Startup Repair is a system recovery tool that automates common diagnostic and repair tasks of unbootable Windows 7 installations. If the computer fails over into Windows RE because of a detected boot failure, Startup Repair launches automatically. If automatic failover to an on-disk Windows RE is not available, Startup Repair can also be launched as a manual recovery tool from a Windows RE CD/DVD.
This tutorial will show you how to run Startup Repair to allow it to scan your Windows 7 computer for a startup problem and try to fix it so your computer can start correctly.
Startup Repair is located on the System Recovery Options menu, which is on the Windows 7 installation disc. If your computer manufacturer (OEM) has preinstalled recovery options, Startup Repair might also be installed on your hard disk. If your computer does not include Startup Repair, your computer manufacturer (OEM) might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.
Note
Startup Repair Process
Startup Repair will try to repair computers that are unbootable because of the following reasons:
Registry corruption
Missing or damaged system and driver files
Disk metadata corruption (MBR, partition table, and boot sector)
File system metadata corruption
Installation of problematic or incompatible drivers
Installation of incompatible Windows service packs and patches
Corrupt boot configuration data
Bad memory and hard disk hardware (detection only)
Startup Repair will not repair unbootable systems caused by the following issues:
Malfunctioning firmware and other hardware components
Problems with clean Windows installations or Windows upgrades (for example, from Windows XP to Windows Vista)
Startup Repair cannot fix hardware failures, such as a failing hard disk or incompatible memory, nor does it protect against virus attacks. Startup Repair is not designed to fix Windows installation problems. Startup Repair is not a backup tool, so it cannot help you recover personal files, such as photos or documents. To help protect your computer, back up your system and files regularly.
2. Select the Startup Repair option. (See screenshot below)
3. Startup Repair will now scan your computer to attempt to find and fix any startup problems. (See screenshot below) NOTE: Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs. If repairs are not successful, you'll see a summary of the problem and links to contact information for support. Your computer manufacturer might include additional assistance information.
4. If problems cannot be found, then click on Next. (See screenshot below) NOTE:You can click on the View diagnostic and repair details link to see a detailed summary of what Startup Repair has done.
A) Click on the Restart button to return to the Windows 7 log on screen. (See screenshot below step 2)
One thing I tried out here on both RCs lately is using the upgrade option while booted in each to perform a repair install. Each went well from the start. So you know the guide there does work.
OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case CPU AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 on new mini tower Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 Memory Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Mushkin on 2nd build Graphics Card MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeGamer - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Acer P191W 19" widesscreen - HP 20" widescreen mini towe Screen Resolution 1440x900 native - 1600x1024 on 7 Pro x64 build
Keyboard Microsoft Recusa Razor - MS Comfort 3000 on second build Mouse MS Trackball Explorer - A4TECH dual scroll wheel trackball PSU Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives Primary Ultimate x64 build-
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 6.0 = 2
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 3.0 = 2 (OS drives)
WD 1tb Green Power sata = 2 1 external
usb flash drives = 18
Second 7 Pro x64 mini tower-
WD Caviar SE 500gb sata II single drive presen Internet Speed 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi
That would remove Windows out of the equation entirely when booting from the 7 dvd. You can still use the same user name for the new administrator account created through the upgrade process.
OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case CPU AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 on new mini tower Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 Memory Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Mushkin on 2nd build Graphics Card MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeGamer - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Acer P191W 19" widesscreen - HP 20" widescreen mini towe Screen Resolution 1440x900 native - 1600x1024 on 7 Pro x64 build
Keyboard Microsoft Recusa Razor - MS Comfort 3000 on second build Mouse MS Trackball Explorer - A4TECH dual scroll wheel trackball PSU Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives Primary Ultimate x64 build-
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 6.0 = 2
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 3.0 = 2 (OS drives)
WD 1tb Green Power sata = 2 1 external
usb flash drives = 18
Second 7 Pro x64 mini tower-
WD Caviar SE 500gb sata II single drive presen Internet Speed 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi
can anyone give me some clues how to recover an installation using Startup Recovery tool from command line?
my issue is, i have windows 7 installation disk on USB, and there is no option to repair the installation. Dont ask how did this happen i just dont have it.
i have an image i am reapplying to the partition, but the system just wont start. black screen and nothing happens.
clean installation results in a black screen on the first reboot as well.
i had windows 7 installed on this disk before, but it just failed to start one beautiful day. i do also suspect the disk, but the fact that files are copied successfuly makes me wonder...
anyone found how to call the tool from a PE boot???
thanks
Last edited by svyatko; 18 Jun 2009 at 02:21 PM..
Reason: addon
Were you installing from the external or to it? Installations on external drives are advised against since they are simply too fragile. One boot runs the next won't when the configuration is off.
To avoid that hassle I simply yanked the drives out of external enclosures and see them installed internally solving a list of problems. There you would have to rebuild the BCD store every other time. Plus booting from the dvd won't be much help for any repairs on an external usb drive to start with.
OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case CPU AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 on new mini tower Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 Memory Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Mushkin on 2nd build Graphics Card MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeGamer - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Acer P191W 19" widesscreen - HP 20" widescreen mini towe Screen Resolution 1440x900 native - 1600x1024 on 7 Pro x64 build
Keyboard Microsoft Recusa Razor - MS Comfort 3000 on second build Mouse MS Trackball Explorer - A4TECH dual scroll wheel trackball PSU Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives Primary Ultimate x64 build-
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 6.0 = 2
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 3.0 = 2 (OS drives)
WD 1tb Green Power sata = 2 1 external
usb flash drives = 18
Second 7 Pro x64 mini tower-
WD Caviar SE 500gb sata II single drive presen Internet Speed 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi