Startup Repair on multiple installs - what am I doing wrong?

Hey guys,

I recently rebuilt my desktop PC, so it now has a brand new (well, maybe 3-4 months old) WD 1TB HDD. I installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and it worked beautifully for about a month, at which point I got into a Startup Repair loop and just decided to reinstall since I didn't have any important files on the HDD yet.

Once again, on this second install, I found Windows unable to boot. I could get into safe mode but system restore did nothing, and I thought I would just reinstall one more time and pray that would be the end of it. This second install took quite a bit longer than the first install so I thought maybe something strange went on this time.

So: third install. Last night as I was trying to watch Netflix, Silverlight kept crashing. Then Chrome started crashing. Then Windows Explorer crashed. I shut it down and went to bed. This morning I boot it up and it starts Startup Repair. Couple hours later it asks if I want to do a system restore. I click yes, it says "Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically".

Here are the problem details it gives on this screen:

Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem signature 03: unknown
Problem signature 04: 21199975
Problem signature 05: AutoFailover
Problem signature 06: 3
Problem signature 07: CorruptRegistry

I have tried to boot with last known good settings. It just took me back to the beginning again. I have no problems reinstalling Windows as I will not lose anything important, but I don't want to be going through this again a month from now.

I used this same Windows disc on my last HDD and had no problems for about a year, but I can't figure out what is causing this problem to keep cropping up now. I have done Windows Updates and haven't downloaded much of anything except school documents and game patches.

Any help would be SO greatly appreciated. Please let me know if there is more info needed to help in solving my conundrum.

Windows is activated and I've done all updates found by Windows except for things like onboard graphics/audio drivers which I never use.

Also tried doing a system restore to the earliest found point, and copying registry files via command prompt. Still loops back around to the same error.

Why would you not use the drivers provided by Windows Updates? Did you think WIn7 is the same as XP? This is the first driver-complete OS where the drivers are provided only by the installer and then updated quickly via optional and Important Windows Updates after you enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

You should only provide drivers which are missing in Device Manager after all Windows Updates are done.

What I would do is start over to correctly Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 following the steps (same for retail) that get and keep a perfect install. Use the latest official installer with SP1 (added drivers) provided in Step 1.

If problems persist I'd working through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 starting with the hardware tests. You may want to run them first to clear the hardware.

Simple fact is you have a hardware problem. If you didn't your first install of Win 7 would still be running fine. Now you have re-installed 2 more time and not had any success getting the system to boot properly after the first re-install and can't even get through the second re-install. That is definitely a hardware problem. Could be the RAM or the hard drive.

EDIT:
Oh and forget drivers. That is not the problem. Even without the proper drivers for all your hardware the system would still boot to the desktop. That is if there wasn't a hardware problem.

Please do not tell those we are helping to disregard another's steps unless they are harmful.

You should not forget drivers.

You said you have no problem reinstalling to get it right, and having a baseline perfect clean install makes troubleshooting easier.

But by all means run the hardware tests and other troubleshooting steps first if you want.

You are taking my comment the wrong way. Yes the proper drivers are need for the system to run at top speed and usability. But they are not needed for the OS to install, completely with little problems, and the system to boot to the desktop after the OS has been installed.

Thanks all for the input.

I have started with a clean reinstall and will install all updates including drivers found by Windows and hope it helps.

As for hardware problems, I ran a memtest which checked out fine. However, my HDD apparently has many bad sectors. If this is the cause, sad day because I just bought it in Sept but I will RMA through WD if I see this problem again.

Thanks again, cheers