Boot Issue After 1/13/15 MS Updates

jamis · 06 Feb 2015

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I'm not sure where it should go. I noticed this problem shortly after applying the 01/13/15 Updates. Sometimes the system boots OK all the way to the logon screen, but other times it doesn't. The problem begins when the "Windows Starting" message is displayed and then, instead of the four pane window coelecsing into focus, the display goes blank. When this happens, the system continues to load everything, but the logon screen will never display and the monitor stays black and powered on. If you turn the monitor off and back on, it will display the logon screen. Sometimes it takes three off/on cycles to get the wallpaper and desktop displayed. Once this is accomplished, things work fine for the rest of the session. I have checked the drivers for the monitor and the graphics card and both are current. I ran the troubleshooting routines for both with no issues. I have not started down the road of deleting individual updates to see if that corrects things. I wondered if there was/were setting(s) that might have gotten changed that I don't know about before attacking the updates. Nothing else has been changed on this PC since the 01/13/15 updates.

gregrocker · 06 Feb 2015

Run a few Startup Repairs to check over the boot files. If this fails to correct the problem, check for System Restore points before the problem arose. In the rare case of Updates malfunction with failure to boot you can System restore from System Recovery Options

But we need to see your configuration to make sure the correct partition is still marked Active. So please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

jamis · 07 Feb 2015

I ran Startup Repair three separate times with two passes each time. There were no issues reported in the logs from each run. System still has a random issue on boot up. Here is the Disk Management Snip:

gregrocker · 07 Feb 2015

E should not be marked Active. Only the System partition should be marked Active. Mark it inactive now: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums

What is the 14 gb empty partition shown? Assign it a letter in Disk Mgmt, rightclick to Explore and post back a screenshot of its contents. Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums.

I'd do the same with the OEM partition. We shouldn't want mystery partitions cluttering hard drives.

jamis · 08 Feb 2015

I was able to make Drive E not active.

I only get a Delete Volume prompt for the 14.18 GB partition on the C drive.

I only get a Help option on the 4.81 GB OEM partition on the E drive.

Making the E drive not active did nothing for the primary problem. I attempted to do a long format on the drive as well as a drive wipe with CCleaner. Long format shows 228.07 GB, but CCleaner shows 233.55 GB, so I'm going to let CCleaner wipe the drive. It's just a System Image back up and I have two more on removable 500 GB USB hard drives drives.

I have noticed a pattern to this boot up problem. If the system is power on booted immediately after a shut down or with a restart, it will come up to the logon screen fine. If the system is started after being shut down overnight or several hours, it may lose the display as detailed in the original post. After drive E is cleared, I'll see if it was contributing to the problem. Thanks in advance for the assistance.

gregrocker · 08 Feb 2015

You can test this by unplugging the other hard drive. Also, the only wipe needed pertains to possible boot code which is quick Diskpart Clean Command.

The 14gb is likely the Recovery partition if you never wiped DISK0 to do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7, while the smaller OEM partition must be left over from another factory install.

jamis · 09 Feb 2015

The E drive was originally the C drive in previous XP system. I put it in this system to transfer files and programs from the old unit to the new. I then formatted it to use as a System Image backup drive. CCleaner wiped all 233.55 GB, but the OEM partition remains when viewed with diskmgmt, and it still can't be removed. So drive E is now empty. I'll see if the system still has the original issue tomorrow (and I think it will).

gregrocker · 09 Feb 2015

CCleaner only wipes drive space within the partition so it's not really useful since the main benefit of a wipe in this and most other cases is to clear the partition table and any boot code off the disk.

Again, you'd use Diskpart Clean Command to wipe the hard drive of all partitions and boot code which could be interfering.

jamis · 10 Feb 2015

Drive E has been completely cleaned and reformatted. The problem still remains. "Cold" boots (where the system has been powered down for a few hours) will almost always fail with the display going blank after the "Starting Windows" message. "Warm" boots (where the system is restarted or shutdown and immediately booted) will work. I'm going to take it back to before the 1/13/15 updates and see what happens.

Note that the graphics card on this system is pretty "old". This is the third tower it's been in. It was in two XP Pro systems prior and it has been in this one since 2012. It is "working correctly" according to Windows and the driver is current. It worked fine prior to the 1/13/15 updates.

jamis · 10 Feb 2015

After removing all of the 1/13/15 updates, the song remains the same. At least after one "cold" boot.
1. After the "Starting Windows" display, the monitor goes black.
2. Wait a few seconds, power off the monitor, power it back on, and get the log on screen.
3. Immediately click a user and the display goes black again.
4. Power the monitor off/on and get the desktop.
5. Select an icon and the screen goes black.
6. Power off/on and get the screen for the selected application.

I'll keep watch on this issue and see if the pattern changes. I checked all connections for the graphics card and monitor and they are good and tight. I did not pull the card and re-seat it though. Again, no issues with this system once it's up and running.