Windows 7: System will not restore, error 0x8000ffff

Hi all,

My friend has a fairly new Sony computer, when he turns it on it comes up with the windows 7 logo and then after that is stuck on a black screen.

I have tried pressing f8, repair your computer then system restore however I keep getting the 0x8000ffff error. I have tried a few different restore points but still the same.

If anyone could help it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt.

Hi bronzer welcome to the forums. Unfortunately 0x8000fff is one of those errors with no defined roots, it crops up for all kinds of reasons and in all kinds of situations; most users never find what the actual problem was even once they've fixed it.

I've just been frantically reading about this to try and find an easy solution but it seems there isn't one that I can copy/paste which will definitely sort it for you. All I can do is list some of the most common fixes.

If you have the original Windows 7 disc (or a Startup Repair disc) then of course the first thing you can do is use this.
Startup Repair

Alternatively you could attempt starting in safe mode, and then run system restore.
Safe Mode

Last but not least (and far from easiest) is to image your system drive, which I've read can help two thirds of people afflicted with this problem (that information came from only one source and I'm not wholly ready to believe it).
I'll be honest, I've done a system image but the following tutorial is comprehensive.
System Image Recovery
Note: It is an involved process and will take some time (s'why I've never done it!), as well as getting used to some things you've never done on a computer before.


Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot! I shall try these. Although I did try booting into safe mode which didn't work. I have tried the startup repair but it came back with no errors, maybe I'll run it a few times before I try the imaging.

This may be a really stupid question, would it be possible to create a system repair disk on my computer and then try to run it on his or is that not feasible/won't work?

Thanks,

Matt.

As long as you run the same version of Windows that shouldn't be a problem. If he has 32-bit, your version will have to be; if he has 64-bit, your version will have to be.

Startup repair can sometimes take a few tries to work, as well, so I completely endorse doing that first

Okay, thanks a lot. Just a bit concerned, i don't want to damage his computer anymore than it is! If you haven't realised im not the most advanced when it comes to computers! .

startup repair using F8 is the same as using a win7 repair disk. Same for system restore.
He can't make a system image because it can only be done from within win7!

What happens exactly after starting in "safe mode"? it loads all drivers up to CLASSPNP.SYS? and what happens afterwards?

What happens when booting normally? He sees the win7 logo with fireflies (for how long approximately?) and then a black screen (no logon screen?). Is there a cursor on screen (if so, where? is it blinking?). Mousepointer on screen?

When i boot in safe mode it loads all the drivers, not sure if its upto classpnp.sys, ill have to check when i go round there. Once its finished loading a black screen appears with an arrow cursor in the middle, obviously larger than usual because of safe mode. Every now and then a timer appears next to the arrow as if its trying to load something but thats about it, constantly black.

Its exactly the same for the normal boot mode. The fireflies appear, then a black screen appears with the same effect.

Thanks,

Matt.

So only a mousepointer, no textcursor. You can move the mousepointer, right?
System seems to be running except you don't see anything. Does disk light flash for 10 seconds, so there's activity when there's a black screen?

No text cursor just a mouse pointer which i can move. From what i can remember the disk light does flash for a little while during the black screen yes. I forgot to mention, the owner has been turning the computer off via the mains plug, could that have damaged any hardware components?