Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge E73 fails to boot [winload.exe]

Hi,

Yesterday I received my Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge E73 and the first thing I did was update my Windows 7 professional. However, after it had rebooted about 3 times it froze on the 'loading windows' screen.

After a reboot, the startup repair launched and was restoring to a previous state. The pc rebooted and tried to do a CHKDSK but it failed and loaded the welcomescreen but froze with the message that winload.exe was damaged. Knowing about the system recovery partition I booted it at start and selected the option to restore the whole pc to factory state. Unfortunately, this happened.

I tried using a retail windows 7 pro-disc to repair the computer since the recovery partition shortcut (f11) didn't work anymore. However, it didn't even recognize that the old windows was there, untill I looked at the partition manager.

It seems the recovery partition is still intact but I can't boot to it anymore. Will it work if i delete the old windows7_os partition or do I have to do anything else? The bios is setup to start from the harddisk.

Thanks in advance,
Joeri

If this is a new PC then you have Lenovo Tech support for a year requiring they repair or replace the PC. So at any time you can pitch it to them or seek their assist on repairs so that you are better positioned to get it RMA'd if required. They may also ship you Recovery Disks so that you can try Recovery by disk. Sometimes wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean Command will cause the disks to run, or enable the superior Clean Reinstall if it is likewise blocked.

First I would test the hard drive using the bootable HD Diagnostic CD test from Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start . Lenovo should have suites of diagnostics tools on the PC's Support Downloads webpage but these may not be bootable.

Use the Win7 installation media for your licensed version provided in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to boot into System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair a few times. It should offer System Restore, but if not run that from the System Recovery Options .

If that doesn't help everything possible that can be done to start Win7 is in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start leading up to if necessary doing the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. I have just done one myself on a Lenovo G500 with much better performance, only reimporting afterwards the Battery optimizing software to extend battery life by keeping it charged only to 60% when on A/C power, and one or two drivers not provided during repeat rounds of Important and Optiona Windows Updates.

hello
Same problem here with brand new lenovo ThinkCenter E73, after reboot, chkdsk is triggered and finds corrupted files or invalid ids. No repair possible, only factory restore fixes the problem for a few days and it fails again.

Bios updaded to latest
Memtest86+ run -> OK
Seatools DOS on disk long test -> OK
smart parameters disk checked -> OK
etc etc no hardware problems were found.

Found people with same problem on lenovo community forum, you will find the thread by googling this:
ThinkCenter E73 fatal chkdsk on normal reboot
Our E73 also uses a seagate 500go disk, it is possible that these disks have à flush cache problem and not compatible with powergood signal from MB and PSU. We will try to use an other brand of disk to see if it resolves the problem.
As the machine is under warranty, lenovo was contacted and wanted to change the MB. Not sure this will fix the problem.
If you have more information or find a resolution for this problem, please advice.

madeinchina,
France

Download Seagate Seatools,

burn to CD with Windows Image Burner

Boot disk to run Extended CD scan.

Follow that with a full Disk Check.

This will determine if you should replace the HD.

If so do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Hello
Thanks for posting, yes all these tests have already been made as stated in my previous post. All return à zero code or no error. Idem for sfc/scannow. Lenovo must provide à resolution as many of thes E73 present these annoying problems ! (this one is a 10AU 003F FR model SFF)

Have you completed all of the steps in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start?
Everything possible that can be done to start Win7 is compiled there.

If so then the final step is to do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. If you stick with the steps closely, you'll know for sure that the problem is not in the software since it provides a perfect Win7 install. Stretching out the wait time between each of the actual install steps and setup to test performance between each can be viewed as a diagnostic install for this purpose.

Machine has been OEM and FACTORY re-imaged three times , no weird programs only WHQL drivers. After 2 or 3 reboots, chkdsk runs during hours and hundred of file security-id are replaced and sometimes win does not start because of files corrupted or not found. Evt logs don't say much about the problem.
Looks like the machine was stopped by hard reset or no more power mains but this is never the case.

Have you tried the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?