Win7 boot failure, DVD unable to reinstall/boot

chappy40 · 27 Jul 2010

Hey all.
This is probably the biggest problem i've encountered with windows ever and i actually suspect its my hardware but not sure how to prove it and what step to take next if it is.

I have w7 installed on a SSD 64gig (C ) and most of my apps/games etc on a standard 1tb HDD (E )

The problem:
-as of yesterday, on starting the computer, windows 7 fails to boot, it goes to the w7 splash screen for about 15secs and then the monitor flickers off and the system restarts. W7 then gives the option to start normally or in repair mode.
-I've gone through repair mode now and tried both the startup repair (9 times, it finds no specific problem),
-the system restore, which lists 3 possible restore points (each one says success but then the same loop as above occurrs anyway)
-Ive also tried the bootrec commands via the command prompt available in system recovery.
-When i try to boot in with safe mode it goes black with a cursor and stops there
-when i try to boot via the dvd, it loads the windows background and cursor and stops there.
-In safe mode via the dvd it loads black screen and the 'safe mode' text in each corner and white cursor and stops there.

so at the moment i can't actually even do a repair or even clean reinstall via the disc which is pretty disturbing.

I've also tried chckdsk and used chkdsk /fix. this did report problems on the C drive and the /f run did say it corrected things on the ssd but still i am unable to load or boot via safe/system recover or even the W7 dvd.

The system is about 3 months old and was running sweet until yesterday. Im thinking this is the SSD completely failed. what shuoldi do .

Jonathan_King · 27 Jul 2010

Welcome!

All these symptoms point to a hardware issue to me as well. In particular, the part about the monitor flickering off draws my attention, because I wonder if it is a video card problem.

Do you have another graphics card you can use? If you are using a real video card, use the onboard graphics to test with if you have them.

chappy40 · 27 Jul 2010

sorry let me clarify the monitor bit. the monitor flicks off because the system is restarting when windows to load the first time, it gets to the windows splash with the 4 colours that pulse, then the entire system effectively restarts, goes back through bios etc. and then loads system recovery options . When i load system recovery i get all the actions/options like restore to previous, repair command prompt etc, but none of those solutions have solved the problem

the issue with not being albe to load repair or safe mode even with the DVD also makes me think its more SSD related if anything.

also, when i do bootrec scanos and the other bootrec commands from in the cmd prompt i can access via system recovery, it tells me it finds no OS on that drive...

being unable to load into safe mode or even do a reinstall from the DVD which refuses to load is totally stumping me cause i dont know of any other alternatives

chappy40 · 27 Jul 2010

on a side note, i seem to be having forum problems here. this thread doesnt show up in the actual topic list 'crashes debugging' i had to search it.. and logging in via the login box top left of the site says it loggs me in but then doesnt actually do so when it redirects. (but i am logged in when i searched for my own thread)

edit: ps currently at the work computers so will try the vid card tests when i get home just incase.

Jonathan_King · 27 Jul 2010

Perhaps try another check disk. Open a command prompt and enter chkdsk /r.

chappy40 · 27 Jul 2010

ok i wll try that also when i get home in 3 hours., but i did do one after i ran chkdsk /f the first time and it reported the errors had been corrected. Having said that it did warn me about doing it would have some sort of effect to links or somesuch (thats not word for word what it said just what i remember from last night)

just to confirm, the only command prompt i have access to is the one via system recovery (which i can only access without the dvd in the drive) this cmd prompt should allow me to perform these functions, and others like bootrec etc yes?
for example, scannow doesnt work because it reports the system is currently undergoing system repair and to try again after restart, but because i can only use the cmd prompt in the system repair screen (again, only available without the boot dvd) i can never use that command as it stands.

any ideas on why the system recovery doesnt load via the dvd? (this would at least allow me to do reinstall or repair etc)

Jonathan_King · 27 Jul 2010

Either it is a coincidence, or bad hardware is causing the issue. Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using ISO Recorder. Boot from the CD, and let it run for at least 5 passes.

ISO Recorder v3

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Yes, the chkdsk should work just fine from the recovery console.

karlsnooks · 27 Jul 2010

chappy40 said:

ok i wll try that also when i get home in 3 hours., but i did do one after i ran chkdsk /f the first time and it reported the errors had been corrected. Having said that it did warn me about doing it would have some sort of effect to links or somesuch (thats not word for word what it said just what i remember from last night)

just to confirm, the only command prompt i have access to is the one via system recovery (which i can only access without the dvd in the drive) this cmd prompt should allow me to perform these functions, and others like bootrec etc yes?
for example, scannow doesnt work because it reports the system is currently undergoing system repair and to try again after restart, but because i can only use the cmd prompt in the system repair screen (again, only available without the boot dvd) i can never use that command as it stands.

any ideas on why the system recovery doesnt load via the dvd? (this would at least allow me to do reinstall or repair etc)

Do you have a "System Repair" CD/DVD?

If yes, please try to boot from that CD/DVD and report the results.

If you do not have one, have a friend make one for you on a 32 bit system is yours is 32 bit and on a 64 bit system if your is 64 bit.

The "System Repair" CD/DVD must be from a system like yours, that is, if yours is 32 bit, then 32 bit. If yours is 64 bit, then from a 64 bit system.

CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISK

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disk button

chappy40 · 27 Jul 2010

my understanding was that the install cd/dvd was effectively the same as a system repair disc, except it has the complete OS on it, the system rep disc being for those that didnt get the full os disc with their box. confirm? because currently its not loading the OEM disc anyway

I'm about to put a win7 ISO onto a USB and try to boot from that.
i did try a usb system repair boot but it never loaded beyond the bios, but that could have been my own failings at creating it so will try again.
can i try memtest from a usb also?
edit; nm answered the memtest Q myself. will try the win7 iso, then memtest if no good and ill try the vid card too as per your first response

Jonathan_King · 27 Jul 2010

Yes, you were correct in your assumption about the repair disc vs install disc.

Yes, it is possible to use a USB drive for the memtest. See here: Memory Diagnostics