Windows 7 broken: can no longer log in...

Kaktussoft said:

have to go now.

OK, thanks a bunch for your thorough help

Scanned C: disk with AVG Rescue Disk:
- no infections, no PUPs, no files healed, no errors,
- just 4 warnings, of which one telling that it sees \windows\system32\migration\shmig.dll as corrupted

As AVG RD is running under Linux, that's very likely that it does not follow junctions, so I also scanned "E:\Program Files" (corresponding to the "C:\Program FIles" junction):
- no infections, no PUPs, no files healed, no errors, no warnings.

OK, Kaktussoft ;-) , I will follow now your preferred option, ie. system restore once again with an earlier restore point.

Hi Greg,

Sorry for not having mentioned your suggestions... Anyway I read them, and looked at the references you suggested, most of them were already done. Though I'll go back to what I didn't do yet once I'll be sure that the System Restore option is not successful.

gregrocker said:

Guess you don't want any other help.

Help is always welcome, as said I will follow your procedure if System Restore fails. Trying to do it currently, will let you know...

Thanks for your help

TerDale said:

Hi Greg,

Sorry for not having mentioned your suggestions... Anyway I read them, and looked at the references you suggested, most of them were already done. Though I'll go back to what I didn't do yet once I'll be sure that the System Restore option is not successful.

gregrocker said:

Guess you don't want any other help.

Help is always welcome, as said I will follow your procedure if System Restore fails. Trying to do it currently, will let you know...

Thanks for your help

Good evening in France! TerDale,

Had to go to bed last night about the same time you were asking for assistance. I see now the time was 1AM, my time. You have really been at it! The steps Greg offered is very good advice. Try that and get back to us once your done.

QuickDraw

So... couldn't restore any of the 3 restore points I tried to, each time I'm told that one of the file couldn't be restored and that the Restore Point is damaged...

2 loooong days trying tons of things without success, I'm very tired and fed up. As I'm at work, yes this is my professional PC that is broken, I will give up for now, and go back home for the week-end.

I'll try to get back to Greg's procedure and recommendations on Monday.

Anyway, thanks to all of you 3 guys that helped me: Kaktussoft, Greg & QuickDraw.

I'll let you know about next steps on next Monday...

Finally, I had to give up, as I already lost 2 full work days trying to fix my Windows.... not counting what I'll need to get back a working workstation.

Just for the sake of completeness, the last issue I faced Friday night was the fact that the PC refused to be turned back on for around 15 minutes. So, I first thought the power block (sorry don't know if this is the correct expression) was out of order, but it was again possible to restart my PC after those 15 min.
So, as I didn't find any significant malware with both MS System Sweeper and AVG Rescue Disk, I'm now wondering if the crash that broke my system couldn't have been related to an HW issue (ie. power block stopping unexpectedly) at the time the disk was written...

Anyway, I have to get back to my actual work shortly, so I had no other alternative as taking an older PC and reinstalling it with W7.

Thanks again for your support.

Though not actually solved, as giving up, I mark this thread as such.

You can test your hardware to be certain as given in Info block here: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Forums

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

TerDale said:

Though not actually solved, as giving up, I mark this thread as such.

Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. Been tired up elsewhere.

Greg has posted an excellent solution for your issue.

Good luck!

Let us know if you have any future need for assistance.

QuickDraw