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

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  1. Posts : 93
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #81

    gregrocker said:
    I didn't mean to be insulting at all. Your screename is Jim15 so why would someone NOT think you are that age. I have helped several that young and had some really good results. I stayed up all night with Mitch in Sydney doing a complicated partitioning operation which he pulled off with flying colors, only at the end finding out he was 14.

    We have a team approach here. I didn't know you were following someone else and not wanting my help. I had helped solve those same repair issues at least a huindred times so can use the steps again anyway. Most are glad to have all the help they can get from the senior Guru's here. We have a rating system based on reputation which you can see at the left.
    Alright, I suppose I took that the wrong way. I'm not 15, but 21. The 15 in my username is just a favorite number of mine. I figured out of frustration of not following your advise you were trying to say I was immature. lol

    I honestly think I'm beyond repair at this point, but I would be happy if you proved me wrong. If you've fixed problems like mine before, I should at least give this a try- if you're still willing to help.

    First I need to fix the problem I've created with the partitions before I can follow the other directions. Any idea how I'd go about doing that?
      My Computer

  2.    #82

    What problem with partitions exactly?

    Can you burn to CD free Partition Wizard bootable CD, boot it to get a camera snap of the full drive map with listings?

    The repairs may be able to be done from it, as given in my first post. Any partitioning issues can also be addressed smoothly.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 93
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #83

    Much earlier on, I followed some directions to make a certain partition inactive. After doing so, I get the Windows Boot manager telling me to use the windows installation disk.

    It reads:

    "File: \Boot\BCD

    Status: 0xc000000f

    Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data."
      My Computer

  4.    #84

    I just read back through the early posts in the thread which you wrote while I was writing up the Repair steps. It does sound like hash has been made of it. It may be hard to piece back together now. I think I see why you were fed up and not wanting to deal with it!

    That doesn't mean that you might not want to make sure 100mb System Reserved (if you have it) or Win7 partition are marked Active, using free Partition Wizard bootable CD or Diskpart Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two).

    Then run Startup Repair 3 times from F8 Repair console or the DVD once you burn it or write it. If that fails then you can move on to reinstall.

    Have you checked for infection at any time during this period, ideally running Malwarebytes from Safe Mode with NEtworking if necessary, or writing Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper to stick or CD to run a bootable scan?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 93
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #85

    gregrocker said:
    Which partition did you set Active? It should be the 100mb System Reserved (boot) partition if you have it, or the WIn7 partition itself.

    Then boot System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the System Boot files to Win7. These repairs are best done from disk and not from the Repair console on the F8 Advanced Boot Options although you can try that now while you wait for your DVD ISO.
    I didn't set any as active, but did set the second partition as inactive. I can't remember the size though. Is there any way i can get back to that?

    Startup Repair hasn't worked for me so far. I've left it running for several hours, but nothing ever happens.

    However, I'm fairly certain I can do it on the installation disk that's missing drives. I was still able to reach recovery from it. Should I try from there? Or is there something different I should try?

    Edit: I can't use safe mode right now so I'm guessing malwarebytes won't work out, but I will give Microsoft stand alone system sweeper a try.
      My Computer

  6.    #86

    If you set the 100mb System REserved partition (if you have it) or Win7 partition (if you don't) Inactive then Startup Repair would not know where to repair or write fresh the System boot files as it does when run up to 3 times: Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

    Can you boot in now to determine if either of those partitions are marked Active? Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two) You can use the F8 Repair console until you have the DVD to use it's Repair console.

    Once one of those partitions is marked Active and Startup Repair is run up to 3 separate times with reboots, then you'll know if WIn7 can be repaired. If you first try with the 100mb partition marked Active, next change the Active flag to Win7 partition itself and run the Repairs again.

    Finally you can boot into free Partition Wizard bootable CD to post up a camera snap if you can (may reveal all) or try the the Active flags on each of those two partitions again, but this time select from the Disk tab "Rebuild MBR" while the WIn7 HD is highlighted. This will often work when Startup REpair will not.

    I'm typing again the same steps I gave you almost 12 hours ago. It is not your fault, but the way this thread has been handled with bad advice at the beginning and elbowing out the actual proven fixes is not at all up to the standards of these Forums.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 93
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #87

    gregrocker said:
    If you set the 100mb System REserved partition (if you have it) or Win7 partition (if you don't) Inactive then Startup Repair would not know where to repair or write fresh the System boot files as it does when run up to 3 times: Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

    Can you boot in now to determine if either of those partitions are marked Active? Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two) You can use the F8 Repair console until you have the DVD to use it's Repair console.
    I attempted to reach the advanced options by hitting f8, but even when I do that, it goes straight to the Windows boot manager which says the same thing as I wrote above.

    Also, the system sweeper tool is downloading as we speak.
      My Computer

  8.    #88

    Then you'll have to wait for the DVD to use it's System Recovery Options to check for Active and mark Active, then Startup Repair x3.

    If System Sweeper finds infection then it may be about repairing System files using this method (also given earlier) which is automated in Startup Repair but may also need to be run from DVD Command Line: SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 93
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #89

    gregrocker said:
    Finally you can boot into free Partition Wizard bootable CD to post up a camera snap if you can (may reveal all) or try the the Active flags on each of those two partitions again, but this time select from the Disk tab "Rebuild MBR" while the Windows 7 HD is highlighted. This will often work when Startup REpair will not.

    I'm typing again the same steps I gave you almost 12 hours ago. It is not your fault, but the way this thread has been handled with bad advice at the beginning and elbowing out the actual proven fixes is not at all up to the standards of these Forums.
    Since I'm unable to reach the recovery environment (As mentioned above), would it be a good idea to skip to free Partition Wizard bootable CD and do what you suggested there? Hitting f8 just takes me to my boot manager, so it would seem I have no way of getting to a command prompt to check on the partitions.

    I appreciate you going over this with me again greg. I should have given things more of a chance before resorting to reinstalling I guess. hopefully it turns out I was wrong and that all of this is fixable. :)

    Also, I should mention that I'm only working with one flashdrive right now. So since I'm going to need it for multiple things (partition boot wizard and system sweeper tool), I may take a bit longer to do some of these things than normal.
      My Computer

  10.    #90

    PW requires the paid version to write to stick so I'd wait for your Win7 ISO to check for Active partition and/or mark Active using DIskpart steps linked earlier, then run the Startup Repairs.

    You can also pick up 5 good quality CD's or DVD's for $2 at Walgreens.
      My Computer


 
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