I removed and re-seated the memory module.
I didn't see the bsod earlier, but it only appears for a split second. Yes, I am sure it it the bsod and not a blank screen. There is no way for me to screenshot it, because I wouldn't be able to reach my desktop to open it.
Are you able to: Enter Safe Mode (Windows 7) | HP® Support and choose safe mode with a command prompt?
If you can, try running SFC /scannow, type that command (cmd) at the prompt and see if it will run, even if you don't get any violations run it again after restarting and getting back into safe mode with command prompt.
Then try running system restore.
If that still won't work then get back into safe mode with command prompt and run: Start System Restore from a command prompt.
Instead of typing in the SFC cmd you'll use rstrui.exe instead.
If this doesn't work you'll need to create a: System Repair Disc - Create and put it on a flash drive because your mini doesn't show any optical drives cd or dvd. See the tip box below step #7 for how to.
I can't enter Safe mode w/ cmd prompt, nor can I enter any other mode. I can however bring up the command prompt. The directory for commands is "X:\Windows\RM>".
When I typed in SFC /scannow it tells me to restart the computer, but when I do, it just keeps telling me to do the same thing.
Typing in rstrui.exe gives the error:
To use System Restore, you must specify which Windows installation to restore.
Restart this computer, select an operating system, and then select System Restore.
The problem is, when I select start windows normally, it BSOD's.
I tried creating a system repair disk, but the Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links didn't have Windows 7 Starter 32-bit.
I went through your thread and didn't see any mention of being able to enter your BIOS. I hope you can because you will have to change the boot order to USB Memory Device for this possible solution to succeed.
You will have to follow the instructions in either one of these two links: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 or: Downloading Windows 7 starter ? - Microsoft Community
Both links describe how to use the eicfg tool to unlock the versions on the OS disk. In either case it would be best if you used Home Premium to start with because of the mini's system limitations, and in both cases you will need to burn the OS .iso to a flash drive (at least 4GB). You will also need the COA of your starter edition, usually found on a sticker on the back of the mini.
I would read through both tutorials to completely familiarize yourself with each procedure, and to see which one would be better suited for your situation. You may even be able to blend both of them (up to a point), but it is your call as to which one you are most comfortable with, there is good advice in both.
When I tried the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 method, I stopped at step 4 because I can't create a Recovery Image because I can't access anything. Things were going better in the Downloading Windows 7 starter ? - Microsoft Community method, but when I got to the "Where do you want to install Windows?" window, the C: drive was not an option... nothing was.
That is understandable, it is why I mentioned that you might be able to blend the two tutorials. #4 would have been the logical place to stop and move on to the other tutorial.
I believe you, but, I would have thought that there would be no option.
There was no button to just continue?
Maybe I'm missing something here, I'm going to ask for more help, so hang in there.
This is troubling:
If the machine can boot into Windows, albeit slow, have you tried HP Recovery mgr from inside Windows? If you can, and you're not concerned with any data on the machine, go straight to System Recovery.
Otherwise, create a repair disk (or borrow one) and boot from it. Select Command Prompt from the menuHP said:
and post a screen shot of the a diskpart command
diskpart
lis dis
lis par
lis vol
exit
The machine cannot boot into windows, so I can't access recovery manager.
To create a repair disk, I need another 32-bit computer, but the only other one I have is an HP mini 210-1010CA which doesn't have a disk slot. In order to make a repair usb, I need to convert it from a disk... which again, I can't.
First of all I would like to thank Slartybart for pitchin' in.
There might be a problem in how you are trying to enter recovery.
You said, you click on the windows orb/button in the lower left corner? Try restarting the mini and start tapping the escape button, see if that re-enables the "I need help immediately" section.
If not we'll have to re-think the flash drive,
Do I understand this correctly?
You have a good HP mini 210-1010CA, and a bad HP mini 210-1071CA, and they both have Starter on them?
Is using the 1010 how were you were able to create a universal OS flash drive, the one where you were stopped because of no drive choices?
See the second post down by Daniel_Potyrala: USB Recovery Key for 210-2081NR - HP Support Forum - 534419 It will lead you to: Using the Downloadable USB Recovery Flash Disk Creation Utility HP Mini 210-2081nr PC | HP® Support
This might allow you to make a recovery flash for the mini1010, that might work in the 1071.
Again, please read over the tutorial to familiarize yourself with the steps and make sure you have everything ready. It says you should have a 16GB flash drive to use.
More:
HP Mini 210-1071CA PC | HP® Support
Solve a problem HP Mini 210-1071CA PC | HP® Support
System Recovery / Backup / Restore HP Mini 210-1071CA PC | HP® Support
System Recovery May Fail or Display Error Message (Windows 7, or Vista) HP Mini 210-1071CA PC | HP® Support
Look if you have one good machine then surely you can make a stick with the clean OEM install on it.
To be honest with you I ave had a couple of these machines and they are extremely easy to muck up from an owners perspective and it sounds like the wonky drive is about to eat the biscuit. I'd be very tempted to stick another drive in the darn thing get it going and then try and retrieve any data off the old one if you can.
One other option is:-
Make a bootable stick with Ubuntu set the boot in BIOS to the USB. Boot up and use the TRY NOT the INSTALL Once in Ubuntu you can access the net and download any scanners or just see what is in that drive it will slow up any drives attached to the machine and just go in and open them up copy paste whatever the data to a stick if all you want to do is save data and scan.
Quote