Solved System Restore (0x8000ffff) - No boot at all

[Tru]

I have been searching and trying to correct this error for a few hours now, and feel I should just accept a temporary defeat and enlist some assistance.

I am running a custom built PC with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Intel i5-2500K processor, Asus P8Z68-V motherboard, G.Skill Sniper 8GB (4GBx2) RAM, NVIDIA GTX-550Ti, 2TB WD-Green HDD.

There have been 0 hardware changes, and this occurred sometime throughout the day while I was at work.

I set Avast! Free to run a full system scan while I was away, because it seems a virus got onto my PC (I blame my girlfriend), and when I came home it was stuck in a half-boot cycle leading to System Recovery. Repair fails every time I run it, I've tried 10+ times in a row even. I can not boot into Safe mode, the POST beeps then it recycles back to the "Launch Startup Repair" or "Start Windows Normally" screen, which fails the recovery once again. Trying to do a System Restore brings me the 0x8000ffff error code, which is such an outrageous code since it isn't specific in the slightest. I have no Image to recover from, so that's out of the question. Windows Memory Diagnostic seems to be working, then the computer restarts and we're back to square once again.

I tried using SFC /SCANNOW and a few more specific variations of the command from the System Recovery Options Command Prompt, but to no avail. BCDEDIT forcing into safemode doesn't work either.

I have yet to try any form of USB boot process, as I'm not sure which would be able to help me. I found a program called PowerSuite Golden, but I have a feeling it needs to be installed onto the computer.

TL;DR - No startup repair, no recovery, no safe mode, no SFC /SCANNOW** or BCDEDIT, what can I do from either a command prompt or a USB boot.

** Doing 'SFC /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=C:\ /OFFWINDIR=C:\Windows' produced a "we found something broken and fixed it", but I was still in this loop of nothing working. Would I need a different directory than my original boot to use as the directory? Such as would using D: to point toward the disc's directory fix the C: errors as long as my CMD is as such: "C:\> SFC /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=D:\ /OFFWINDIR=D:\Windows'

I appreciate all the help I know you guys (and gals) will provide.

EDIT: I now realize this isn't the proper forum, please move this to whatever location would be correct. Thanks!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello tru mate the beep/s is it just one or a combination of beeps so we can check the codes for them.

A Google came up with this "E_UNEXPECTED 0x8000ffff" error when you try to restore a system by using System Recovery Options in Windows 7 pretty involved but something.

One more thing I do not really like the Windows memory test better off doing this

MEMTEST

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html this one you will need to make a bootable disk set the BIOSto optical (or USB if preferred) boot the machine and let it run for at LEAST 8passes unless the errors come up straight away. Takes fair time to complete andsome leave it running overnight.

 

[Tru]

I came across that article ("E_UNEXPECTED 0x8000ffff" error when you try to restore a system by using System Recovery Options in Windows 7) too, but as I can not get to anywhere where installing is available, it does me no good considering I do not have the Windows AIK already installed.

Currently running Memtest 86+, but I have doubts that the RAM is corrupt because I just had both stick replaced 3 months ago by G.Skill for them being faulty, and have had 0 issues since then.

Any other things I can do after Memtest 86+ is done, besides posting results in here?

There is the normal single beep when the computer is started. It happens between the Asus Bios screen, and when normally it would say Loading Windows.

 

[Tru]

13 passes with Memtest86+ and it found 0 errors. Nothing else to try?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply Tru been tied up away from home.
Maybe a look at the PSU would be in order while we are at it if only to eliminate it.
PSU- Jump Start

for a reference
PowerSupply 101: A Reference Of Specifications - Power Supplies asyou will see there is a +/- 5% variance that can make all the difference so11.4v is way too low and 12.6v way too high.

Plus remember correct bolts do not mean correct current (amps - in turn watts)

 

[Tru]

PSU Checks out good. Looked up the manufacturer specs and check the voltage/wattage/amperage with my Fluke Digital Multimeter. I'm not new to electronics, as I calibrate them on a daily basis.

If there is something you know of that only experience people should do, please let me know because I am capable.

 

[indianacarnie]

How about a repair install?

Not trying to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong, but if the virus attack was bad enough that could be the only practical solution. Imho , of course.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

It will save your stuff, since you have no backup's.

 

[Tru]

How about a repair install?

