Windows boots to desktop with no icons, no taskbar

I am working on a family member's Dell (Model P02E) laptop. I believe it is running Windows 7 Home premium.

It has started booting to a Windows Error Recovery screen showing the following message:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware of software change might be the cause.

If Windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, Startup Repair can helop diagnose and fix the problem. If power was interrupted during startup, choose Start Windows N.
Normally

Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally

If I select Start Windows Normally, the computer hangs at the Starting Windows screen for a minute, then the system reboots, and I end up at the same Error Recovery screen.

If I select Launch Startup Repair, the computer boots to what looks like a desktop with no icons, no taskbar, only a large cursor. The wallpaper is the generic windows Windows 7 wallpaper, mostly blue with the white silhouette of a bird.

The display appears to be in VGA - 670 x 480.

Keyboard commands (Win + R, CTRL+ALT+DEL, for example) do nothing.

Right clicking on the desktop gives me no menu.

Attempting to boot into safe mode brings me to the same screen.

Booting from a Windows 7 install CD and selecting Repair your computer (after selecting Language etc)brings me to the same screen I see when trying to Launch Startup Repair.

I tried connecting the laptop to various displays using the HDMI out and the VGA out with the same results.

It seems like the display is not showing everything, like the Startup Recovery Options are there, but off screen or invisible.

Looking forward to hearing any suggestions on how to proceed.

Boot in safe mode (F8) and then run CMD and type:
chkdsk c: /f It will ask if you want to schedule a chec disk next boot. - Yes
If it finds bad cluster or bad blocks, you have to replace the HDD (then buy a SSD).

If it don't find bad cluster or bad blocks, boot in safe mode (F8) and then run CMD and type:
sfc /scannow

Unfortunately, as stated in my OP, safe mode is not working either.

Boot from win 7 installation disk - go to repair - CMD and type:
chkdsk c: /f

If you don't have a installation disk, download a iso from here:
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

Then burn a DVD or With Rufus make a USB flash installation disk.
https://rufus.akeo.ie/downloads/rufus-2.11p.exe

As stated in my OP"

Booting from a Windows 7 install CD and selecting Repair your computer (after selecting Language etc)brings me to the same screen I see when trying to Launch Startup Repair.

I cannot get to Safe Mode
I cannot get to Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
I cannot get to the Windows Repair using a boot disc.

Immediately on booting hit F8
can you select Advanced Troubleshooting
IF SO
select Last Known good
from Dell
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...mg1bXsPnYygpKA

Roy

torchwood,

Attempting to boot to last known good configuration brings me back to the same blank screen

Here is a picture of what I am getting:

It is that screen WITHOUT the System Recovery Options.
Keyboard shortcuts do not work.
right mouse click does not work - no context menu

JT

I suppose system restore defaults back as well??

Roy

and i would try a bios reset
BIOS Recovery 2 options on a Dell PC or Tablet | Dell US

Roy

I can't even get to the option to try system restore, the screen I get is as above with no menu displayed, only the blue background and that stupid bird

I checked the BIOS as requested. Unfortunately the BIOS does not support BIOS recovery 2.

I did go through the BIOS settings anyway, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

I selected Restore BIOS defaults option and rebooted - no change, still boots to the blank blue wallpaper when booting from hard drive.

When booting from the Windows 7 disc, I get the screen that prompts me to enter my language and region. I click Next and get the Install screen. I select the Repair link and end up at the same blue wallpaper.