7 HP x64 - Startup Repair Loop, NoRootCause

[alexx2]

Hey Guys,

Have a friend that has given me their PC to fix. It's running Win7 HP 64 bit and is stuck in a Startup Repair Loop. None of the Safe Mode options boot, neither does the Last Known Good Configuration option.

I have tried using a Win7 HP disc to repair Windows, run a chkdsk on the OS drive, scanned the drive for any viruses with and AVG rescue disc. I have also removed the rive and plugged it externally to a working PC and found all files to be intact, or so it would seem.

I have read a couple of forums and tried a few other things like this >> http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139576-startup-repair-infinite-loop-recovery.html which still does not work.

Unfortunately no restore points were created and I do not have access to replace all of the programs & games that my friend has installed.

Does anyone know of any other options?

This is the only information I get from the system after the failed Startup Repair.

Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 03: Unknown
Problem Signature 04: 21199410
Problem Signature 05: AutoFailover
Problem Signature 06: 30
Problem Signature 07: NoRootCause
OSVersion: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

I have noted that Problem Signature 6, increase each time the Startup Repair fails.

I have also tried an MBR Rebuild through Easeus Partition Master and this was still unsuccessful.

I have some more information below in regard to the startup repair.

Root Cause Found:
----------------------------
The partition table does not have a valid system partition.

Repair Action: Partition Table Repair
Result: Completed successfully. Error Code 0x0
Time Taken = 2356ms.


I have a bunch of tests that Startup Repair has run, all with the same result, so I will just list the Test Name and Time Taken.
1 - Check for updates, 0ms
2 - System disk test, 16ms
3 - Disk failure diagnosis, 31ms
4 - Disk metadata test, 0ms
5 - Target OS test, 156ms
6 - Volume content check, 78ms
7 - Boot manager diagnosis, 0ms
8 - System boot log diagnosis, 0ms
9 - Event log diagnosis - 0ms
10 - Internal state check, 0ms.

Please note that the above 10 Tests all had the same result of
"Result: Completed successfully. Error code 0x0"

At the very end of all the test result, Startup Repair had the following.

"Root cause found: Startup Repair has tried several times but still cannot determine the cause of the problem."

I'm at a loss for what to try. At present I am looking at Using a Boot CD (Hirens or UBCD), however I have never really used this tool before and am not completely confident with it.

Please let me know if anyone has a suggestion other than a clean install..

Thanks!
Alexx

 

[Layback Bear]

Welcome to our forum Alex.

Take a read through this tutorial by Dzomlija and see if it helps.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139576-startup-repair-infinite-loop-recovery.html

 

[alexx2]

Thanks Layback Bear,

Unfortunately I have alraeady tried the below and was still unsuccessful in getting the system to run.

I appreciate the suggestion, however do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks again!
Alexx

Welcome to our forum Alex.

Take a read through this tutorial by Dzomlija and see if it helps.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139576-startup-repair-infinite-loop-recovery.html

 

[Layback Bear]

Sorry I missed that in your first post.

I'm not a expert in much of anything so what I do is look for experts and expert ideas.

I found this that could help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

Because of all the test you have done and the fact you plugged the drive into another computer and you could see files that looked normal I'm thinking MBR has a problem.

By chance did this friend give you anymore information about the problem other than the computer didn't work?
Things like what was the computer doing when this problem happened.
What was the owner doing on the computer when this problem happened.
What changes were done to the computer or system just before the problem arose.

 

[alexx2]

Hi Layback Bear,

Unfortunately, the tutorial included did not fix the issue, nor did the bootrec command included as a failsafe backup in this tutorial.

Both the bootsect and bootrec come back as successful, however the system still does not boot.

My friend has explained that he was simply watching a TV show, left the system paused for 10-15 minutes and upon return it was in Windows Startup Repair. The owner of the PC is not very technical and doesnt remember doing anything special prior to the issue.

He did say at one stage the system booted through to Windows, however the screen was illegible resembling and old VHS, similar to >> https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrMstbXORuJ_354-BUZbr603d9Oed5vQsi54Ijmxuk-QZB_8gtwGy9EQAV

Any other possible suggestions? At this stage I'm about ready to give up and clean install.

Thanks again!

Sorry I missed that in your first post.

I'm not a expert in much of anything so what I do is look for experts and expert ideas.

I found this that could help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

Because of all the test you have done and the fact you plugged the drive into another computer and you could see files that looked normal I'm thinking MBR has a problem.

By chance did this friend give you anymore information about the problem other than the computer didn't work?
Things like what was the computer doing when this problem happened.
What was the owner doing on the computer when this problem happened.
What changes were done to the computer or system just before the problem arose.

 

[Layback Bear]

Have you been in the bios and verified things are as they should be?

I will go to the ranch and see if I can find some help.
Might take a little while, they are scattered all over the world. Time zones and all that kind of stuff.

