Windows 7 won't start, hangs on "Starting Windows" screen, no logo

AddRAM said:

Yep, I would start there. Get your main Windows 7 hard drive ( the hard drive in perfect working condition ) up and running.

As suggested, unplug all the other drives.

Okay yeah. I'm trying the Advanced Options on my Samsung F3, which is the first Windows 7 that I installed. Waiting on "Windows is loading files" page. Hope this works....

gregrocker said:

darknightz0117 said:

Now it says

Press any key to boot from CD or DVD ....
BOOTMGR is missing
Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart

_

I think this is because my Samsung F3 contains the Windows 7 that I FIRST installed. I installed my SSD second, also with Windows 7. Maybe I should repair that drive instead...

Did you mark the correct partition Active and run the Startup Repairs as I just explained, on the HD you wish to start?

If you wish to start both, then do them one at a time and boot either via the BIOS Boot menu key.

Whichever is the one which SMART says is a bad HD should be replaced, or confirm it's condition using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

Sorry, I didn't see your post until later. I'm trying Advanced Options with the Samsung F3 right now. If it hangs here for another 15 min, I'll attempt your advice. Thank you so much by the way :)

The problem with marking the correct partition is that I have two drives that have Windows 7. The Samsung F3 (installed in 2010) and the SSD (installed in 2011). I'm not sure which one is the bad drive, though I suspect the SSD cause that was the one plugged into my 4th SATA port and the error said "4th Master Hard Disk". Not entirely sure though

If you installed Win7 to the SSD with the F3 plugged in then the System boot files are on the F3 which may have failed.

To write the System boot files to the SSD Win 7 must first be marked Active using Mark Partition Active before running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times. Unplug or disable the F3 first.

You can then do the same for the F3 to see if it will start. If not test it as I suggested.

gregrocker said:

If you installed Win7 to the SSD with the F3 plugged in then the System boot files are on the F3 which may have failed.

To write the System boot files to the SSD Win 7 must first be marked Active using Mark Partition Active before running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times. Unplug or disable the F3 first.

You can then do the same for the F3 to see if it will start. If not test it as I suggested.

You are correct: I installed Win7 to the SSD with the F3 plugged in. I would follow your advice with marking the SSD as Active, however, if I disconnect the F3, I am stuck at "BOOTMGR is missing" =/

gregrocker said:

If you installed Win7 to the SSD with the F3 plugged in then the System boot files are on the F3 which may have failed.

To write the System boot files to the SSD Win 7 must first be marked Active using Mark Partition Active before running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times. Unplug or disable the F3 first.

You can then do the same for the F3 to see if it will start. If not test it as I suggested.

I tried plugging only the SSD and the F3 back in. Selected the SSD Windows 7 to Start Normally. Hangs on Starting Windows, no logo.

Click on the blue link to see all methods to mark Active. You can do it from Recovery Options Command Line.

gregrocker said:

Click on the blue link to see all methods to mark Active. You can do it from Recovery Options Command Line.

Ah, okay. I will try booting to the disc with only the SSD installed and see if that works. Thanks!

There are other steps to try if that fails using Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot.

gregrocker said:

There are other steps to try if that fails using Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot.

Yeah it just hangs on "Starting Windows", no logo. I'm going to try booting to the CD with the F3 installed as well and see how that goes.

I can't seem to get into recovery options anymore =/

SSD and F3 plugged in, boot to CD: still hangs on "Starting Windows", no logo. I'll let this sit for a few min, then i'm going to try just the F3 plugged in and boot to CD.