repair install

You're not extending D - you're extending C. You deleted D.

The steps can help gather clues to figure out what the problem is.

You might need to clean out the dust in your laptop: Cleaning Your Laptop Cooling System

Hmm. After struggling with the XP machine not retaining formatting in the last post (yes, using FF on both), I decided to try something one of my friends told me a couple of years ago. Instead of a normal boot sequence I booted in safe mode and restarted. For some reason the boot sequence worked. Subsequent cold boots have worked normally. I don't know why it worked, but it did.

Before shutting down last night no updates were showing to be available. The first successful boot tonight showed updates available. There were a total of 78 updates which took four update sessions to complete. There were a few .NET up-dates included in the group.

I don't know if you were replying to me or karlsnooks. I guess I allowed the preview/edit problems on the XP machine distracted me from details. I apologize for giving the wrong information. To set the record straight, I deleted D: and attempted to extend C:. I intend to use available time this week end to review the troubleshooting steps again and perform the hardware tests. As for cleaning the inside of the machine, I have been thinking about the more cramped space than on a desktop. I clean the desktop about once a year. Maybe I should clean the laptop about once every six months.

I need to break it open anyway. I have found conflicting information about the amount of RAM this machine will accommodate, 8GB or 16GB. (Lenovo says 8GB. Belarc indicates only one of four slots occupied.) A look inside should verify that. In the next few months I am thinking of upgrading to Win7 Pro to run XP Mode and maybe a VM. If I do that I will upgrade memory. I need to get an idea of costs so I can budget the upgrade.

For now I will continue to follow troubleshooting and hardware tests (along with cleaning). If I encounter no more boot issues, I'll let a sleeping dog lie. If problems recur, I will opt for a clean install.

drpepper

gregrocker,

I would like some clarification because I don't know if I can take something out of the context of the Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start tutorial.

regarding the inability to extend C: into the deleted D:
I am trying to understand the failure to extend as separate from failure to boot. This is the out of context detail. The tutorial addresses both Partition Wizard and Hiren's Boot CD as partition recovery tools, but in the context of "no installation shows for repair", quoted from step#6 of the tutorial.

Is it wise and reasonably safe to attempt to restore D: and attempt to perform the delete D:/extend C: task again?
If so, which of the tools do you recommend for someone like me who is in the learning curve?
Are there special steps or precautions which need to be considered?

Thanks for your insight.
drpepper

To get reliable information about your installed and maximum RAM run Crucial System Scanner software to find out what type of memory is in your computer.

If C won't extend after deleting D then use Partition Wizard to Resize Partition - Video Help.

Partition Wizard is just what the doctor ordered. C: has been expanded from 254GB to 283GB. Now I'll move on to another task.

Thanks

**forgot to include in last post -- Crucial indicates that I can upgrade to 8GB RAM**

To efficiently use my available time, I have been a little out of sequence in the steps. I have saved steps demanding my attention for when I can devote my attention to them. In the information below I have not followed up on Google results because I wanted to provide you with my findings first. I don't know if some of them are blind alleys or not.

tasks performed and observations:

Memtest86+ -- ran 11 passes, no errors found. However, reboot froze before log on again repeatedly.

I had to perform hard shut downs to recover. I had to boot in safe mode and then reboot form safe mode to log on successfully.

Upon log on I had no Internet connection in either the administrator account of the standard user account. Action Center and Windows troubleshooter provided no help. I had to use System Restore to restore to a point from yesterday to establish Internet connection.

MBAM and MSSE scans are clean.

Event Viewer (by Category, limited to today or last 24 hours):

CRITICAL -- All events in the last 24 hours are related to the hard shut downs as described above.

ERROR

source: VDS Basic Provider
event ID: 1
task category: none
details: unexpected failure error code D@01010004
found in Google: Try clean boot. I have not done this yet. I am going to wait for your recommendations.

source: kernel event tracer
event ID: 2
task category: session
details: circular kernel context logger failed to start 0xc0000035
found in Google: this link looks like it may be the one to follow windows 7 - Event Viewer: Event ID 2 'Session "Circular Kernel Context Logger" failed to start with the following error: 0xC0000035' - Super User

source: WMI
event ID: 10
task category: session
details: event filter with query ...
found in Google: not sure which one to follow

source: disk
event ID: 10
task category: none
details: driver detected controller error \devices\harddisk\DR1
found in Google: This may be the best link The driver detected a controller error on - Microsoft Answers

WARNING

Port Locker -- This is a Lenovo program.
details: installation may be corrupt.

I am wondering if removing and installing this again may be the cure.

Please tell me what to ignore and what order to follow up on the others.

Thanks,
drpepper

Run WD data Lifeguard extended CD test. WD Support / Downloads / Select Product

Running a Clean Boot is one of the first troubleshooting steps given. What is the delay?

I would seriously consider a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to shrug off the Lenovo crapware including useless duplicate utilities that have much better versions built into Win7. You've already shown your chops as a tech enthusiast and I've never met a tech enthusiast who doesn't do this first thing.