Solved Win 7 - Not booting up - Letter J Displayed

nitinpai81 · May 6, 2012

In continuation from the following thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/209487-help-windows-7-not-booting-up-letter-j.html

Hi! I was trying to make a bootable Windows 7 USB using WinToFlash. The application requested some information and then proceeded to copy data onto the USB drive. Before completion the system restarted and did not boot up - after the enter BIOS setup option, the letter 'J' is flashed on the top left of the black screen. Nothing happens beyond this point.

- I've tried restarting a multiple times but the same result.
- I've tried booting from the DVD drive by making use of the Windows installtion disks but the setup fails of recognize any Windows installation or even the harddisk.

Could you please help? Should I try to intalled a driver so Windows setup can recognize the harddisk?

My configuration is as under-

HP ProBook 4420s
Windows 7 (installed from a DVD)

Thanks!

nitinpai81 · May 6, 2012

@sibbil: As suggested I'm trying to restore the MBR.

When I got into diskpart, my harddisk is being displayed as of type RAW and as a single partition. I had originally created 5 partitions on the same.

When I ran the command 'bootsect /nt60 / SYS /mbr' the following messages were dispayed-

C: (\\?\..... <<-- Volume information, omitted here

Could not open the volume root directory:
The parameter is incorrect.

\Device\Harddisk0\DR0
Successfully updated disk bootcode.

Bootcode was updated on atleast one volume.

I'll also try the Bootrec.exe command and post an update. Thanks!

nitinpai81 · May 6, 2012

I tried to restore the MBR using the instructions from http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

Now on restarting the system, the letter J is no longer displayed, instead 'Missing Operating System' is being displayed.

F5ing · May 6, 2012

Now follow: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

By the way, these tutorials are brought to you by various members of the forum, so thanks should go to them...

nitinpai81 · May 6, 2012

On running Startup Repair, it attempts to resolve the issue then throws up teh message "Startup Repair cannot repair the computer automatically". The diagnostic information is as under-

ProblemEventName: StartupRepairOffline
ProblemSignature01: 0.0.0.0
ProblemSignature02: 0.0.0.0
ProblemSignature03: unknown
ProblemSignature04: 0
ProblemSignature05: unknown
ProblemSignature06: 1
ProblemSignature07: unknown
OSVersion:6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1

nitinpai81 · May 6, 2012

Additional log from Startup Repair:

SystemDisk = \Device\Harddisk0
Windows Directory =
Number of root causes = 1

Tests Performed
Name: Check for updates
Result: Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Tests Performed
Name: System Disk Test
Result:Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Tests Performed
Name

isk failure Diagnosis
Result:Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Tests Performed
Name

isk Metadata Test
Result:Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Root Case Found: Boot sector for system disk partition is corrupt.
Repair Action: Boot sector repair
Result: Failed
Error Code: 0x490

F5ing · May 6, 2012

Did you try it multiple times, as stated in the tutorial?

nitinpai81 · May 6, 2012

Yes - tried it thrice. Each time the diagnostic information was identical to what is mentioned above.

Now on booting up, the 'Missing Operating System' message is gone instead the cursor just blinks on a black screen. On hitting any button there is a flash of text which includes the following-

Realtek Controller
PXE-E61:Media Test Failed. Check cable.

Followed by-
Non System disk or disk error

F5ing · May 6, 2012

Those last messages you posted are the machine not finding boot media.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

seavixen32 · May 6, 2012

Have a look at this excellent tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

writhziden · May 6, 2012

I second the tutorial [URL="http://www.sevenforums.com/member.php?u=148758"]seavixen32[/URL] linked to. That has helped many people already. Thank you for posting that, Andrew.

Also, Greg responded in the other thread in Post #17. I would recommend taking a look at his suggestions there, as well. Please respond in this thread to his suggestions, and I'll make sure he is aware of the steps taken.

Thanks.

