Windows 7: Sony Laptop keeps restarting with Preparing PC for First use

My brother was doing something on iTunes, think unlocking a iPhone or something but when i came home and turned it on, it came up with Windows logo but then saying Preparing PC for first use and then a error comes up saying Windows needs to restart to continue installation. It restarts and does it all over again. I tried going into safe mode to do a system restore but comes up with same msg of preparing pc for first use and needs to restart. All i can think is something has corrupted the boot up and need to repair it but not sure where to go for it. There is a recovery option on the laptop from sony but that says it restores your laptop to factory settings, would that mean i would lose all my data.

Boot into System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair repeatedly, report back results.

It should automate many tests and fixes, including System Restore and System File Checker - but you can also try to System Restore from the Options list manually to a point before the problem existed.

At any time you can copy out your data using the Windows 7 installation DVD or the System Repair Disk: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.

If Repairs fail after copying out your data you can run full Factory Recovery from its partition using the hotkey given on first boot screen or in your Manual available by googling, or using Recovery disks if you made them.

Otherwise you can download a Windows 7 ISO to get a superior clean reinstall of just the OS, following these steps to get it perfect: Reinstalling Windows 7

Hey gregrocker, thanks for the reply. I went into the advanced boot options via F8 and there was no option for repair your computer. It only had the safe mode, safe mode with networking, command prompt, debugging etc etc. I then got a Win 7 CD from my desktop computer and put that into the laptop and was able to load the startup repair menu which had Repair your computer. i clicked on this and used repair startup problems. Did this 3 times and it found no problem. Did system restore but said no system restore had been put in place. Only thing i have been able to access is the command prompt from the system recovery.

Check for infection by installing Malwarebytes in Safe Mode with Networking, updating and running a full scan. If it won't run, download, burn to CD or write to flash stick and run a full scan with Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

If it finds infection boot into DVD/Repair CD to run Startup Repair again repeatedly.

Did you actually run Startup Repair three separate times with reboots in between, or just boot into Repair console? What did it report after each?

Open the disk's Command line to run bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot, close command box and reboot.

Then if Windows 7 doesn't start boot back into disk Command Line to run SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot, followed by Disk Check.

Then test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended diagnostics/repair CD scan. Next test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Sometimes booting into free Partition Wizard bootable CD, confirming that Windows 7 or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) is still marked Active, then clicking on HD to highlight it and running from Disk tab Rebuild MBR will work to start Windows 7 on its own. If this fails, change the Active flag to Windows 7 partition itself if it's not now there. Then try Rebuild again, followed by 3 Startup Repairs.

If all this fails you've tried everything and can now follow the steps I gave earlier to copy out your files and run Factory Recovery or clean reinstall. Now's the chance to get a superior clean reinstall with a Windows 7 Installation DVD following the steps I gave you - just let us know which verison and bit rate your license is for if you don't have the DVD.

Hey gregrocker, couldnt get safe mode with networking and the microsoft sweeper wouldnt download for me so i used another anti virus that was bootable onto usb by avg and it didnt detect any malware or viruses. The startup repair i did 3 times in a row and the 8 tests it did all came as succesful. So kinda got me stumped, what i'm gonna do is send it back to Sony as its still under warranty. Thanks for all the suggestions. Also dunno if thats a picture of you on the surfboard but is that a tablet installed into it, cause thats amazing :-)

Good idea to get it shaken out while still under warranty so you know you've got a good unit before warranty expires.

Yes, that is the Intel wireless competition surfboard with embedded tablet and nosecam: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3812357.stm