Antivirus Software Conflicts Caused Win 7 Problems & Startup Repair

win7user1023 · 13 Mar 2016

Hello Everyone,

I have experienced the standard 'Startup Repair' dialog after foolishly allowing an antivirus program try to install while another was already resident on my Win 7 PC. I then had screens either freeze or become unresponsive. I then did a hard shutdown and attempted a re-boot but now I am getting into the 'Startup Repair' loop; nothing gets accomplished. I have to admit that I cannot see any previous Restore Point on my system. I am a legitimate Win 7 user and I believe I have the actual Product Key but I cannot locate the original disc. I found a website which mentioned that I might be able to download a Win 7 ISO if I am a legit user and I have my key, but I am worried that a re-install may destroy my existing files and programs already installed.

Can someone please advise? Many thanks

indianacarnie · 13 Mar 2016

Yes, a total reinstall will wipe your files/programs. Can you boot into safe mode? If so, you could try deleting the A/V from there and run a sfc/scannow to possibly repair any broken system files. You don't have a system image I take it?

ThrashZone · 13 Mar 2016

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Which antivirus programs are you dealing with ?
All of them have special uninstallers
Here's a list that might not be up to date but will give you an idea
AV Uninstallers

win7user1023 · 14 Mar 2016

indianacarnie and ThrashZone,

Thank you both for your replies. No, I do not have a system image. Booting in Safe Mode was the first thing I thought of, but I can't seem to initiate it. Start Repair says it is attempting to repair but finally says it cannot repair the computer automatically. I then get a dialog which offers either a Send or Don't Send option. Clicking on 'Don't Send' will allow me some other options, but none of them resolve my situation. I can pull up the System Recovery Options dialog which includes about 5 options, including System Restore, but unfortunately I don't have a Restore Point. There is a Command Prompt option. Could I somehow issue a command to boot in Safe Mode from the Command Prompt?

I was using Avast when the Mcafee install unexpectedly initiated.

Anyone have any other ideas? Thx again to both of you!

ThrashZone · 14 Mar 2016

Hi,
First I would remove the battery if this is a laptop or unplug it if a desktop
Then hold down the power button for at least 45 seconds to power drain the system.
You can let it sit for a little longer like that or over night if no joy

Then power up and continuously tapping the the delete key or F12 or possibly even F10 key until you get to a black screen with white text
Then select safe mode with networking.
Use the uninstaller for which ever you want to get rid of after using windows uninstall a program.

AddRAM · 14 Mar 2016

You can copy and paste your files by booting to any version of Linux.

Don`t install it, just run it.

Zorin is my favorite, you just download the iso file, then burn to cd or dvd if it won`t fit on a cd, or a usb stick is even easier. Boot from it, when you have it up and running you can explore your hard drive.

Zorin OS - Home

Free ISO Burner

https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Once you have all your data and want to reinstall windows, download your version of windows from here and burn to dvd at no more then x4 speed, of course you`ll need a working PC with a dvd burner and a blank dvd.

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

Free ISO Burner

I find it hard to believe that if you had System Restore on, why do you then have no Restore Points.

You can also try to repair the bootloader with EasyBCD, it has to be installed on a usb stick or cd, just as Linux does.

EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies

win7user1023 · 15 Mar 2016

ThrashZone and AddRAM, thank you both for your replies.

ThrashZone, I did a power drain and then I tried booting by continuously tapping the F12, F10, F8, F2, and Del keys. No luck. The system always wants to go into the Start Repair process, which ends up being a dead-end, unless there is some kind of way of initiating a re-boot from the Command Prompt with a 'Safe Mode' option. Is there?

AddRAM, yes, I agree, I am extremely surprised that my system did not have a Restore Point. I did not actually say that I had 'System Restore' on, simply that Start Repair could not find any Restore Points. Could it be that when I experienced the conflict caused by the A/V programs and then tried to uninstall Avast that I may have lost any previously existing Restore Points?

In any case, your idea about creating a Linux ISO, doing the appropriate backup, then a Win 7 ISO seems very interesting. I am also very interested in the EasyBCD suggestion. By the way, do you have some idea of the sizes of these 3 files before I attempt the relevant download / burns. I do have one PC which might allow me to burn CD's. My largest Flash Drive is a 32 GB. I also have a USB-connect portable hard drive.

Many thanks again to both of you!