System Recovery Options does not fixit!

beecee · 23 May 2013

Hi.
I'm running Win 7x64 Pro. This installation has been going 'downhill' for the past 7 days. I managed a backup yesterday to a cloud service*, but feel I've that I’ve not finished! I know all the data has been preserved on the internal drive. I'd managed to boot up yesterday eventually but today I'm stuck in this loop. I cannot get past 'A disk read error occurred' Press Crtl Del which take me back.
In Advanced Boot Options whatever I try I end up above. The option F12 gives the options but again I end up back where I started! Or with the recovery disk it loads the files and so far I've tried all the options excluding Image Recovery which I don't have. I have a Repair Disk and the original Installation Disk. I know there must be an option I've not tried but I must admit I'm lost on this one so far. I've had many near death IT experiences so I'm not panicking. This, on this side of the pond we call it **** Law! . Does anyone have any suggestions?
Cheers BC
* my external drive packed the other week and the PC wouldn't recognise my wife's Seagate Free Agent grr! I purchased a Synology DS413j but due to illness & circumstances I've not had the opportunity to fully configure and run it!!

Dsprague · 23 May 2013

First things first have a look at this lovely tutorial written by one of our all stars: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

you may also want to run some hard drive diagnostics to check for a potentially failed/failing drive: Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

Lee · 23 May 2013

Another thing you could try is to boot into safe mode to see if you can determine your problem along with ensuring that all your data is saved in case you need to reinstall the OS.

essenbe · 23 May 2013

With a disk read error, I would run the bootable hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic tool. You may also find this helpful Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 or this Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery. I think that if none of these work, you are looking at the least a repair install (Repair Install) If not a clean install. I was just where you are last week. I decided it was easier and quicker to do a clean install than spending the time to "chase the rabbit". You can spend more time trying to find the problem then trying to fix it than it would take to just do a clean install. And you are starting over with a good fresh install where you know everything is exactly right. But, in light of your error message I would check the hard drive before doing anything else other than making sure you have recovered all your personal data. Just my 2 cents.

gregrocker · 23 May 2013

The steps in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start will show you everything possible that can be done, leading up to if necessary rescuiing your files to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

I'd start with running a few Startup Repairs from the Win7 DVD System Recovery Options, which should offer to System Restore. If not run that manually from the Options List.

Report back the results and we'll help you further.

beecee · 24 May 2013

Hi Everyone
Many thanks for all you suggestions. I am resigned that a full reinstallation is required but before I proceed in wiping the hard drive I wish/intend to recover the data on the hard drive as the issue is the OS and the data/HD* is fine. If I have to I'll borrow an HD caddy extract the date first, but various reasons I'd prefer to try and boot up first, so I'll attempt the suggestions that are in the link that Dsprague sent as these may help me to the 'promised land' but I'm open to any other suggestions!
Cheers BC
* its a relatively new one

gregrocker · 24 May 2013

Step 10 in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start provides several methods if necessary to rescue your files using the Win7 DVD or Repair CD to Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console, or use Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free boot disk.

Then follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7