Computer working fine until Windows Update


  1. Posts : 39
    Windows 7 Home Premium
       #1

    Computer working fine until Windows Update


    I have a HP Pavillion a1640n with Windows 7 Home 32 bit edition installed. I went to use it and it was on, and it had installed updates (even when I specified for it not to, as I had a bad experience before). And it restarted. When it restarted it then was in a Start up recovery loop. When I tried the recovery, it couldn't find anything wrong. I did some research and tried fixing the master boot record which had no effect. I tried the fix for the infinite restarting loop. No effect. I can get to the command prompt when the start up repair fails. I've tried disabling the auto restart after failure and I get the blue screen of death, and it will not start. I can not get it in safe mode either.

    So I thought I'll re-install windows. Can't do that because now when I put anything in my CD/DVD drive it restarts the computer over and over and doesn't load anything! I tried getting into command prompt and trying to run it from there, nope it restarts the machine. I am lucky that I can get the cd out of there, and then it starts in the start up repair loop.

    Is there a fix for this or is this computer just toast? is there a way in command prompt to disable the CD/DVD drive in case windows updated the driver and it's not compatible?

    I've tried a restore point, for it to tell me that there are none and I have not disabled restore points at all in my computer.

    I am trying a chkdsk and it's stuck on 19 percent complete so far.

    Here are my specs: Pavillion 1640a Windows 7 home premium 32 bit
    250gb hd 2gb of ram.

    Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

    Mel
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 82
    XP
       #2

    You can chage the Bios boot order. But first disconnect all usb peripherial devices, Printer, Cameras, Ipods. Except keyboard and Mouse. This will allow you to start the computer with the Winodws Cd/DVD. Thus allowing you to run a reapair or completly re-install your Windows OS. Should you want to try to save any information on your Hard Drive. Then attempt to run repair from the windows disk. If not then just Re-install Windows. Please See the following instructins. Now Some other member with more experience may have other suggestion. Please take their advice as well. Still Learning Learning Still.
    Change the boot order in the BIOS
    1. Turn off the computer:
      • If the computer works, click Start , click Turn Off Computer , and then click Turn Off .
      • If the computer is not in Windows, press and hold the power button approximately five seconds until the computer turns off.
    2. Disconnect devices that are connected to USB, Firewire, parallel and serial ports, except the keyboard, and the mouse.
    3. Turn on the computer.
    4. When the color screen with the logo appears, press the F1 key on the keyboard until Entering SETUP is displayed. (You only have a few seconds to press the F1 key before the normal startup process continues.) Wait until the BIOS setup program opens.
    5. Press the right arrow key to select Boot .
    6. Press the down arrow key to select Boot Device Priority , and then press Enter on the keyboard.
    7. Change the first boot device to CD-ROM using one of these methods:
      • Press the down arrow key to select the CD-ROM item. Press the + (plus) key to move the CD-ROM item up until it is the first item in the list.
      • Press the down arrow key to highlight the First Boot Device selection. Press the + (plus) key until CD-ROM is the selection.

      When installation is complete, return the BIOS to the original setting.


    Start the recovery
    1. Press the Eject button on the top CD-ROM drive, and wait for the tray to open. Insert the System Recovery CD #1 and close the tray.
    2. Press the F10 key to save the changes and exit BIOS.
    3. With Yes selected, press Enter .
    4. The recovery window automatically starts; wait for the onscreen instructions to display, and then follow the instructions:
      • If your PC hard disk is blank or corrupted, press R to perform a full system recovery. Insert the remaining CDs when directed.
      • For standard recovery:
        1. Press R , and then press the R key again.
        2. Click Next to proceed with the non-destructive system recovery.
        3. Click Yes to start the recovery. Insert the remaining CDs when directed.

      • For full system recovery:
        1. Press R , and then press the F key again.
        2. Click Yes to perform the full system recovery.
        3. Insert the remaining CDs when directed.

    5. When the recovery program finishes, click Restart to restart the computer.
    6. Before the computer restarts, the CD tray ejects. Remove the CD.


    Return the BIOS to the previous setting
    1. When the color screen with the logo appears, press the F1 key on the keyboard until Entering SETUP is displayed. (You only have a few seconds to press the F1 key before the normal startup process continues.) Wait until the BIOS setup program opens.
    2. Press the right arrow key to select Boot .
    3. Press the down arrow key to select Boot Device Priority , and then press Enter on the keyboard.
    4. Return the first boot device to the original setting using one of these methods:
      • Press the down arrow key or up arrow key to select the CD-ROM item. Press the minus key (- ) key to move the CD-ROM item down until it is the third item in the list.
      • Press the down arrow key to highlight the First Boot Device selection. Press the plus (+ ) key until Floppy is the selection.
    5. Press the F10 key to save the changes and exit BIOS.
    6. Select Yes and press Enter .


    Complete the recovery After the computer restarts, a series of startup screens appear. Complete Microsoft Windows setup as follows:
    1. Complete the registration process, and then reconnect the devices that were disconnected earlier.
    2. Reinstall software that did not originally come with the computer.
    3. Write data files that were previously saved on the backup CD or diskette you made from the hard disk.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 39
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I will try this. I did try having it boot from the cd drive first but didn't unplug everything else though. And it just went into the infinite restart loop and couldn't get it to do anything.

    If this happens again even after unplugging everything. I did get the windows installation cd put on my flash drive. Is there a way I can load it from there? Have it read the flash drive first before the hard drive? Thanks!

    Mel
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    The fix for failed Updates which leave Win7 unbootable is System Restore but since you have no Restore points and one of the worst Win7 installs possible given that HP has the worst load of factory crapware in the industry, I would get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

    There is a video in the tutorial showing you how to boot a disk.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 39
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I finally got it booted. Went into the bios and flipped it to start with the CD first and the hard drive 2nd, it was flipped the other way. And wouldn't you know the thing started and went right into windows! Now how after a windows update, does it mess up the bios? I have no clue, but I have disabled all updates again. Somehow that setting was changed too! Hopefully now it won't update anymore and screw up my computer.

    Just wanted to let everyone know the solution so if anyone else had the same problem after the update they know the fix!
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    You need Windows Updates for drivers, critical performance and security updates. Set them to Automatic.

    THere is no way an Update changed your HD to boot first. It should be set that way anyway unless you're booting a disk which you can do manually from the one-time Boot menu key.

    Every time an update is installed it sets a System Restore point. If Updates every mess up your PC you only need to run System Restore, if necessary from the DVD or Repair CD System Recovery Options.

    So if Updates mess up Win7, System Restore and then install the Updates singly until you find the one which is the problem, post it up here in our Updates forum.

    I'd also save externally a Win7 backup image to use in place of reinstall if necessary in the future: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup.

    Keep your files backed up or sync'd using an external HD or a modern cloud option like Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums
      My Computer


 

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