Cannot boot Windows 7 usb/cd but can boot Linux fine


  1. spacemonkey211
    Posts : 2
    Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit
       New #1

    Cannot boot Windows 7 usb/cd but can boot Linux fine


    A coworker of mine asked me to fix his computer. It is a Toshiba L455-S5000 laptop that has Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed. His problem is that when you go to boot it never gets past the Windows is starting up screen. When I go to repair a failed boot, it gets to a black screen with a working mouse pointer. The recovery partition boot gets the same black screen with mouse pointer. So I decided to try a repair boot from a Windows 7 install DVD (also tried a usb). Here too it gets to a black screen with a mouse pointer and then nothing more. I booted both the Windows DVD and usb on another computer without any issues.

    Now I got really curious, so I booted from an Ubuntu usb that I had. I ran memtest for 5 hours without a problem. Then I booted to the desktop without a problem. I can mount and read the hard drive without any issues and I'm even typing this post from the linux usb. I ran some hard drive and file system tests and everything seems fine. There is one pending sector error but all the other smart tests were fine. Though I don't think a bad hard drive would prevent a Windows install DVD from booting.

    Any ideas what might be causing this?
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  3. SIW2
    Posts : 16,159
    7 X64
       New #2

    You might try creating a small partition at the end of the drive with gparted.

    See if that sorts it out.

    Though I don't think a bad hard drive would prevent a Windows install DVD from booting.
    It can.
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  4. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #3

    Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

    Work through these steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start
    which include everything that can be done including rescuiing files to reinstall.

    See if you can access System Recovery Options on F8 Advanced Boot tools menu if the disk will not boot after resetting BIOS. Then Mark Win7 or it's 100mb SysReserved (preferred if you have it) Partition Active and run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times

    As a last resort you may need to boot the HD Diagnostic extended CD scan to test the HD, then Quick Wipe the HD to force the Win7 installer to start to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 (same for retail).
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  6. spacemonkey211
    Posts : 2
    Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    I eventually had to remove the hard drive and place it into another windows 7 computer. The desktop took about 3 hours to do a scan and repair of the drive. After that I was able to successfully boot up the laptop.

    So a corrupted ntfs partition can indeed stop windows in it's tracks. You wont be able to do anything.

    Thanks SIW2 for the idea.
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