Not responding - now can't open Outlook, check disk

Since my last problem with Windows 7 a few months ago, I learned that one of the easiest things to do to fix problems is do a system restore. That did not work for my current problem(s).

On Oct. 10, I installed a bunch of Windows updates without previewing them. I also knowingly installed Dropbox and IE 8.0. On the 11th, I started having problems with programs not responding. I usually keep several programs open at the same time, and Outlook and Firefox were giving me the biggest problems. It got to be so bad, I couldn't end task within any reasonable period of time, so I just pushed the off button. After two or maybe three times of on/off sessions and no improvement, I decided to do the system restore.

It took over half an hour, and upon restart a message stated that the restore did not complete because it didn't extract Windows\inf\setupapi.app.log. There was also something about disk failure and a suggestion to run chkdsk /R.

When I ran the chkdsk /R, I received a message that I couldn't do that because of recently installed software, and then it suggested I do a system restore. Since I don't care for Dropbox, I uninstalled that and tried the system restore again. It gave me the same error. Then I tried restoring to a prior restore point, and that didn't work. I also disabled my security software, Kaspersky, for 30 minutes, but that didn't work either.

I changed my sleep time out from 10 to 30 minutes, and then I tried to uninstall the Windows updates, figuring I would just uninstall them one at a time. I received a message "Windows Installer Service not accessed," and could not uninstall any updates or programs. After disabling it, rebooting and setting it to manual, I was finally able to uninstall many of the updates and IE 9.0. (I did not uninstall updates to Office Student, and perhaps I should do that.) At one point I also turned off a couple of programs at start up.


I had forced quit Outlook one too many times, I think, because now I cannot open it. It is giving me a message that I need to do a scanpst.exe. When I do that, however, I receive a message that an unexpected error occurred, and I should run a disk check program. I tried running chkdsk, but I get an error message that starts with 766 and ends with 3f1. (It goes by too fast for me to read the entire message.)


So now, I cannot open Outlook, I'm still having problems with programs not responding, startup takes almost 15 minutes (I had it down to 5 a little while ago, and it went back up to 15 after the failed chkdsk), and I need help.


I'm running Windows 7, 64-bit. I have Kaspersky Pure 2.0. Please help.

Solution: hard drive failure and replacement.

Given your message about "disk failure", my guess is that startup is taking so long because it is encountering bad sectors on your hard drive and attempting to read them over and over and over ... until it times out and goes to the next sector. Failing sectors could also cause the inability to launch programs -- because some of their code is in the failing sectors area.

Windows restore and repair install will NOT fix a failing drive.

Okaaay. How do I tell if I have bad physical sectors? My computer isn't that old. I've been using it since June, and the person before me used it about a dozen times. It's just about two years old. (I should have stated that I already tried to do chkdsk, and I got an error message.)