Laptop Won't Boot, can't get past Initial Windows Screen

Just two quick things I wanna add here:

1. You should be able to identify your harddrive brand/model from within the BIOS, as all the drives are usually listed there by name. You don't need Windows for that.
2. When checking a volume with chkdsk it shouldn't be the current path in your command window - that's why it would be locked and why you're being asked whether to dismount it before checking. There's no harm in doing it this way, but normally you'd simply stay at the X:> prompt (drive X being the recovery environment, which is actually a temporary RAM disk) and type chkdsk /f D: :)

Hope you get it all sorted out - gregrocker knows what he's talking about and you're in excellent hands with him. Just follow all the steps carefully :)

SlasherIT said:

Hi,

Ok, um, lots has happened since I went to bed...

Did the download finish? It should be around 3GB.

Yeah, and it seems to be the full ISO this time. The other two were much too small for it to have everything. I think google chrome's downloader had something to do with it.

However, I'm not quite ready to do a reinstall. I want to see if gregrocker can help me fix this.

gregrocker said:

Yes you can dismount the volume to chkdsk. Again it's best to run all repairs from the DVD Repair console. I'd not use the DVD you previously downloaded which is not complete. Wait until the new ISO is downloaded and burn to DVD using Imgburn at 4x speed.

Okay, I'll do that next time it asks me if I want to. I should be all set to burn the full Windows Install ISO now, so after this post I'll start it in img burn at 4x speed.

If you cannot run Disk Check following the steps given in this tutorial to run from Command line, then burn to CD Partition Wizard and Check File System on each partition. There is also a Surface Scan. Post up a cam snap of the drive map w/listings. Check Active and Rebuild MBR from Disk tab.

I'll keep this in mind for if Startup Repair or chkdsk don't work out, or we can just do this later anyway. I can take a picture pretty easily as well, but didn't you say I have to get the paid version?

Now is the time to make a Walgreens run to get a $2 5-pack of CD's for Partition Wizard CD, HD diagnostics, MSS scan, and a Repair CD so you don't have to wait for DVD to do repairs. These are valuable tools for keeping. Then you can write your Win7 ISO to flash, or really splurge and buy DVD pack, too .

I went and picked up 4 DVD-Rs today, and just in case I need more, there's a place nearby where I can get more. I get the feeling I'll need some more, so maybe I'll run back out and get 4 more. I was surprised at how cheap they were.

Corzon has added important pieces below - please stick with the thread.

Don't worry, I won't be bailing out now. Just had a few things to attend to before I could get online.

Corazon said:

Just two quick things I wanna add here:
You should be able to identify your harddrive brand/model from within the BIOS, as all the drives are usually listed there by name. You don't need Windows for that.

Hm... probably under the main info. Since I'm not very knowledgeable here, I might have to name out a few things, but one of them is bound to be the HD, thanks!

When checking a volume with chkdsk it shouldn't be the current path in your command window - that's why it would be locked and why you're being asked whether to dismount it before checking. There's no harm in doing it this way, but normally you'd simply stay at the X:> prompt (drive X being the recovery environment, which is actually a temporary RAM disk) and type chkdsk /f D:

Ah, so that explains it. I was worried if I didn't specify the drive beforehand that it would automatically check C: or something like that. Thanks again!

Hope you get it all sorted out - gregrocker knows what he's talking about and you're in excellent hands with him. Just follow all the steps carefully :)

Me too.

Things are looking a little better, so I'll definitely follow his advice.

Nothing in my BIOS outright says what my HD is. I'm guessing that it's just calling it something else. Any idea what else it would be called? Also, after some trial and error, I have successfully burned the Windows 7 install disk. I tested to see if it could get past the driver problem and it did!

So I now have a fully functional Windows 7 install disk. The first thing I'll try to do is a chkdsk like it suggested last night. Will update soon.

chkdsk is running now, I'm expecting some files to not be readable as right now it's hanging at 9%. I will report back in a with what happens, though I'm guessing it'll take an hour or so.

If Disk Check hangs, I'd run the HD extended diagnostics scan. If there is nothing given like a serial number to google in BIOS under Installed Devices for that device, Use SeaTools

If you're ready you can also move to reinstall following these steps for Reinstalling Windows 7.

The fact that you have moved past the install error makes the HD diagnosis less urgent. Let's see how install proceeds.

gregrocker said:

If Disk Check hangs, I'd run the HD extended diagnostics scan. If there is nothing given like a serial number to google in BIOS under Installed Devices for that device, Use SeaTools

If you're ready you can also move to reinstall following these steps for Reinstalling Windows 7.

The fact that you have moved past the install error makes the HD diagnosis less urgent. Let's see how install proceeds.

Well, I returned back to my computer just now to find that it is still on 9%. However, it hasn't frozen. It has encountered an unreadable file segment... in my case, many of them. The exact message:

"File record segment *Number* is unreadable."

So far, I count 12 of these file reading problems.

I think this means my disk has gotten much worse than when the problems began two weeks ago. I used to get only 2 or so of those errors.

Also, a new thing just popped up as I was typing this:

"Deleting corrupt attribute record <128, "">"

Never seen that message before, but it sounds like it's fixing something...

Okay, I will give seatools a try.

I need to look at the link you gave me first, but I thought we were trying to avoid a reinstall? Does it seem like the HD is beyond saving after all?

Problems with the file system are not as serious as surface problems which would be revealed by HD Diagnostics.

It would be good to give another look in BIOS for installed Devices, determine which is the HD and google the identifier to see if it reveals the make/model. If not use Seatools.

I would pursue Disk Check unless it stalls out, then run HD Diagnostics followed by Disk Check again. Surface problems might be resolved that assists repair of File system.

You'll have a better idea of your HD condition then. It doesn't mean you can't continue with reinstall, but if HD continues to be suspect I'd plan to replace it and keep everything backed up - as should be done anyway.

Well that's good to hear. I would do the HD diagnostics, but I'm having trouble figuring out what the HD's listed as.

Maybe I could take some pictures of screens in my BIOS? I'm sure you'd be able to spot my HD rather easily.

Disk check is still going, but hasn't shown any signs of progress since I reported that it deleted the corrupt attribute record. Should I give it more time? I'm not sure if it's actually stalling or just struggling to read the files.

The HD should be listed under the SATA settings, by its name or some code that may be part or all of its serial number. Or it could be just HDD. But often there is enough that if you google it you'll get the make/model.

Sure you can post camera snaps of what you suspect might be the HD listings, and while you're at it boot free Partition Wizard and show us a snap of your drive map and full listings. That may reveal all. (I know I've typed this at least four times now - I was guessing you didn't have a camera. But maybe you still don't have disks, which are $2 per 5 pack at Walgreens on every other corner.)

The only way to know if Disk Check is processing files is if there is HD activity light blinking.