Can't boot my PC now

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  1. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Can't boot my PC now


    My wife did something on her PC (she doesn't know exactly for sure what & can't explain it completely me), and now she can't boot up her PC. She says it had something to do with changing the security settings for a program she uses a lot so it wouldn't keep asking her if she wanted to launch it, and that's when it told her to restart the PC, then it wouldn't boot up anymore.

    When you reboot, the screen eventually goes to a black screen saying "Windows failed to start. A software or hardware error may be the cause" or something to that effect. It offers me the option to "Launch Startup Repair" or "Start Windows Normally".

    If I Launch Startup Repair, nothing much happens --- it says it's adding files, then it looks like Windows is about to boot up, then it goes to a black screen for a long time & nothing happens.

    If I choose Start Windows Normally, it simply reboots & eventually brings me back to the same screen again.

    I've tried using rebooting and selecting ESC to get to the boot menu, then installing the Win 7 installation disc & selecting the DVD drive, then I select the language, then I click Repair, but it sits there forever with nothing happening.

    I also tried an outside boot disc I found on the web & it doesn't launch.

    Any suggestions? This PC is a quad core AMD & only a few months old with proper AV software & scanning done nightly.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #2

    Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

    Have you considered a Repair Install?

    Repair Install

    Failing that, you may have to consider a clean install of Windows.

    Clean Install Windows 7
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #3

    Since it does not sound like you can get into Windows to do a repair install, may I recommend clearing all corruption from the temporary memory and resetting the BIOS hardware/software connections. This will sometimes allow a user to at least access the recovery options:
    1. Shut down and turn off the computer.
    2. Unplug the computer from the wall or surge protector (then remove the battery if it is a laptop).
    3. "Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station, disconnect
      cables to printers or devices such as external monitors, USB memory sticks or SD cards, headset or external speakers, mouse or auxiliary keyboard, turn off WIFI and Bluetooth wireless devices." (Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues HP Pavilion dv5000 Notebook PC series - HP Customer Care (United States - English))
    4. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This closes the circuit and ensures all
      power from components is drained to clear the software connections between the BIOS
      and hardware and clear any corruption in the temporary memory.
    5. (If it is a laptop, plug the battery back into the laptop and then) Plug the computer back into the wall. Do not reconnect any unnecessary peripherals; monitor, keyboard,
      and mouse should suffice and be the only peripherals reconnected.
    6. Turn it on to reinitialize the software connections between the BIOS and hardware


    Let us know if you can then get into the recovery options. If you can, follow the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

    If you cannot, you will need to find a way to backup any important data. See if other boot media will work:

    Ultimate Boot CD - Overview

    PartedMagic

    Rescue Kit Free Edition - CNET Download.com

    Hiren's BootCD
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 x64 / Windows Server 2008 / Linux (Redhat & Deb distros) / OS X / More
       #4

    Press F8 continuously while the computer is booting up until you get a menu. Select Safe-mode and see Windows boots all the way. If it does, it could be a driver issue. If you can get into safe mode, try running system restore. Also, In the installation DVD, If it is sitting in automatic repair mode and nothing is happening, then try canceling automatic repair and select command prompt. Type "bootrec /fixboot" and hit enter. Then type "bootrec /fixmbr" and hit enter. Then "bootrec /rebuildbcd" and hit enter. exit command prompt and reboot your computer. If it still has trouble booting try running the auto repair again. It shouldn't hang the next time.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Neither of these options will work because I can't get the Win 7 installation disc to work, much less get to a Windows menu to do anything. What happens now is that I have to click ESC to get to the boot menu, then I click "boot from DVD", then the DVD starts and I select the language, then I select "Repair", It then goes to the blue Win 7 default background screen and nothing else is happens. It has stayed on that screen for about 3 horus with nothing happening before, and now I'm going to let it sit overnight & see what happens.

    She has a lot of info on her PC that she cannot afford to lose and her last backup was some weeks ago as she wasn't checking to ensure that the backup software was getting a good backup each week, so any solution needs to be one that preserves the info on her hard drive.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm going to try this solution below next for sure. I'm currently going to try waiting out the Win 7 installation disc process and see if it takes all night to start working, unless you think that it's futile to continue waiting for that solution, i.e., it's not going to work.

    writhziden said:
    Since it does not sound like you can get into Windows to do a repair install, may I recommend clearing all corruption from the temporary memory and resetting the BIOS hardware/software connections. This will sometimes allow a user to at least access the recovery options:



    1. Shut down and turn off the computer.
    2. Unplug the computer from the wall or surge protector (then remove the battery if it is a laptop).
    3. "Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station, disconnect
      cables to printers or devices such as external monitors, USB memory sticks or SD cards, headset or external speakers, mouse or auxiliary keyboard, turn off WIFI and Bluetooth wireless devices." (Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues HP Pavilion dv5000 Notebook PC series - HP Customer Care (United States - English))
    4. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This closes the circuit and ensures all
      power from components is drained to clear the software connections between the BIOS
      and hardware and clear any corruption in the temporary memory.
    5. (If it is a laptop, plug the battery back into the laptop and then) Plug the computer back into the wall. Do not reconnect any unnecessary peripherals; monitor, keyboard,
      and mouse should suffice and be the only peripherals reconnected.
    6. Turn it on to reinitialize the software connections between the BIOS and hardware
    Let us know if you can then get into the recovery options. If you can, follow the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

    If you cannot, you will need to find a way to backup any important data. See if other boot media will work:

    Ultimate Boot CD - Overview

    PartedMagic

    Rescue Kit Free Edition - CNET Download.com

    Hiren's BootCD
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    F8 gets me nothing. The only options I can choose that do anything are ESC to go to the boot menu, or DEL to go to the BIOS info.

    FaberTech said:
    Press F8 continuously while the computer is booting up until you get a menu. Select Safe-mode and see Windows boots all the way. If it does, it could be a driver issue. If you can get into safe mode, try running system restore. Also, In the installation DVD, If it is sitting in automatic repair mode and nothing is happening, then try canceling automatic repair and select command prompt. Type "bootrec /fixboot" and hit enter. Then type "bootrec /fixmbr" and hit enter. Then "bootrec /rebuildbcd" and hit enter. exit command prompt and reboot your computer. If it still has trouble booting try running the auto repair again. It shouldn't hang the next time.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 x64 / Windows Server 2008 / Linux (Redhat & Deb distros) / OS X / More
       #8

    If you are having trouble reading the DVD, you could always try this solution and boot from USB if you can get on another computer. Good luck. Make sure you are pressing F8 continuously until you see the MBR menu. It should show up if you say you can see start windows normally and such.

    Maximum PC | How To: Install Windows 7 from a USB Key!

    writhziden solution is a good idea as well. so try both if you cant get it to work.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #9

    EllisDeTripp,

    To avoid marital discord:

    Boot from your Win 7 DVD.
    Go to a command prompt.
    (writeup follows)

    Have her, and not you, copy over what she wants to save to a usb stick.

    After doing all of that, and while at a command prompt, using DiskPart's CLEAN ALL command prepare the disk.

    Now carry on with the install.
    ======================================================================
    GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING YOUR WIN 7 DVD


    Booting from a DVD/CD
    On some computers, immediately after pushing the Power ON button, start tapping the F12 key and choose the option to boot from DVD/CD.

    On some computers, this capability is assigned to another function key.

    This is a one-time boot and doesn’t change your normal boot sequence.

    If your computer doesn’t offer this capability, then you will need to boot into the bios and change the boot order there so that Boot from DVD/CD is the first choice.

    You will need to consult your computer manufacturer’s documentation.

    STEPS TO BOOT TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A WIN 7 DVD
    Ø Insert your Win 7 DVD into the optical reader
    Ø Power down your computer.
    Ø Power up your computer.
    Ø Boot from the Win 7 DVD using the procedure applicable to your computer.
    Ø When the following is displayed on your screen,
    press the key combo of SHIFT + F10.

    Do NOT click on Next.
    Press the SHIFT + F10 key combo.

    You will have a X:\Sources> command prompt.
    X: is a ram drive created by Windows 7.
    X: contains a mini-version of Windows 7 called a PE (pre-execution environment).

    If you do not plan on installing windows at this time, you may now remove the DVD.

    If you plan on continuing with an install, then do not remove the DVD.

    Execute the desired commands.
    Use the EXIT command to return to the Win 7 installation procedure.


    =====================================================



    Prepare hard disk for use



    type DISKPART and hit ENTER
    the prompt will change to DISKPART>


    Enter following commands:
    LIST DISK
    this will list the disks

    SELECT DISK 1
    to select Disk 1 (if that's the disk you want)
    DETAIL DISK
    to make sure that you've got the correct disk
    CLEAN ALL
    this will write zeroes to each and every byte on the selected disk
    this can take some time and there will be no progress indication
    you must simply wait for the diskpart prompt to appear again
    CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
    this will create the entire disk as a single primary partition
    FORMAT FS=NTFS
    this is going to format the entire disk and will also take some time
    ACTIVE
    this will let the disk be used as a system disk if you ever decide that you would like to install an operating system on the disk
    ASSIGN
    the next available drive letter is assigned to the disk
    EXIT
    exit from DiskPart
    EXIT
    exit from the command shell

    Your disk is now ready to use.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 66
    windows seven
       #10

    Can you boot a windows type of CD, like BartPE or even mini windows in Hirens? Something to rule out hardware issues.
      My Computer


 
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