Not trying to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong, but if the virus attack was bad enough that could be the only practical solution. Imho , of course.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

It will save your stuff, since you have no backup's.

Attempted to use Win7 repair discs I have to do a "refresh/restore" of files, and came up with nothing. I'll attempt to do this, but it looks as if you have to be able to boot and be on the desktop to do it. I can't get to the desktop, as it crashes before fully loading windows.

Also, I do have 2 backups/restore points, but they fail and give me the 0x8000ffff error everytime.

 

[indianacarnie]

Yes, in my haste I overlooked that. My apologies

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well cannot get into safe mode and it is cycling means you can't run any on call scan I suppose you could try one of these I know the Kaspersky and Avira Bitdefender are good the others probably are but have never used them but I reckon they would be ok as I have tested Comodo out and Norton well I ma not a fan but if it works well......
5 Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CD for Windows: Free Download

 

[Tru]

I may have found myself a workaround.

Pulled an old SSD with 20GB on it and hotplugged it in. Installed windows to it so I could get to the desktop, then did an "Upgrade Installation" to my 2TB HDD. Currently still completing installation, but hopefully this works. It said it was moving all files to Windows.old, so hopefully I still have everything. If not, luckily I just backed up my files on an external last week.

 

[Tru]

Ok, so I did get this figured out. Using the method I said before, I am back in the process of becoming up and running.

My main goal was to save all of my old data, because 1.2 TB of stuff is a lot to lose, and I know there are a few things that are highly important that are not on my external yet.

Basically, a 32GB SSD was sufficient to install windows onto, then a booted from it to access my HDD. Since I was "locked out" of it though, I had to do a "Windows Upgrade" on the HDD. This created the Windows.old file with all of my files that I really need. Now I'm just copying all of my files to my external, then I'll format both the HDD and SSD and reinstall windows onto the HDD. Oh happy days.

Thanks for all of the assistance!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No probs mate and just for the record why I do not like to use more than 500GB drives personally as 1TB is an awful lot of data to go in one hit.

If you are interested in dumping the old files try this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19151-windows-old-folder-delete.html

 

[Tru]

I would be using that, but I am just copying over all the data I need from it, and then formatting the HDD/SSD and reinstalling windows once again. Right now I have to choose between 3 different Windows 7 installs on boot, so I'm just going to clear it all.

I have been planning to get another large HDD for the storage of files, and the 2TB would be purely for programs/etc. The SSD is used as a cache since it is only a 32GB (29.7GB usable), and doesn't really support anything besides an OS itself.

I have bookmarked the solutions you guys provided in here onto this laptop, since I feel I may need to do all of this again in the future. It seems that every 1.5-2 years I have this issue. Haha

 

[SIW2]

I had to do a "Windows Upgrade" on the HDD

Interesting trick, how did you get it to perform an upgrade on an os you weren't booted into?

 

[Layback Bear]

SIW2 you ask all the good questions.

 

[Tru]

I installed windows onto the SSD, which was blank, then was able to boot into the OS. If only I had said that before.

Pulled an old SSD with 20GB on it and hotplugged it in. Installed windows to it so I could get to the desktop, then did an "Upgrade Installation" to my 2TB HDD.

 

[gregrocker]

It's not possible to do an Upgrade installation to another OS other than the one you're booted into.

Sorry it wasn' t mentioned but we have a tutorial which compiles everything possible that can be done for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html

 

[Tru]

It's not possible to do an Upgrade installation to another OS other than the one you're booted into.

Sorry it wasn' t mentioned but we have a tutorial which compiles everything possible that can be done for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html

It is possible, considering I did it.

I was booted into Windows 7 Home Premium (64) on an SSD, and "upgraded" my Windows 7 Home Premium (64) on my HDD to... Windows 7 Home Premium (64). So I don't know why you are saying it can't be done, when I did it. I wasn't booted into the one I upgraded, but I succeeded. Now my SSD is a Speedboost drive, and my HDD is redone and running perfectly.

Please close this thread mods, I don't need anymore updates on how to solve a problem that I solved in a way I'm being told can't be done.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Tru if the problem is solved then mark as solved mate - at the top of the page.
Please do not take it personally because however you did it worked it was just very unusual.
I am not expert mate and not as cluey as the other fellows so I cannot comment on how it is done.