"Startup repair" failing - hard disk space issue?

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  1. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Home Premium
       #1

    "Startup repair" failing - hard disk space issue?


    I'm hoping this is a simple fix. I'm trying to fix my elderly uncle's Asus laptop. System Repair pops up and fails. I booted to command prompt and found out it may be hard disk space. 400+ GB Hard drive (only one drive) and there's only 1024kb Free. I'm thinking that could be the issue. Hardware was checked out at the computer store and is fine. But they were going to charge him $200 to fix this failure to boot up issue. I told him to let me try first.

    Can I possible "compact" this drive from the command prompt screen?


    Note: I have no other Win 7 systems, so can't create a disk, and I have no original disks.
    Also, no restore point has ever been set, and there are no partitions on the drive.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    Normally, I'd tell you to download a program or two to examine what's using the space or to clean up unnecessary files.

    But with only 1024 kb of space, you probably can't install anything.

    So--try this:

    Start button, search box, type in "disk cleanup" and then poke the disk cleanup listing that shows up.

    Let it clean up the drive and report back with how much space you then have.

    You'll see an option in disc cleanup where it asks if you want to clean up system files as well. Say yes.

    It should calculate how much space it will recover.

    Let it run to completion. Might take a few minutes.

    Then check your recycle bin to see if it's empty.

    Report back with available space.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #3

    ignatzatsonic said:
    Normally, I'd tell you to download a program or two to examine what's using the space or to clean up unnecessary files.

    But with only 1024 kb of space, you probably can't install anything.

    So--try this:

    Start button, search box, type in "disk cleanup" and then poke the disk cleanup listing that shows up.

    Let it clean up the drive and report back with how much space you then have.

    You'll see an option in disc cleanup where it asks if you want to clean up system files as well. Say yes.

    It should calculate how much space it will recover.

    Let it run to completion. Might take a few minutes.

    Then check your recycle bin to see if it's empty.

    Report back with available space.
    Thank you. I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. I can't get into Windows at all. Startup repair starts automatically upon powering up. It fails and the only options I'm given are to restart or shut down. I can boot up to BIOS using the F8 button. But "Safe Mode" doesn't work (Startup Repair starts automatically and fails).
    Last edited by AnnaNYC; 05 Apr 2015 at 17:47. Reason: Spelling error
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    Excuse me. I overlooked the fact that you can't boot at all.

    Let me think a bit.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #5

    ignatzatsonic said:
    Excuse me. I overlooked the fact that you can't boot at all.

    Let me think a bit.
    Take your time. I appreciate it!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    How recent is this non-boot behavior?

    Did it boot fine a week ago when he likely had very little free space?

    Did it boot fine yesterday?

    I'm just wondering if the lack of space is necessarily the cause. If low boot space can cause boot issues, I'd think the issues would show up before it got down to only 1024 kb free.

    Provide as much detail as you can about recent history.

    Anything new installed?

    When did the PC last have, say, at least 1 GB free? Is that known?

    Does he make any attempt at maintenance?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #7

    Two more questions:

    How do you know there are no system restore points?

    How (exactly) did you decide the free space is 1024 kb? What commands did you issue at the prompt?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hold on. Trying to post screenshots for you. I was able to access the drive details from the command screen. As far as recent activity, I just spoke with him and yes, he was getting "low disk space" warnings for about two weeks before it would no longer boot up to Win7.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Here's the hard drive info (photo) I found via commands...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails "Startup repair" failing - hard disk space issue?-image.jpg  
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #10

    And no, he made no attempts at maintenance. I don't think he knows how. He writes emails, plays games and buys movies and downloads them. He said he has close to 100 movies and even more games downloaded. No wonder he's out of hard drive space!
      My Computer


 
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