Windows 7: Ahh! Help reinstalling

My computer has been working great then randomly yesterday Windows started locking up whenever i try using it. Its very strange... it works for around 5 minutes perfectly well and then bam i get a spinning wheel and have to do a manual shutdown. Ive tried all recovery options and nothing has stopped this from reoccurring. Ive restarted my computer probably 40 times in the last day, each time trying to back up a little bit more data before the inevitable freeze. Now that ive manafed to back everything important up, i am hoping a reinstallation will help. I think it is hard drive related because it said something about a corrupt volume after i scanned for issues, and it always tries running chkdsk on startup even though it never fixes anything. The weird thing is that if my hd was totally broken, then why am i able to use my computer with full functionality for a few minutes after startup?



Well to get to my main question, how can i run my installation disk without having to load windows? I tried to install it by accessing the disk through the explorer,
but the explorer freezes before windows can finish reinstalling. more specifically, it freezes once it finishes copying windows files and begins gathering files, settings, and programs. Can i have it do all this via command prompt or something so i dont need to worry about the explorer crashing mid-installation? Im not even sure if reinstalling will fix the issue but i at least want to try before buying a new hard drive

thanks!

Set the computer to boot from the DVD

I will get info to show you how.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/20...ty-change.html

Hello yaco78.





If you're sure you have everything you need to save from the old install, have a look at this first tutorial at the links below, it over-writes everything on the entire Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and gives you the best possible "clean" place to try the install; sometimes it helps these issues; also have a look at the second tutorial.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Clean Install Windows 7

When i try to boot using cd/dvd, the system just pauses for a few seconds then shuts off every time! But once i take the cd out, then windows will start up just fine (but still freezes after couple min). And i know the cd works because i used it to install windows in the first place and because it runs when i accesa it through "my computer". I have a toshiba satellite a305 and i can safely say this will be my last toshiba if this problem cant be resolved. All i want to do is reinstall windows!!! Ughhh

With your computer, did you get a DVD? If not you can restore to factory specs, by pushing a certain F key at boot. Get your computer manual to find which key.

If you installed the OS yourself, the restore partition may have been removed.

Test the hardware so you know for sure.

Run memtest86 CD for 5-6 passes to test your RAM. Remove some RAM to try running that way, swap sticks to try again.

Next run HD maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp. Look in Device Manager to determine your HD maker.

Make sure you have the latest BIOS version update from Toshiba's Support Downloads webpage for your model. If so, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Next time you try reinstall make sure SATA controller is set to AHCI: AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

Next check in the Event Viewer>Admin View to google repeat errors to find out how others have solved them. Ditto the Performance Log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking through WEI score at Computer>Properties. Look for cued issues at top of Tools page, then Generate a System Health Report.

Check System File integrity: SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Finally, the last resort before clean reinstall is to run a Repair Install

Okay, since it wouldnt boot my Windows 7 disc for whatever reason, i found my recovery disc that came with the comp that has vista on it. Its installing right now and i will see if windows will remain working after this completes, then i will try upgrading back to 7. Thanks greg i will attempt to follow your instructions when it goes back on, although i really have no idea how to do any of that stuff since im definitely not a hardware guy. Hopefully this will fix itself with the clean install otherwise i will have to pinpoint the hardware issue and have someone look at it for me. Thanks for the help ill post back when this is done

Suggest you run Vista for awhile to see if problems replicate. If not, then you know it's install or something happened in Windows 7. If so, run the hardware checks before something fails.

But I would not do an inferior in-place Upgrade Install from Vista. Instead I would go clean and wipe the HD before clean reinstalling Windows 7 from booted DVD: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
Clean Install Windows 7

Where did you get Windows 7? Did you burn the DVD yourself? Did you boot this same DVD to install Windows 7 originally or did you run it from Vista for an inferior upgrade install - which itself could have caused these problems?

Did the Vista DVD boot correctly? Why do you think the Windows 7 wouldn't boot? Is it dirty? Are you following these steps to boot DVD: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstr.../bootcddvd.htm

I started with vista, then created a 2nd partition which i put the Windows 7 RC on, then when the retail version came out i got it through my university and clean installed it over the original vista drive. I did not have any problems with it for a very long time. I have always been concerned about the hardware on this laptop... the built in webcam is only recognized when the screen is nearly shut, the battery lasts 15 minutes, the cd rom only reads discs when i give it a love tap on the bottom of the machine, and the machine has a history of overheating, which has caused it to shut down many times (i bought a cooling fan which attaches via usb and keeps it cool, but i dont always have it with me). Surprisingly, none of this has really stopped the machine from performing well until this recent crisis. I am good at maintaining windows and dealing with software, but hardware issues are a new thing to me.

Currently, vista is reinstalling my drivers. I will then test it out for few hours and if there are no crashes i will follow your instructions on putting Windows 7 back on

If you have problem with overheating you might want to consider installing SpeedFan to monitor temps and give your fans variable speeds if available.

I would blow out any visible dust when you remove covers of components. Here is how to do it: Video: How to Clean Your Laptop Use can of compressed air or plastic only vacuum attachment. Do not drop screws or touch electronics without touching metal case first.

Don't be afraid to test your hardware as it will teach you a whole new aspect of computers and build your confidence.