-Mike

nitinpai81 · May 7, 2012

The issue has been resolved. This is the sequence of steps that I had followed-

1. Created a bootable USB following the steps outlined at
Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive) » www.hiren.info

2. Copied all the applications from Hiren's CD onto the USB
Hiren's BootCD 15.1 - All in one Bootable CD » www.hiren.info

3. Booted the troubled system into Mini XP using the bootable USB

4. Used Partition Wizard (bundled into Hiren's CD) to recover the partitions

5. Ran Win 7 installation DVD's Startup Repair twice to restore/fix the boot sector

The system is now back to normalacy with all the data intact.

Thanks sibbil, writhziden, seavixen32, greg and all others who have contributed to this forum for your help!

writhziden · May 7, 2012

Excellent troubleshooting! Glad it is working again.

ManjunathNayak · Jun 17, 2012

Thanks a lot Nitin, I was also facing the same issue. Your post helped me a lot.

Thanks,
Manjunath Nayak

anuraag · Jul 12, 2012

thnx brotha...
vry useful & easily xplained by you...
u saved my 500 bucks local cmptr guy charges:drool::busted:

mohanlink · Nov 17, 2012

thanks dude, u save my harddisk partition, I faced same problem before, I made Novicorp WintoFlash to make bootable USB Drive. Suddenly after do restart, the letter J was appear. But now, my hardisk is come back from 1 merged partition to 6 partition again with Hiren's 15.2

and I can't believe, so miraculously, all back to normal and intact!!

shubham maurya · Jan 11, 2013

nitinpai81 said:
The issue has been resolved. This is the sequence of steps that I had followed-

1. Created a bootable USB following the steps outlined at
Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive) » www.hiren.info

2. Copied all the applications from Hiren's CD onto the USB
Hiren's BootCD 15.1 - All in one Bootable CD » www.hiren.info

3. Booted the troubled system into Mini XP using the bootable USB

4. Used Partition Wizard (bundled into Hiren's CD) to recover the partitions

5. Ran Win 7 installation DVD's Startup Repair twice to restore/fix the boot sector

The system is now back to normalacy with all the data intact.

Thanks sibbil, writhziden, seavixen32, greg and all others who have contributed to this forum for your help!

AS you have written the solution i have downloaded the software hiren 15.2 but i dont what to do further.. please explain the steps or anyone else who has tried it please explain the steps.I am in a great worry because of my data in other partion please help fast.. :cry:

Soulkid · Apr 11, 2013

Could you please explain step 3 "mini xp" and step 5 running the startup Repair, can I use any Win 7 Installation DVD even if its not the same as my installed OS which is Win 7 Ultimate 32bit.

ManjunathNayak · Apr 12, 2013

Hi Shubham Maurya,
From your post I am assuming you are not able to figure out what to do
after downloading the Hirens software (an ISO file).
Hirens Part--
01] If you have CD/DVD writer, burn/write that ISO file on a CD/DVD.
02] Boot your system with CD/DVD and select "mini XP" from the menu.
03] Once you get "mini XP" screen, you may find a command window icon on the screen
or check it in the menu.
04] Run the command promt and go to "~\Programs\" folder and run "PartitionWizard.cmd"
to start "PartitionWizard" program.
05] In "PartitionWizard" program, on the left column you will find "operation" column;
under that you get "Partition Recovery" operation.
06] Use that to get your partitions back.

Windows 7 DVD part-
Once above steps are completed follow these
01] Restart your system with "Windows 7" DVD.
02] "Windows 7" will let you repair the existing OS.
03] You should be able log into your "windows 7" with all data intact.

Rosebiddy · Jun 19, 2016

Yesterday this same problem occurred on my PC of "Windows 7 does not boot up, and the screen only displays letter J."

I only have a Mac to read and follow the repair directions posted earlier. Can I make a "Hiren's bootable USB" on my Mac? If yes, can anyone help with directions to do so? I've already made the BootCD with all the files to copy, but it looks like the USB needs special formatting to be made bootable.

If you can help, please make the instructions rather basic, as I am your grandmother's age and don't know all the acronyms and shortcuts. Thank you!

As an alternative, can't I just boot from the CD? Do I need to hold down a key while doing so, so that it boots from it?

Solved Win 7 - Not booting up - Letter J Displayed

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