Windows 7: Windows 7 OS problem-can’t run any programs anymore

Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1. I have a Linksys KVM so that one monitor, mouse and keyboard serves two PCs (work and personal PC). My data is on a separate internal hard disk. My PC was running fine for the last year until last night.

I switched to my personal QCORE PC, the screen is blank, I can’t activate the screen with the mouse or KB to wake up the monitor. Switching back and forth between PCs makes no difference. It seems like the monitor isn’t getting a signal. I had to turn off the PC power. I start PC normally. Windows 7 boots, it fixed boot disk errors (10 minutes), I logged in, I can’t start Windows programs-task manager, explorer, command prompt, anything. I get a turning circle like it’s doing it, but nothing started. I can’t shutdown PC. Power off PC. Repeat. Same issue. It’s seems to be a Windows 7 OS issue, not a hardware issue.

1020am-Start PC in safe mode with networking
Loading windows files
(Loading drivers)
Last one Loaded: \windows\system32\drivers\classpnp.sys
Please Wait…

1048am-PC rebooted itself & started windows GUI. Same problem as before-I can’t start Windows programs-task manager, explorer, anything.

1058am-
Start PC in safe mode
Loading windows files
(Loading drivers)
Last one Loaded: \windows\system32\drivers\classpnp.sys
Please Wait…

PC rebooted itself & started windows GUI. By the time I got back, I couldn’t login.

1130am-Start PC in safe mode with command prompt
Loading windows files
(Loading drivers)
Last one Loaded: \windows\system32\drivers\classpnp.sys
Please Wait…
1132am-I logged in to GUI, then got a command prompt.
I can’t do anything. I can’t type commands. Power off PC.

Del to enter setup, change boot device order from HD to CD/DVD
1138a-boot from Windows 7 install DVD
It’s checking the boot disk-chkdsk…
1155am-done chkdsk, it rebooted, boot off DVD again. Not sure if I want to try a system restore or do a repair install.

Any recommendations to least destructively fix this problem?

Plug the problem PC directly into the monitor using your HDMI or VGA cable. Then if possible swap between the two to see if it makes a difference.

Then work through these steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

Thanks for the reply. The problem is not related to the shared monitor/KB/mouse, as the inputs are being received by the PC. Also, I can boot Windows 7 normally ok, and login. The problem begins when I try to run any programs. I double click/single click as necessary to run icons on desktop or in the tray, I then get a rotating windows circle, then nothing happens, the program doesn’t start. I hit ctrl-alt-del to start task manager, click task manager, nothing starts. Windows Start, same issue. I can’t run anything. I select Windows Start, shutdown, it look like it’s doing it, screen changes, but it never finishes it.

It does have problems booting in safe mode though. I didn’t see it running chkdsk like it does when booting normally after I had to power off the PC.

It should not normally run Disk Check after a hard shutdown.

Install Malwarebytes, update and run a Full Scan.

Then run SFC -SCANNOW Command to check System Files.

Work through these other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 including establishing a Clean Boot to shrug off freeloaders, check logs for repeat errors, utilize System Resources for clues, test your hardware.

I asked you to hook up the monitor directly to PC via HDMI and then VGA if possible. Please do this to eliminate the switch for troubleshooting.

While booted from Windows 7 install DVD, at a command prompt, I was able to install malwarebytes onto my boot drive. I was able to boot in safe mode with networking and tried to re-install it but it gave me access violations. I tried to run chkdsk but it said can’t lock current drive, said yes to run at next boot. I tried to boot in safe mode with networking and safe mode with command prompt, it says loaded \windows\system32\drivers\classpnp.sys in each case and stops there. So I can’t seems to do much else.

Downloaded BitDefender Rescue CD 2010 ISO file, burnt to CD.
557pm: Boot PC and set to boot from CD, boot from BitDefender Rescue CD 2010.
Downloaded latest virus definitions. 606pm-automatically started the scan for malware & viruses. Still going…

Good. Keep working through Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

Scanned Boot disk for viruses using rescue boot CDs:
-BitDefender Rescue CD 2010
-Avira AntiVir Rescue System
-Kaspersky Rescue CD 2010

It found some threats for already quarantines files, some threats in old emails on boot disk-not location of current email directory on D drive, some in temporary internet files, deleted some java files.

While booted from my Windows 7 install DVD in a command prompt (did this before Kaspersky):
-I ran a thorough file system check with Chkdsk C: /F /R (2.5 hrs), fixed a few things, also confirmed boot disk is fine
-Ran system file checker: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows
No errors/issues

6pm-1248pm-Activities above completed

126pm-I booted my PC from HD into Windows 7. Windows 7 is behaving correctly now.
I ran a new backup of my data hard disk to an external hard disk using GoodSyncPro.
I un-installed & re-installed Malware Bytes 1.61, ran the full scan and deleted 1 adware.

Thanks for the assistance. In addition, there’s a wealth of tutorials here to help resolve most Windows PC issues.

I thought the problem was resolved but it seems that was premature.

Yesterday, I got the blue screen of death. I was able boot normally again but a few hours later, my PC froze/ hung. Sometimes after logging in, before it’s started all startup programs it hangs, other times shortly after all programs started, other times a few hours later. My PC hanging is what seems to have originally happened early Friday morning when all the problems started occurring.

When booting in safe mode with networking, sometimes it hangs after loading the last driver. I don’t think it’s hung in that mode once I can login. Many programs don’t start or crash in that mode, I’m guessing because only basic files and drivers are loaded,
Crash:
Thunderbird v8

Won’t start
Event viewer (is that normal?), explorer

I seems like the PC hardware is ok, since Kaspersky rescue CD Linux OS ran for > 12 hours with no crash. There must be a problem with a device driver, or program, however, I haven’t installed anything related to hardware recently.

What’s the recommended path to troubleshoot this issue?

Did you work through all of the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7?

What did the System File Checker report?

I would follow these steps to also post up the BSOD crash dump in our Crashes forum for analysis: Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions - Windows 7 Forums