Help: Windows won't load in safe mode or restore

[lmsc12]

Not the best with computers/software so I do apologise!

I have a Sony Vaio which runs on windows 7 (don't know if it's 32 or 64?). I don't have any back up discs.

I've read other threads on this issue but can't seem to make sense on how to fix the problem or if I can fix it at all.

Computer started doing windows updates, when I turned the laptop on the next day it won't boot up normally or in safe mode. If I click on repair computer it scans and goes through the process but in the end it just takes me back to the same screen.

I've tried to restore and I have several points come up in the list but it says beside them enable system protection for this (C Drive).

The only option I have is to put it back to factory settings which I would really like to avoid as I don't want to loose all my files. I have some of them on USB but not all.

Can anyone help?

 

[bigmck]

Not the best with computers/software so I do apologise!

I have a Sony Vaio which runs on windows 7 (don't know if it's 32 or 64?). I don't have any back up discs.

I've read other threads on this issue but can't seem to make sense on how to fix the problem or if I can fix it at all.

Computer started doing windows updates, when I turned the laptop on the next day it won't boot up normally or in safe mode. If I click on repair computer it scans and goes through the process but in the end it just takes me back to the same screen.

I've tried to restore and I have several points come up in the list but it says beside them enable system protection for this (C Drive).

The only option I have is to put it back to factory settings which I would really like to avoid as I don't want to loose all my files. I have some of them on USB but not all.

Can anyone help?

Welcome to SevenForums. It sounds like that you have Restore Points but they are not enabled. Go to this tutorial and enable System Protection, try to Restore and report back as how things turned out. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/330-system-protection-turn-off.html

 

[Ztruker]

See here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

That gives you an easy way to backup all your data in case a factory restore is required.

Since you don't have a Windows 7 DVD, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River.
Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

For techies or folks who work on computers: Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.
This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

Once you have the bootable DVD or flash drive, follow theog's directions above to backup your data.

Next, run chkdsk then SFC as follows:

How to run System File Checker (SFC) or chkdsk from the Recovery Console

• Boot your Vista or Windows 7 installation DVD
• When you see "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD", press Enter
• At the "Install Windows" screen, click on Repair your computer at lower left
• At the System Recovery Options screen, make note of the drive letter assigned to your boot drive (normally C and click Next
• At the Chose a Recovery Tool window, click on Command Prompt. You will be sitting at X:\Sources directory
• Run SFC or chkdsk
  • If you did not note the drive letter of your boot disk, you can enter bcdedit and look at the osdevice line to see what it is.
  • For sfc, type sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows and press Enter (use the letter from above)
  • For chkdsk, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter (use the letter from above).

Let either run to completion undisturbed.

 

[gregrocker]

Work through these additional steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot starting with System Restore from installer Recovery options or Repair CD.

Then reinstall the suspect updates singly to pinpoint the problem one and post it up in our Updates forum.