Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

Published 15 Mar 2012

Published by

gregrocker

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Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

Information

These steps will attempt to repair the OS by disinfecting and then using repairs via System Recovery Options. It does not cover hardware problems which might be indicated if these steps fail to run and can be tested using Memtest86+ to Test RAM for 5-6 passes, and HD Maker's HD Diagnostic Extended CD scan followed by Disk Check from System Recovery Options Command Line, after checking that HD is detected in BIOS setup.

1. If possible unplug all other HD's. Boot into BIOS setup by tapping the key given for this on first boot screen, check that Windows 7 HD is detected and set to boot first (after CD/DVD drive).

2. Try booting into Safe Mode with Networking to install, update and run a full scan with Malwarebytes.

3. If Safe Mode is not working, download, burn to CD or write to flash stick, boot the disk and run a full scan with Windows Defender Offline . If it fails try one of these FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs burned to CD using Windows Image Burner or ImgBurn . You can also move the HD to another PC to scan it with Malwarebytes.

4. If infection cleans up enough that Windows 7 will start then run SFC -SCANNOW Command to check for damaged System files.

If not post back the virus scan results in our Security forum for expert help.

5. Once the System is clean if it won't start boot into System Recovery Options via the F8 menu or disk as shown in tutorial, run Startup Repair repeatedly up to 3 separate times with reboots in between each - no matter what it reports.

6. If you need an installer for your licensed version to boot to run Repairs or possible Clean Reinstall, download the latest official Win7 installer w/SP1 ISO, burn to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool.

7. If no installation shows up to repair when booting into DVD System Recovery Options or Repair CD, or Startup Repair won't work after several tries, click through to System Recovery Options, open a Command Line to use the Bootrec.exe tool which is demonstrated most fully in Steps 1-3 here.

Failure to boot disk is almost always user error. Set disk drive first to boot in BIOS setup, look for prompt to "Press any key to boot disk." Its absence likely means the ISO or disk is bad. Alternatively tap the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger disk drive.

8. If these fail, try running System Restore from Recovery Options list working chronologically backward to find a bootable configuration. If those fail, from Recovery Options open a Command Line to run SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot.

9. As a last resort boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Explore C to see if your files are intact and post back a camera snap of drive map for more help. Make sure C or the 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) is marked Active, then click on HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply. How to Set Active/Inactive partition -Partition Wizard Video Help.
Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR - Video Help.

If Windows 7 doesn't start and you restored Active flag, run Startup Repair 3 Separate Times. If marking 100mb Active fails to Repair x3, then mark Windows 7 partition itself Active and try above steps again. Make sure the Windows 7 HD is set first to boot in BIOS setup.

For a bootable flash stick version of Partition Wizard write it's CD ISO to stick using Universal USB Installer.

Without the Partition Wizard CD you would Mark Partition as Active (Method Two) from DVD/Repair CD System Recovery Options then run the 3 Startup Repairs.

Some failures to repair which involve an infinitely-looping Startup Repair at boot can be repaired by following the steps in Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery - Windows 7 Help Forums .

Sometimes a deleted/missing partition can be restored by PW Partition Recovery Wizard. A failed partition which cannot be repaired using steps above can sometimes have its table restored using DiskGenius trial.

10. If these all fail you can copy out your data using your Windows 7 DVD or System Repair Disk using this method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console, or Paragon rescue disk to recover data.

11. Then run Factory Recovery from its partition following steps you can find by googling, in the Manual on your computer maker's Support Downloads webpage or in this list of Recovery Methods, disks you made or order from computer maker's Tech Support, or follow these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 or Clean Install Windows 7.

Information

If you can't boot disks most of the time it's due to User failure. Set DVD drive first to boot in BIOS setup, then HDD, Save changes, exit. How to Boot A Computer from CD or DVD - YouTube

Place DVD/CD in drive, reboot. Do you receive the prompt to "Press any key to boot disk?" If not the disk may not be burned correctly. Try ImgBurn at 4x speed. Or try tapping the key given on first boot screen for one-time BIOS boot menu to trigger disk.

Reset the BIOS to defaults after taking note of SATA controller setting: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS. Try disk again.

Try booting flash stick installer which should be listed in BIOS Boot order or Boot Menu under USB, Removable or HD's for: OS repairs or reinstall, WD disinfection, Partition Wizard repairs. If these fail try unplugging DVD drive.

As a last resort you can replace the DVD drive, or rescue your files with Paragon Rescue CD which will boot itself, then boot Partition Wizard bootable CD which will also boot itself to wipe the HD, which will in turn force the installer to boot itself for reinstall.

Windows 7: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot problems?