 

[alexx2]

Indeed I have. I have even disconnected the extra HDDs and DVD (when not in use).

I appreciate your help, Layback Bear!

 

[essenbe]

Hi, alwxx2, could I persuade you to give us the system specs? That will help us a lot try to determine if there is anything we can do to help you. When you tried the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139576-startup-repair-infinite-loop-recovery.html, I am sure you noticed the first paragraph, the tutorial is usually the last step before a clean install. In my opinion, that is a likely outcome. However, don't think we have given up yet. I would like to see if there is a hardware cause of the problem or if there is some other cause. Is the hard drive currently in his computer or do you have it hooked up to yours?

 

[alexx2]

Hi essenbe,

Below are the system specs, I hope this helps!
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
RAM: G Skill 8G(2x4G) DDR3 1600Mhz PC12800 RL 9-9-9-24(CL9D-8GBRL)
DVD: LGE CH12LS28 Black Blue Ray HD Combo
CPU: AMD FX-6300 Black Edition 6-Core Socket AM3+ CPU
GPU: Gigabyte GV-R927XOC-2GD
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX-KILLER.990FX
SSD: Sandisk 120gb (OS)
HDD: Seagate Barravuda 2TB

I did notice that first paragraph, but really was hoping to avoid, however it is looking more likely that it is inevitable.

The SSD (being the OS drive) is still connected to his computer as it is easiest for now.

Thanks for your help!
Alexx

Hi, alwxx2, could I persuade you to give us the system specs? That will help us a lot try to determine if there is anything we can do to help you. When you tried the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139576-startup-repair-infinite-loop-recovery.html, I am sure you noticed the first paragraph, the tutorial is usually the last step before a clean install. In my opinion, that is a likely outcome. However, don't think we have given up yet. I would like to see if there is a hardware cause of the problem or if there is some other cause. Is the hard drive currently in his computer or do you have it hooked up to yours?

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you Steve for coming to help.

 

[essenbe]

We would normally run diagnostic tests. Not being able to boot, kind of puts a stop in that plan. If you would, please boot from the installation disk and continue to where is says where do you want to install Windows, on the advanced startup options, choose load drivers. You will get a location screen that you can navigate. Please go to C:/Windows/Minidump and copy the folder and paste it on an external hard drive. When you are finished, zip it up and upload it here (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html). If you have an external drive, now would be a good time to do the same with his personal files. They should be in his C:/Users/hisusername/ folder. Copy them from his drive to an external drive. I would caution you about the possibility of virus and rootkits. Also, in the recovery environment, the drive letters are not usually the same, so C drive may end up being G drive.

When you ran startup repair, did you run it at least 3 times with attempted startups after each try? If not you may want to try that. You may also want to try this and see if it helps http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/104341-bootmgr-missing-fix.html

This is a list of everything that can be done when Windows 7 won't boot. Some of which, you have tried and some you can't do. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

I think I would recommend through all of this, if he has secondary hard drives, it may be good to disconnect them. Leave only the SSD with the OS installed on it connected.

Whenever you can, would you download any distro of a Live Linux and create a CD or USB drive and boot from that. Just run from that as long as you can. That is in order to see if there is any failing hardware. A live Linux CD, runs from Ram, but uses the same hardware. It takes the OS/programs/drivers out of the equation.

I think that is enough for now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[essenbe]

Thank you Steve for coming to help.

I'm not sure I can help Jack. But, we'll give it our best shot.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Here are our recommended Linux recovery tutorials,
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/198909-lucid-puppy-way-recover-files-non-bootable-computer.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/287439-emergency-kit-save-your-files-dead-os.html

 

[essenbe]

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

 

[Anak]

Hi alexx2, welcome to 7F! Hi guys!

I wonder if this could be as simple as invoking 'Last Known good configuration'?

alexx, can you restart the machine and immediately as its booting up, start pressing the F8 or Delete key on the keyboard to reach the Advanced Boot Options screen?
I don't know what make the machine is, but F8 is usually the key to press, see related below.

In the tutorial if your buddy's machine is a dual boot start at step #2, if only a single boot the advanced boot options screen will automatically open.

Scroll down to Last Known Good Configuration to highlight it and press enter or return. Wait to see if the machine will finish booting.

The result?


Related:
Hot keys for BootMenu / BIOS Settings

 

[AddRAM]

He already tried that, post #1

It most likely has a System Reserved partition, so.....

I would use Diskpart to mark the windows partition Active, then run startup repair again.

 

[Anak]

Jeez, apologies, how did I manage to blow by that?!?

 

[essenbe]

Jeez, apologies, how did I manage to blow by that?!?

I knew he had said that, but didn't mention it. 2 reasons.

1. It may work the second time.

2. I never correct people who are smarter than I am.

 

[AddRAM]

:roflmao:

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you all for answering my request for help.

Missing something that has been posted is easy when so many things have been tried. It's hard to keep track of all of them.