Win 7 will not boot fully.

Hi everyone!

I have this problem.

On a Dell Desktop, Athlon II, 6GB, Windows 7 64-bit Home did this.
After about a month of the computer not being used, upon the startup, it will get to the Background screen but will not bring in icons etc.


1. Will boot in safe mode.
2. Tried:

Restores, to various points. No success.
Startup repair. No success.
Msconfig in various (basic etc) configurations. No success - will not boot just the same.
3. Upon running Chkdsk (scheduled upon reboot) there were errors, fixed. No effect.
4. several times, using Hibernation by pressing Power button, and then getting out of it, I got to the screen which is I think the "logoff" screen. It said "user such and such is logged in". It had the user's icon shown. (there is only one user). Upon pressing on the icon the Windows fully booted.
This happened, not reliably (meaning getting to the Logoff screen) about three times.
5. Similarly, after running the hardware diags from Utilities Bootup, when exiting the diags, it booted to the Logoff screen and upon pressing on the icon booted up.
6. I added a second user hoping I could get to the User choice/login screen. It does not get to it.

Ideas?

Work through the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start which try everything possible to start the OS leading up to rescuiing your files to run Dell Windows 7 PC Restore or do the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Dell has a built-in suite of diagnostics which I would run first to check over the hardware closely. These are very valuable tests which will replace many steps required for hardware testing. Boot it by tapping the F12 key at boot, selecting Diagnostics. Once those run, boot back into F12 to check for Utility Partition which may have an ever more extensive diagnostics suite to run.

Matt

Thanks, will try tonight.


Greg,

Tried everything diagnostic-wise and built-in repair (the menu with image restore, startup repair etc). I tried everything short of image restore as it will format the drive and I want to keep the account as intact as possible.

What were the results of Malwarebytes scan run in Safe Mode with Networking?

Then run SFC /SCANNOW Command .

Next try System Restore to your earliest restore point. Then continue with Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

You ran the full Dell Diagnostics via F12 key at boot? What did it test exactly? I was not referring to System Recovery Options.

Did not scan with Malwarebytes yet.

yes I ran full diags of everything F12 offers.
It tested hardware and memory.

Catch up with all the steps given and report back results. Then there will be other steps.

Matt

thanks, I will try many things tonight this included.

But:

Short of malwarebytes (which I do have installed) I tried all of that.
Bootrec.exe included.
Multiple startup repairs with reboots in between.
Whole 9 yards.

I am not sure what that once in a while thing with Login screen after hibernation, after which all works.
But...let's try things first. I am sure will take me a few days.....