W7 startup fails, even from original DVD...

@codekiddy:
Every cable in that computer has been unplugged, checked and plugged in again...
Same with every removable card & mamorysticks. I have not removed and reseated the processor though.

@wanchoo
I only had one empty CD/DVD at home and that was used for a dedicated recovery disk. But since neither Ubuntu, Win original disk, Original restore disk nor a dedicated Win repair disk will boot beyond a dark screen, I'm strongly suspecting that won't boot either.

@gregrocker

gregrocker said:

Work through these step for when Windows 7 fails to boot

Gregrocker

These steps will attempt to repair the OS by disinfecting and then using repairs via System Recovery Options. It does not cover hardware problems which might be indicated and can be tested using Memtest86+ to Test RAM and HD Maker's HD Diagnostic Extended CD scan.

- Memoryscan reports ok, done twice with different tools. Harddrive refuses to be checked, everything just turns black.

First try booting into Safe Mode with Networking to install, update and run a full scan with Malwarebytes.

- Will not boot at all from harddisk

If Safe Mode is not working, download, burn to CD or write to flash stick, boot and run a full scan with Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper. If it fails try one of these FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs.

- Will not boot at all from CD

Once the System is clean if it won't start boot into System Recovery Options via the F8 menu or disk as shown in tutorial, run Startup Repair repeatedly no matter what it reports. Post back results.

- Startup repair simply does not start.

If this fails, try System Restore from Recovery Options list, then if that fails open a Command Line to run SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot.

- Can not get to a command line

As a last resort boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Explore C to see if your files are intact, make sure C or the 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) is marked Active, then click on HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply. If Windows 7 doesn't start and you restored Active flag, run Startup Repair 3 Separate Times.

- Will not boot into anything from CD

If these all fail you can copy out your data using your Windows 7 DVD or Repair CD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or Paragon Rescue CD.
System Repair Disc - Create

- Will not boot into anything from CD

Then run Factory Recovery from its partition or disks you made or order from Tech Support, or find a Windows 7 installation DVD to clean reinstall using Product Key on COA sticker: Clean Reinstalling Windows 7

- Will not boot into anything from CD


So thank you for all the steps, but with no commandline, no booting from CD, no options in startup reacting I can't go through any of the steps

/Dan

Actually no.
I'll create a bootable one and try after work.
/Dan

Managed to borrow a clean sata drive at work. Disconnected the other ones and tried to boot from a linux live cd, a restore disk, an win install disk. Nothing even got close to giving me a cmdline or a menu with install/repair options.

So now I've ruled out the harddrives, memory, graphicscard, the cd drive works and bios has been reset,
all that's left is motherboard, psu and processor (seems unlikely). Still no answer from the vendor.
They will get a firm phonecall tomorrow, that's for sure!
/Dan

I don't have anything super-helpful to say except that I had almost the exact same problem you first reported. I heard from a friend that had the same problem that it was cased by a Java update corrupting the registry. I haven't been able to verify that, however, and I'm not sure why that would cause a hang on classpnp.sys.

I was able to use the repair utilities to restore my system to a previous state, but I would have to do that every time it booted. Eventually, I just backed everything up to an external drive and used the repair console to format the drive (because I couldn't format the drive from the install screen because I couldn't get the install screen to load). After formatting the drive, I was finally able to get the install CD to pass the loading screen - it must have been getting hung up by something on the drive.

The key distinction between what I did and what you did seems to be that I never messed around with my hardware. I suspect you damaged something in the process of experimenting with your hardware which then caused your current problems and inability to boot even an Ubuntu Live CD - lord knows I've bent a pin or two in my time. Of course, you could have a simple hardware failure that wasn't your fault - hopefully that's the case and not the former.

In any case, to reiterate, the solution I found to the software problem of reinstalling is to use a repair console to format your install drive and then reinstall, just in case you or someone else runs into the same problem again.

Appreciate the input, but the inability to boot from cd was identfied before I opened the case so I feel safe on that.
/Dan

DmSProject said:

Appreciate the input, but the inability to boot from cd was identfied before I opened the case so I feel safe on that.
/Dan

When you tried the install CD, did you never even get to the screen where you select a keyboard language? If that's the case, I guess you can at least tell yourself you probably didn't break anything physical.

To Gregrocker:
I don't think I exhausted all of my options before reformatting, but for whatever reason, formatting fixed my hang problem when I tried to reinstall. I'm hoping that the disk didn't need to be cleaned now... Either way, that's only peripherally related to DmSProject's problem.

Correct. I'm not getting even close to a step where I can input anything.

Most times failure to boot into System Recovery Options is user-related - not tapping the F8 key in time or vigorously enough, DVD or Repair CD not set to boot first and then triggered correctly - does it prompt you to Press Any Key to boot disk? If not the disk might not be burned correctly - burn DVD at 4x speed using ImgBurn. Do you have the Win7 install DVD to use its Repair console? It's in the last link below.

If you're certain you've done this correctly, then entering BIOS setup to check settings and perhaps reset to defaults is the next step to know all is being done to boot the disk.

In the rare case where the disk simply won't boot and hardware is cleared of fault, then one can autostart free Partition Wizard bootable CD to wipe the HD from Disk tab, which will in turn force the installer to autostart so you can Clean Install Windows 7 or Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM

To rescue your files you can use a Linux boot disk which is an OS on a CD, to copy them to external. Or you can use Paragon Rescue CD freeware which will autostart.