Startup/Boot hang

Hi

My computer has been hanging at the following screen upon startup/boot (note: the Windows flag or whatever it is does not show up).



The following is a brief sequence of what happens:
1) I press the power button to turn it on
2) It hangs at the above screen (I've waited as long as ten minutes at this screen)
3) I force shutoff by holding the power button
4) I restart by pressing the power button, again
5) It asks me if I want to start up normally or repair (I forgot the exact words, I'm away from my PC and posting from a netbook now)
5a) If I choose repair, it does a system restore - computer now turns on. However, if I shut it off (the correct way, not a force shutoff) and turn it back on, this whole process restarts.
5b) If I choose to start up normally, it starts up just fine. Again, if I shut it off (the correct way, not a force shutoff) and turn it back on, this whole process restarts.

I have defragged, run a check dick (C drive), and done two system restores. Nada.

The only changes I've made are uninstalling Kaspersky and installing Avast - but this was well over a week prior to the problem and installing Windows updates (defender, security, malicious software, etc updates).

Please advise!

Thank you!

Thank you for your quick response! I will try both when I get home.

Which do you recommend doing first?

I ran the sfc /scannow prompt: Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

After running the startup repair 4 times, it started up OK. Let's hope it stays that way. :)

Thanks, JK!

Hello... New here so I do apologize if I sound like I am beating a dead horse here.

I have read a few posts to see if I can find my exact situation (and therefore, HELP!) but I have unfortunately not been able to do so. This thread has been the closest I have seen to my problem. I even tried the fix suggestions to no avail.

What is different with the OP problem to mine is as follows:

Everything he states that happens to him, happens to me EXCEPT... I only get the problem during a cold start-up in the morning (computer turned off overnight). Once I get the machine up and running normally, I can power off/on throughout the rest of the day and no problem.

I have tried a system repair and a restore to previous point and the following morning the same issue. I see the "Starting Windows" screen and the Windows logo only partially materializes (freezes) and I must then hit the reset button or hold my power button down for a bit to shut-off and restart.

I would greatly appreciate any help/comment... or even better... if my problem has been discussed in another thread, a good point over to would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks...

I had thought about hardware being a problem but I wanted to see if there was something up with the OS.

I have an extra HDD installed in my desktop that I only use to back up games and store songs on. So, re-0formating it wont be a problem. Was my old 500GB drive I used before I was given a 750GB (new) drive. Any suggestion for downloadable software that I can use to "move" everything from the 750GB to the 500GB?

As for the RAM... I may be able to get a hold of some working sticks. I have thought of them as being the culprits but they are fairly new (4 months old) and a good brand-name.

I'll try both options to see. I am just trying to avoid my very last option... reformat it all and start over again from scratch. My Win7 x64 is the "DigitalRiver" version and was a real pain to get installed. I can't boot from it as it is so it's sort of impossible for me to make a "restart disk" with it. Might just go buy myself a copy I guess.

Thanks for the help and I'll post here if any of those two suggestions works. May be a couple of days before I fully know the results.