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Windows 7 won't boot. Nothing added to system.
Windows 7 Ultimate won't boot anymore. I shut it down normally last night and this morning Windows won't boot. I didn't add any new hardware or software.
The drive functions fine if connected to another machine as an extra drive but I can't boot from it. I know there are certain hidden files windows needs to boot and I'm thinking one of those has likely gotten corrupted.
I don't have the experience to know what those files are specifically and I was hoping someone out there would be willing to share their knowledge & expeience with me.
Chronologically what happens is
machine boots
says windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
Lists two options
Launch Staretup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally
Startup Repair fails says
"Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically
"If you have recently attached a device to this computer, such as a camera or portable music player, remove it and restart your computer blah blah blah and on it goes.
It says Click Finish to exit and shut down your computer.
System restore says there are "No restore points have been created on your computer's system drive."
i checked the memory and it's fine.
Launching Windows normally there is actually a BSOD but i can't read anything that displays because my system reboots immediately. When i comes up again it says
"reboot and Select proper Boot device
or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key"
So my machine is trying a different drive on reboot but if I force it to use the Windows drive it's a repeat of the above.
I do have an earier clone of this drive that does work (It's just an earlier version) so I have a copy of any files windows needs if someone could help me know what files windows needs.
BTW using the cloned drive of Windows works and all the same hardware is connected so I'm thinking I can eliminate any of the hardware connected to this system as the cause of this issue.
Last edited by KT888; 08 Aug 2017 at 17:28. Reason: Additional Information