Win 7 Stuck on Starting Windows Screen

So my wife's computer suddenly refuses to boot, and hangs on the Starting Windows screen. Have tried a number of things found in threads on various sites:

I CAN boot into Safe Mode w/ Networking. Ran MalwareBytes, Windows Defender and Spybot S&D. No issues found.

Ran System File Checker tool (SFC) - found no issues

Tried to Repair function -- no issues

Tried to restore back to a couple of system restore points from the last 2 weeks (she shuts down every day or two, so thought that at least would have worked). No help.

Tried to do a Clean Boot (only Microsoft Services enabled). Still hanging...

Tried Last known good configuration from the F8 startup menu... No luck...

What next??? Any help appreciated!

You'd need to be able to boot into Win7 to run a Repair Install. Please confirm you cannot do so because you refer to trying a Clean Boot but this would have to be done from the OS. So can you boot at all?

Confirm that 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or C partition is Partition Marked Active then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times. Try all repairs from the installation media or System Repair Disk and not F8 System Recovery Options which can be corrupted. Try the rest of your Restore points from there.

If these all fail then everything possible that can be done is compiled here for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start leading up to if necessary rescuiing any files to do a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. You should not fear this because you'll end up with a better install than 99% of owners out there as long as you stick closely to the steps given. If you do this then be sure to read the Special Note for Dell Owners at end of tutorial.

I would run the Dell Diagnostics now from F12 key menu at boot, to confirm hardware is sound. If it runs then leave only the Dell OEM partition during the booted reinstall, since Recovery will not run after reinstall anyway and deleting the OS partitions gives a cleaner install.

I CAN NOT boot into Win7 cleanly. It hangs at STARTING WINDOWS when booting.

I CAN boot in through Safe Mode. That is the only thing that seems to work.

This is an HP laptop -- it did not come with any disks (as it did not come with a disk drive). There is a D:\ (Recovery) drive. I believe it is Win7 Home Edition. We did buy an external DVD drive that I can plug in

I do have a desktop, where I have a Win7 Ulitmate disks (32 and 64 bit).

Try to re-install Windows. Maybe that should work.

Am trying to avoid reinstalling windows, so I don't have to reinstall everything, and worry about lost files..

You could try copying the important files onto another hard drive then reinstal windows. Then copy the files from the hard drive back to the pc. But you have to install the applications again so i recomend install the important ones. Sorry for my bad english...

Am hoping to find a way to fix without reinstalling windows. I figure that is the last resort.

Am able to boot into Safe Mode w/ Networking as well as Safe Mode w/ Command Line.

It is an HPEnvy w/ Win 7 Home Premium. Let me know what specs you want and I can provide.