Solved Systems Repair loop, Netbook, Windows 7 Starter

[SarahCrazyChild]

Okay, I'm a dope, I had the wrong cable hooked up to me netbook. It was the cable for my camera. LOL Got the right cable hooked up and Peppermint started. Thanks so much, for the most recent help, I feel a but silly now. *blush*

 

[Golden]

OK. Now you can copy your files you wanted to backup.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

Everything is working fine, transfering as we speak. Thanks so much your help and patience. =]

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

Okay, I need your help again, I'm afraid I did something wrong. The transfer of my files went fine, but when I took everthing out of my computer (USB and HDD) and went to restart it, I got this message on a basic black screen:
Windows Boot Manager

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Window installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click 'Next.'
3. Click 'Repair your computer.'

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occured while attempting to read the boot configuration data."

I hit F2 after trying to restart to switch the boot back from the USB, but that didn't help any. If you can help me with this issue or refer me to someone who can, I would be very appreciative. Thank you. *sigh* This has been a looooong week.

 

[Golden]

OK.

Unplug the external HDD. Ensure that the internal hard disk is #1 in the boot priority in the BIOS. Save & exit. During bootup, keep pressing F8 and then choose "Last Known Good Configuration".

Post back the results.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

I did all that, but F8 was not working. Nor FN+F8. I had tried ESC before, but that also did not work. F2, still works, though.

 

[Golden]

Sarah, I've asked gregrocker to have a look at this - he fixes this sort of stuff for breakfast every day

 

[gregrocker]

You said in Post 13 that F2 had worked to change the boot order. If F2 still works, then change the boot order back to the WDC listing for Hard drive. Save changes and exit.

Then from the desktop, run the Win7 installer to do a Repair Install. The latest official installer is in the tutorial, to write to flash stick or bootable CD which you will need bootable for rescue purposes.

If Win7 will not start, confirm its partition (or it's 100mb System Reserved partition if you have it) is still marked Active: Mark Partition Active

Then run Startup Repair - Run Up to 3 Separate Times from your bootable installation media.

If this fails, either run Gateway Support - Full Factory Recovery or boot the installation media using the Gateway F10 boot menu key to do the superior Clean Reinstall Win7 Factory OEM.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

gregrocker, I can't get to the desktop. I'm stuck at a simple black and white window that says, "Windows Boot Manager

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Window installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click 'Next.'
3. Click 'Repair your computer.'

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occured while attempting to read the boot configuration data."

The only options are "ENTER" and "ESC", both of which lead back to the same page. I do not have a disk drive, as it's a netbook. I had been stuck in a Systems Repair loop and wanted to get my files off before attempting any reapirs. Golden was helping me to use the Peppermint system they had posted to get my files. I had switched to the boot USB to use the Peppermint system, but after I was finished, before I had a chance to switch the boot priority, it came up with this screen.

I don't know if Golden, mentioned, but I'm a serious novice. So you might have to be a little patient with me.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

Sarah, I've asked gregrocker to have a look at this - he fixes this sort of stuff for breakfast every day

Thank you, Golden, for all your help. I hope I did the "rep" thing right.

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you complete steps to get past the problem - which you then repeated, ignoring the steps I gave.

Tap the F2 key repeatedly and vigorously to get into BIOS setup, set the HDD to boot first and see if it will start.

Then follow the other steps I wrote out for you because they represent all of your options.

If you haven't copied out your files yet then you can do that using Step 3 with the flash stick installer prepared from Step 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

I did not ignore those steps, I just didn't understand them. I did mention, I'm a novice right? I had to read over it a couple of times to make sure that was not one long step and I was just worried because I'm a very cautious person and wanted to make sure we were on the same page. I will look over everything again, it may just take me a little time to figure it all out.

 

[gregrocker]

Feel free to ask back any questions you have.

Are you able to get into BIOS by tapping F2 at boot? You said you had done this orginally, correct?

Once there is the correct HD set to boot first?

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

Yes, F2 works fine. And I have set it back the way it originally was before I used to USB boot as priority. I will look over the other information as soon as possible. It's turing out to be a busy day.

 

[gregrocker]

Well does Win7 start?

Without much feedback or any questions to further understand how to do the steps you've been given, it's hard to help you more.

This is an interactive process where we give steps to complete, you ask back if you need any help to get them done, or report their results. Then there will be new steps if needed.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

Windows 7 does not start. When I push the button to turn on my computer it shows the Gateway logo (the screen that offers the F2 option), and then it goes straight to the screen telling me it can't boot properly.

Any information you need from me I can offer it, but as I said, I'm a novice and things aren't always obvious to me. So, if you need any specific information from me to help with my problem you can just ask and I'll tell you. I still have to go over the steps you laid out previously more thoroughly.

I didn't quite understand this: "If Windows 7 will not start, confirm its partition (or it's 100mb System Reserved partition if you have it) is still marked Active: Mark Partition Active" Where would I find this information. I mean I can read all this stuff and get back to you, unless that's what you meant by asking questions.

Sorry if I'm making this tough for you, but I know practically nothing about computers.

 

[gregrocker]

The blue links are tutorials which show you how to do the step. Since you can't start Win7 to Mark Partition Active you'd use the Command Line in the installer accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

But since there's a good chance Win7 is still marked Active, go ahead and boot into the installer now by tapping the F12 key then choosing the DVD or flash stick to boot, on second screen select Repair My Computer, then run Startup Repair.

Try this several times with reboots to see if it will start Win7. If not report back what it finds.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

F12 will not work.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

I've also been through the start up repair several times before this current problem. I've done the repair several times, as I was stuck in a loop. The first couple of times it said there was nothing wrong, but then I was stuck in a system repair loop. Then I tried a restore point and it said it restored it, still in a loop. Then it began saying there were problems, I believe I put everything in my first post here.

Golden helped me copy my files before I attempted any repairs and when I came out of the Peppermint system I used to copy my files, I got the current can't boot properly screen.

 

[gregrocker]

I notice in Post 12 by pressing the ESC key you were able to get a Boot Menu which shows Win7 as the boot choice. I believe this boot menu was set up so that you could choose Peppermint to boot from your external HD, but when you unplugged Peppermint it no longer shows on the menu. In that case try ESC again, highlight the Win7 choice, then as it says just beneath there "Press F8 to access Advanced Boot Options."

On the Advanced Boot Options see if Repair My Computer choice is there. If so then from System Recovery Options run 3 separate Startup Repairs with reboots. If this doesn't start Win7, boot back in the same way to try System Restore to your earlier Restore Point. If Repair choice is not present on Boot Options, try Last Known Good Configuration and Safe Mode.

If that fails enter BIOS setup using F2 to reset BIOS to defaults. You will see this setting on one of the tabs, select it.

While in BIOS setup set your bootable install media written from Step 5 of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start first to boot, then Hard Drive.

If you burn the installation DVD or write it to flash stick correctly, then it should prompt you to "press any key to boot disk" when you reboot with it inserted. You can then work through the other repair steps in tutorial above, or proceed directly with Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 if you're sure you have all of your files rescued - if not there are steps in both tutorials to do this using the Installation media.

As I wrote earlier you can also try running Gateway Full Factory Recovery .