Windows 7 boot issue

Hello,
I've been using Windows 7 for a while without the slightest error and now a rather serious problem came up that I hope you can help me with.

I'm not particularly good with computers, so detailed instructions or pointing me in the right direction would be really appreciated.

Windows 7 doesn't boot for me. It starts out normally, then when it shows "Starting Windows" it stops for a moment and instead "Windows is loading files" shows up, then it shows the green loading bar and a screen with startup repair appears.

I've tried using startup repair numerous times and it hasn't helped, however it has given problem details as follows:

Problem signature:
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: 21201027
Problem Signature 05: AutoFailover
Problem Signature 06: 12
Problem Signature 07: CorruptFile
OS version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

Now, I assume this means that some boot file is corrupt, but I really have no idea how to check for it.

As for system recovery options, such as startup repair and system restore, I've tried them all a large number of times, I've also run Windows Memory Diagnostic and tried using the command prompt, but every test says that it either couldn't identify the problem or that there are no errors and system restore hasn't worked so far, even though I've used all of the available restore points.

I've tried to fix it by booting from the Windows 7 disk, but that hasn't helped either. I've also tried to run safe mode, but that only brings up startup repair again.

I really would prefer not to have to do a custom install, so if you can help, I'd be really grateful.

Check your ram.
Memory Diagnostics Tool
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Check your HD.
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check

Check with a hard drive diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.


Repair Install

theog said:

Check your ram.
Memory Diagnostics Tool
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Check your HD.
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check

Check with a hard drive diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.


Repair Install

Thanks for the reply. I checked my RAM and no errors, inconsistencies or anything were found - it works fine.

I checked the HDD using the first one, since I can't get into the desktop to run or even download the tools. It opened up to "X:\Windows\System32\" and running scannow from there, it showed no problems.

I can't use the hard drive diagnostic, because I can't enter the desktop to run them.

Repair installing didn't work, because it asks me to restart the computer normally, but that doesn't work - it merely redirects me to startup recovery and restarts.

I'm sorry if it's because of my own incompetence, but I'm fairly new to all of these technologies and I really do appreciate the help.

Boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, press Shift F10 at bootup or click through to Recovery Tools list to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (to begin with, later return to this command to select each disk shown in LIST DISK)
DETAIL DISK

(Now copy down all details given for each disk in LIST DISK and post back please.)

EXIT

gregrocker said:

Boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, press Shift F10 at bootup or click through to Recovery Tools list to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (to begin with, later return to this command to select each disk shown in LIST DISK)
DETAIL DISK

(Now copy down all details given for each disk in LIST DISK and post back please.)

EXIT

Right, here's what I got. I only have one disk, so it's pretty short.

DETAIL DISK says this:

Disk ID : 13DB21A5
Type : ATA
Status : Online
Path : 0
Target : 0
LUN ID : 0
Location Path : PCIROOT<0>#PCI<1F02>#ATA<C00T00L00>
Current Read-Only State : No
Read-only : No
Boot Disk : No
Pagefile Disk : No
Hibernation File Disk : No
Crashdump Disk : No
Clustered Disk : No

Volume ###_Ltr_Label___Fs___Type___Size__Status_ Info
Volume 1____C_________NTFS Partition 582GB Healthy
Volume 2____D__Facto__NTFS Partition 14GB Healthy

List Disk says this:
Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
Disk 0 Online 596GB 1024KB

Looks like you have no System MBR, so the process is to mark Win7 partition Active and then rewrite the MBR using Startup Repair.

I also note you have only 1024kb free space on the 596GB HD which seems strange.

There is also a factory recovery partition there which can be used to return your computer to Factory Condition if necessary, so you should study the manual to understand it's use more fully. Find it online at Support Downloads webpage for your computer model.

For now, boot the Win7 DVD or Repair CD, press Shift F10 at bootup or click through to Recovery Tools list to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
Select DISK 0 (verify this is Win7 HD)
LIST PARTITION
SELECT PARTITION 1 (confirm first this is Win7 partition)
ACTIVE
EXIT

Now return to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System MBR to Win7 partition.

System Repair Disc - Create

gregrocker said:

Looks like you have no System MBR, so the process is to mark Win7 partition Active and then rewrite the MBR using Startup Repair.

I also note you have only 1024kb free space on the 596GB HD which seems strange.

There is also a factory recovery partition there which can be used to return your computer to Factory Condition if necessary, so you should study the manual to understand it's use more fully. Find it online at Support Downloads webpage for your computer model.

For now, boot the Win7 DVD or Repair CD, press Shift F10 at bootup or click through to Recovery Tools list to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
Select DISK 0 (verify this is Win7 HD)
LIST PARTITION
SELECT PARTITION 1 (confirm first this is Win7 partition)
ACTIVE
EXIT

Now return to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System MBR to Win7 partition.

System Repair Disc - Create

It seems strange because it is impossible. The last time I was successfully logged in, I checked and it had around 70GB of free disk space.

So, I did that, but startup repair still says that it "cannot identify error".

Do you have data that you cannot afford to lose if you run your Factory Recovery partition or disks to return to the state where it left the factory?

Run the DISKPART command again to make sure you correctly marked Win7 partition ACTIVE. In addition this time select the D: partition by Partition # to set it INACTIVE.

Also try these commands from booted DVD/CD:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
Bootrec.exe /fixboot
bootsect /nt60 C:\

Restart computer, if WIN7 doesn't start then boot back into DVD/CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots.

I asked my teacher SIW2 to look at this for you.

gregrocker said:

Do you have data that you cannot afford to lose if you run your Factory Recovery partition or disks to return to the state where it left the factory?

Run the DISKPART command again to make sure you correctly marked Win7 partition ACTIVE. In addition this time select the D: partition by Partition # to set it INACTIVE.

Also try these commands from booted DVD/CD:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
Bootrec.exe /fixboot
bootsect /nt60 C:\

Restart computer, if WIN7 doesn't start then boot back into DVD/CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots.

I asked my teacher SIW2 to look at this for you.

Yes, I have a lot of very important information which I really don't want to lose unless it's absolutely necessary.

Alright, I did that - partition 1 is active, partition 2 is not. Ran through the commands, but they changed nothing.

Restarted the computer several times, but it doesn't work - the startup repair states that it cannot identify the error.

Thank you.

At this point, I would burn to CD free Partition Wizard bootable CD.

Boot PW, select 1 for screen res, then select Disk tab> Rebuild MBR to see if this will then start Win7.

Next choose from Disk tab>Recover Partition to see if it can recover the Partition data for you.

If not, then also try FREE Rescue Kit Express | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, hard disk partitioning bootable CD to Recover partition data.

If neither of these work, you can try with Partition Wizard CD to shrink Win7 partition enough to install a Win7 or XP rescue install there, to access your data on other partition and copy it to external or DVD or into gradually-resized rescue partition.

First read up on your Recovery partition to know exactly what your options are by running it. You may be able to have it reinstall factory Win7 to a specified partition (you create with PW CD), or if it sees data on failed Win7 partition it may allow you to back it up first. Consult the manual for your model on Support>Downloads webpage of manufacturer, or chat or call your tech support to inquire.