Solved BSOD and no restore point that will work

[Lindaby]

and

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

Welcome to SevenForums!

Is there anything that I can do please? None of the restore points are any good and I am unable to use the laptop.

[1] Do you mean that you can't boot into the OS?
[2] If you can boot, following this tutorial will be beneficial for us to help you => BSOD - Posting Instructions.
[3] Have you got an installation DVD/USB in order to be able to run Startup Repair?
[4] We really need a bit more information on what the issue/problem is in order to be able to help you!

 

[Lindaby]

I get a message that windows cannot repair this computer automatically. I do have an installation USB but am not sure how to use it. Sorry to be a pain.If I go to safe mode with command prompt it shows windows system 32. Do I need to change that please?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

I get a message that windows cannot repair this computer automatically. I do have an installation USB but am not sure how to use it.

As a start, boot into the USB installation disk and run Startup Repair from the System Recovery Options menu.

 

[Lindaby]

I am unable to boot from the USB, i think that it must be faulty. It's a Toshiba laptop. Is there anything else that I can try please

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

I am unable to boot from the USB, i think that it must be faulty. It's a Toshiba laptop. Is there anything else that I can try please?

If you have got another computer that you can use you can download an ISO and burn it to a DVD/USB and run Startup Repair from the System Recovery Options menu from there.

What version of Windows and bit type [x86 or x64] do you have?

 

[Lindaby]

It's Windows 7 64bit. I have another computer so I'll give it a try thank you. I'm changing the boot to USB but it's just not doing anything but blue scrren

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

It's Windows 7 64bit.

What version [Home, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate] of Windows 7 SP1 x64 is it?

 

[Lindaby]

it's home premium

 

[Lindaby]

I have tried to download the windows 7 installer from the microsoft website but the product key on the back of the computer doesn't work. Error message to contact Toshiba but they can't help

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

I have tried to download the windows 7 installer from the microsoft website but the product key on the back of the computer doesn't work. Error message to contact Toshiba but they can't help!

Are your intentions to get the computer working or to do a clean install?

 

[Lindaby]

to do a clean install

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

to do a clean install.

If you have got any important files etc that you want to keep before you do a clean install [because a clean install permanently deletes EVERYTHING off of the HDD] you could try burning a Linux Live CD and booting that to recover them first.

Win 7 System Recovery Options - Linux LIVE DVD Or USB

You can create a Linux Live DVD or USB [this means that the Linux OS runs directly from the DVD or USB and not the HDD because it doesn't need installation]. This will read the HDD information which is inaccessible through Windows directly from the controller and is often a better solution in these types of situations. Another advantage of this is that you will have less activity on your HDD while you are trying to access it and retrieve [look at] the contents.

Download the Linux ISO [I have used Linux Mint for this example] from here => Linux Mint.

Now burn the ISO [you can't just copy and paste it because it won't work] to a DVD or USB.

To burn the ISO to a DVD, you can use the Windows 7 built in ISO burner.
To burn the ISO to a USB, you can either use Rufus 3.4 or Rufus 3.4 Portable.

Using Rufus will ERASE ALL THE DATA on the USB, so make sure that you backup any data that you need FIRST. The USB MUST be bigger than the ISO file that you are burning.

Now boot into the DVD or USB.

Nothing will be installed to your HDD unless you specifically tell it to. You can now retrieve [look at] the contents of the HDD from within Linux. When you have finished and want to go back into Windows, just remove the DVD or USB, then Shutdown and Restart the computer.

NOTE: I have used Linux Mint as an example. There are several other versions available which work in exactly the same way.

When creating a Linux Live Bootable USB using Rufus, you can pretty much leave the default settings as they are.

[01] Insert the USB into the computer [you will need at least a 2GB USB].
[02] Double click the downloaded Rufus.exe file.
[03] Click Run.
[04] In Device, select the USB.
[05] Leave the Partition scheme and target system type as MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI.
[06] Leave the File system as FAT32 (default)[/B].
[07] Leave the Cluster size as the default.
[08] In the New volume label box enter the name that you want to call it.
[09] Tick the Create a bootable disk using box and from the drop down menu select ISO image.
[10] Click the search box next to ISO image and browse to and select the downloaded ISO image.
[11] Click Open.
[12] Click Start.
[14] It will now say Copying ISO files... [this will take about two or three minutes].
[15] When it shows READY, click Close.
[16] Safely remove the USB.

However, you may be confronted with some ERRORS. Here are the errors and the ways to overcome them:

[1] If the message This image uses Syslinux x.xx/xxxxxxxx but this application only includes the installation files for Syslinux x.xx/xxxx-xx-xx appears, this is because the version of Linux that is being installed is newer that what Rufus is supporting by default. Click Yes to download the new files.
[2] If the message ISOHybrid image detected appears, click OK.
[3] If the message WARNING: ALL DATA ON DEVICE WILL BE DESTROYED appears, click OK.
[4] If the message IMPORTANT: THIS DRIVE CONTAINS MULTIPLE PARTITIONS!! appears, click OK.
[5] If the message Error: Could not open media. It may be in use by another process. Please re=plug the media and try again appears, click Close. You simply un-plug the USB and re-plug it back in and start again. This time it will work!

What we can do then is to download a Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit ISO, burn it to a DVD/USB and do the clean install.

I hope this helps!

 

[Lindaby]

Thank you, I have completed that. What do I do about the product key on the laptop not working please?

 

[axe0]

What does the sticker say in regards to Windows 7, for example does it say Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional or something else (if so, what?)?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

Thank you, I have completed that. What do I do about the product key on the laptop not working please?

Now that you have all your data backed up we can try restoring from the factory reset [if there is one]!

If not we will download a Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit ISO, burn it to a DVD/USB and do the clean install.

Here is the Key Combinations to press at Boot for Toshiba to restore the OS back to Factory Settings using their Recovery Partition.

[1] Shut down the computer.
[2] Boot the computer.
[3] At the start of the boot, do the following:

• Toshiba - Press and hold 0 BEFORE and DURING boot.

If this works it will DELETE EVERYTHING on the laptop!

I hope this helps!

 

[Lindaby]

View attachment 408018


Windows Home Premium

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Lindaby,

Please delete the third picture!

 

[axe0]

Please remove the last image, don't post anything that contains the product key of your installation as that allows others to use what you paid for!

 

[axe0]

Here are some ways to diagnose, prevent or fix blue screen in Windows 7
1. Install the latest drivers
2. Install updates
3. Run startup repair
4. System Restore
5. Fix memory or hard disk errors
6. Fix Master Boot Record
7. Reinstall Windows 7

I suggest you read the thread first before posting this.