Windows 7: Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery

If you've ever experienced a Startup RepairClick here to read the entire tutorial

On Step 13, my Default, Sam, and Security files are all at the correct 262,000 bytes.
However, my Software and System files are also 262,000 bytes.
How do I correct them to the appropriate amounts?

Hello Rick, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Those are only estimated average sizes in the tutorial to be used only as a guideline. You only have a real issue if they are 0 bytes in size.

Alright, thank you. I continued the rest of the points from that step, but once I rebooted, it went back into the startup repair loop. I have tried the steps several times thus far. Does anyone have further potential advice?

I went back and looked at my System bytes, referred to in step 13.
I have an additional SYSTEM.LOG1 that's 262,144 bytes created on the date the problems arose roughly 4 hours after they began. Then below that I have a SYSTEM.LOG2 that is 0 bytes and created back in July of 2009.

That's fine Rick. It's just for those specific items listed in step 13 and displayed in the screenshot under step 12.

So, I did the tutorial as you have shown me, and guess what? IT DIDN'T WORK. So, since I have an HP Pavilion dv6 laptop (don't remember the exact model), I can use an Ubuntu Live CD to copy my files to an external drive then reboot and use HP's Recovery Manager to reset the laptop to the factory state, since I don't think there's any other way. But, before I do that, I would just like you to know that I have tried using Bootrec (to no avail), BUT, I haven't fully run chkdsk just yet, so I'm not sure if the disk is actually damaged or not. Should I run chkdsk before I run the factory reset, or should I go on and backup then reset it anyway? (And how do I run it with the parameters again, I forget. :P )

Also, will the HP reset actually work (AKA, actually boot up)? Because I'm a bit skeptical when it comes to fixing my computer.. If not, I could always download the Windows 7 ISO disk from one of the tutorials you provided, I guess.

-StupidlyClever

Your solution worked great the first time. Copying a boot drive to another drive should be common enough useage of a partition utility that this issue shouldn't occur, or if it does, it should be referenced by the utility provider.

Messaged Partition Wizard asking that they include a link to your troubleshooting tips, or at least address the "pwnative" error somewhere on their website (search on that error yields nothing currently). Your clear concise write up put an end to hours of confusion so thanks for taking the time!

Dan

hello,
I just tried the solution to the Infinite loop recovery with the prompt, but my operation goes fine until the step 14, in which the laptop try to copy the files for some minutes (with the hard drive light always on),
and then gives this error back: "The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error", and as you can see in the image 4 file(s) were copied.




I tried this more times and I also tried to restart but the problem (as predictable) is not solved.

Can you help me?
Thank you.

Davide

Thanks Dzomlija for this. In the years I've been doing support, I never came across a solution for this issue until now. Its always been to reimage with the standard image, or reinstall Windows completely. Today was the first day that I was able to get a client's system back up and running. I had done all the normal Startup Repair tasks both automatically and manually. The system always restarted, not giving me a chance to see the error. Finally I realized that the system was acting just like having a corrupted HAL, and I began searching to see if there were any newer solutions since the last time I had to resolve it. Most searches ended up with just reinstall Windows. I saw yours last night and thought it was worth a try. Amazing result. Thanks again.

I woke up to a BSOD after a critical update last night (Thanks, Microsoft...) After banging my head against the wall (proverbially, not actually) I happened across your tutorial. It worked LIKE A CHAMP!!! First time - no problems. As a small business owner who depends on my computer to work perfectly, you guys saved my day. Keep up the good work.