery options. This is because the system creates a hidden boot partition (which will be C: in recovery), you may have a recovery partition for your PC that is hidden (which will be D: in recovery), and you will have your primary Windows partition (which may be E: in recovery). A custom PC will likely have at least C: and D: to scan.

Here is a picture of my screen.

That is why it is taking so long. You have hard disk errors it has to repair. See my previous post... I just added a step to it.

Hey...soooo...I can't accomplish this with my smartphone because everything I click on in here wants me to open more and more pages and it's just too much for this little device. Or maybe just too confusing for ME. So, I'm going to go to the library.

Question, though...do you think I should give my laptop like 3 or 4 days running the repair program and see if it actually works? I could probably do that...and just do whatever I need with my phone or at the library.

When you get to the startup repair in that tutorial, if you find it taking a long time still, then yes, let it run for a few days if necessary. It may just be that you have the wrong partition set to active (this statement will make more sense as you read the tutorial) and that is why the repair is taking abnormally long.