PC won't boot. Help needed please!

martinlest · 16 Dec 2010

My new Win7 PC was fine yesterday - today it won't boot. Startup Repair has run 8 times now and it concludes that it cannot repair startup. I have run System Restore from within Advanced Repair options to put the PC back to a time I knew it was working - which has made no difference. Also ran the Memory diagnostic but it didn't report any errors (not of course that I can get into Windows to see the log file it supposedly created).

When I try to boot into Windows, I get the usual M/B splash screens (and now - I don't think this came up before - 'Loading Asus Express gate') and then the 'Starting Windows' message and then a quick flash of a 'Blue Screen of Death' (far too fast to read anything) before the system shuts down and restarts the Startup Repair screen. Not sure how (or if) I can change the restart options in the BIOS so that the blue screen remains on screen (Asus P6X58DE M/B).

Starting Win7 in Safe Mode also gives a blue screen...

As far as I can see, unlike in XP there is no way to run a Windows 7 repair from the CD-ROM. Is my only option to reinstall Windows (and therefore waste the three weeks I have spent setting the PC up as I want it?). Or can anyone see any other ways forward before I do this?

I can boot using a BartPE XP disc, but that hasn't been much help..

Thanks,

Martin

1Bowtie · 16 Dec 2010

Maybe it doesn't like the overclock, if you have the Windows Home Premium dvd you can do a repair install, all your programs and data stay intact. Just a couple suggestions that might work

gregrocker · 16 Dec 2010

Make sure either the 100mb System Reserved boot partition or the Win7 partition itself are marked Active before running Startup Repair. Unplug your other HD's.

I would use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to do this as you get a picture of your HD's (post a camera snap back if you can) and it has a new Rebuild MBR function that may itself start it: Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

Or you can mark Active using DIskpart from Install DVD or Repair CD:
Partition - Mark as Active
System Repair Disc - Create

Then run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to repair or rewrite the System MBR, first trying the 100mb SysReserved boot partition if you have it, then the Win7 partition itself: Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

If you have the 100mb SysReserved boot partition, it places the Repair console found on the DVD and Repair CD also on the Advanced Boot Tools menu accessed by tapping F8 at bootup. So try to repair marking it Active first before Repairs, then Win7 partition.

You can copy out your files with DVD or Repair CD using this method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Prof Kerfuffle · 16 Dec 2010

Hi,
The ram option may not work and the Ubuntu is a last option to try restore your data before reinstalling

I have had start up issues on my computer before. Try taking some ram out of the system, it stopped my bsod's, I just rearranged them. (Worth a try)

Can you remember what you last installed?

"To get your files run Ubuntu. Don't install it run it and copy your wanted files to an external storage facility."

Sorry if this is no help

martinlest · 16 Dec 2010

I'll have a look tomorrow at all this - thanks. meanwhile, I note that when I start towards a reinstall of Windows 7 from the original disc (but stopping short of actually reinstalling!) I see that all my partition letters are completely rearranged - Windows was on C:\ of course, now according to the list of partitions shown before you decide to reinstall, it is on G:\ - I don't remember if that is normal when you are running the system from the Windows installation disc - or is that a possible source of my problems? No boot.ini file in Win7 so I am lost.

Part of the difficulty is that I knew XP like the back of my hand (well, pretty much) but I haven't found my way around 'under the bonnet' of Windows 7 yet. There seems to be no option to repair the Windows installtion indeed, here it states "You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7, you cannot do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.":

Repair Install

My data, like My Documents was on a different partition and everything else was pretty much backed up, but of course I am going to lose all my installed programmes (took me 3 weeks to set them up, what with games etc.) if I have to delete Windows and start again. I did back up the Windows (C) drive with DriveXML about a week ago - but I never tested restoring the boot partition before..

M

1Bowtie · 16 Dec 2010

Just a caution if you decide to do a clean install, unplug all hdd's except the one you want to install too

wpurcell · 16 Dec 2010

Just a thought. Did you try this: Shut off the computer, then unplug it. Press the power button to "purge" any current. Wait 5 minutes or so, plug it back in, and try to boot it up. This has worked for me in the past, although I haven't had this problem in quite some time.

gregrocker · 16 Dec 2010

martinlest said:

I note that when I start towards a reinstall of Windows 7 from the original disc (but stopping short of actually reinstalling!) I see that all my partition letters are completely rearranged - Windows was on C:\ of course, now according to the list of partitions shown before you decide to reinstall, it is on G:\ - I don't remember if that is normal when you are running the system from the Windows installation disc - or is that a possible source of my problems?

Boot the Win7 DVD, press Shift + F10 at first screen to open a Command Line, type:
DISKPART
list vol

Confirm the Win7 partition's present letter.

If it has changed, boot free Paragon Rescue CD, select Normal Mode , then Boot Corrector.

Correct drive letters in the system registry.

martinlest said:

I did back up the Windows (C) drive with DriveXML about a week ago - but I never tested restoring the boot partition before..

See Perform a Complete System Restore with DriveXML here: http://lifehacker.com/326086/hot-ima...driveimage-xml

SIW2 · 16 Dec 2010

I would restore the image you made with DXML.

martinlest · 17 Dec 2010

Shutting down the PC in the way you suggested wpurcell didn't help I'm afraid.

I ran Diskpart from the advanced repair options (Command Prompt). It shows my four drives - and the boot drive has two partitions, Windows and the 100MB System Reserved section, which latter I marked as active (as per link you gave gregrocker).

I have run the startup repair four times (between each, when I reboot the PC tries to start normally and I get the blue screen and then it reboots with the Startup Repair option - not sure if that is how it is supposed to be. I always get the same 'cannot repair this computer automatically' result.

I made a video of the normal startup process so that I was able to see on my laptop what the blue screen error says. The only information is:

STOP: 0x0000007B (0xFFFFF88000y

at which point the screen goes black. I see that 0x0000007B shows "Inacessible Boot Device" but I think I gathered that much.

I suspect I am going to end up having to reinstall Windows afresh. Why would I need to disconnect the other drives if I am sure I am installing to the correct one (it does say 'Windows' - the label I gave it). I could do without having to haul my PC out from its niche and opening it up, unless it is really necessary....

Do I now have to go back and mark the Windows partition of the boot drive as active?

Thanks again,

Martin