Solved A BSOD that breaks my heart

[gregrocker]

You have the steps using Partition Wizard correct for marking active the OS partition to run Rebuild MBR and if necessary 3 Startup Repairs.

But I also said in my original post to first Rebuild MBR and run 3 Startup Repairs on the Recovery partition - since it's already marked Active and may have held the System boot files all along.

Please fill in your System Specs in the bottom left corner of your posts.

We need to determine if per chance your BIOS is EFI and has somehow been changed to Legacy BIOS. Can you boot into BIOS setup to see if there are any EFI settings on the various tabs? No need to change anything yet, just report back this information. Also report back the Boot order priority.

 

[virajk]

Ok I will get back on that info , since I dont have my lappy with me -im at work. Maybe today evening IST

I had made the partition 3 active using DISKPART for the 3 step process, but Im not sure. In either case using PW Ill mark Recovery active -rebuild MBR and do the 3 step thing.

If that fails then the same for OS partition - Is that right ?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, unless you moved the Active flag to the Recovery partition or tried to run Recovery which failed which might have set it Active, we have to assume it is the System Partition or it wouldn't be Active. So you'd first try repairing or rewriting the System boot files there with Rebuild MBR and if 3 Startup Repairs.

If that fails, move the Active flag to the OS partition itself to Rebuild MBR and run 3 Startup Repairs.

I am unsure why your 125 mb Hidden OEM partition is in FAT format and only is using 5mb unless its because the files are hidden. But we can't assume it was the boot partition given all of these circumstances.

 

[virajk]

Sorry, please clarify.

By now you've probably understood what a colossal noob I am.

Nevertheless what is System Partition.

Ill do one thing, as soon as I get home Ill upload a PW camshot once again, for there you can guide me.

we have to assume it is the System Partition or it wouldn't be Active. So you'd first try repairing or rewriting the System boot files there with Rebuild MBR and if 3 Startup Repairs.

 

[gregrocker]

System partition is where the System boot files reside, the partition which is booting Win7. Some OEM's make the Recovery partition the System partition, which we have to assume is the case here since it has the Active flag which should only be on the System partition. So try to Rebuild and Repair with the Active flag on Recovery first.

Then if it won't start even after 3 separate Startup Repairs with reboots, move the Active flag to the OS partition, Rebuild and Repair x3 again.

Why would the PW camshot be different than it was earlier? If so then we do need to see it again.

Did you change the Active partition at any time. Did you try running Recovery which failed?

 

[virajk]

Im not sure, thats why.Before I proceed with it Ill upload a camshot, so you can see the active flag, boot info,etc.

 

[virajk]

Gregrocker I ran the 32bit Dell Diagnostics from the bundled disk, I ran the hard disk test - complete. All test went fine with no errors except for the seek test which went into an infinite loop on the last block, but before that the seek test reported no errors.I pressed escape and continued with the other two tests i.e smart test & verify test, which also reported no errors.

GregRocker heres the latest camshot of PW. Its shows the OS partition to be active, I rebuilt the MBR and set recovery as active.How do I proceed..

 

[Arc]

Hello Viraj .... as it is the OS partition that is marked as active, now run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html, for three times, with restarts in between every single run.

Then try to boot the computer.

If it failed, mark the recovery partition as active, following the method three of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html. Then again run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html for three times, with restarts in between every single run.

Let us know the results.

 

[virajk]

Gregrocker, Arc; I'm typing this through my Dell Lappy. It works just fine. Your guys are Gods. It works and my Diary reads. I marked the recovery partition as active and ran the 3 step repair.
I got a working W7 x64 Installation CD today.

Gregrocker, I may have pissed you but after 8 hours of Web Dev coding in what could be called a white collar sweat shop coupled with sleepless nights and my sheer anxiety problems meant I simply could not think straight.My mind was jacked.

That diary had something really important, someone who I had strong feelings for.
Hence the title.

Thanks Everyone who helped me. GregRocker, Arc Thanks Once Again !

 

[Arc]

OK Viraj. I told you that my guru Gregrocker has solution for any odd situation.

If you are satisfied with the results, mark this thread as solved, so that it may be easily indexed for any other person suffering a similar problem; and to recognize the man who made it.

EDIT: Now I know why you were so impatient to recover the diary. Whenever I see that strong feeling, it makes me feel extremely good, heavenly. Best of luck with your strong feelings. You too the man!

 

[virajk]

How do I +rep you guys !

 

[koolkat77]

How do I +rep you guys !

I've repped gregrocker on your behalf, couldn't rep Arc cause I need to spread.

It's the scale button on the right corner of every post.

 

[Arc]

Reps not needed
We are happy and satisfied that your computer is working again

 

[gregrocker]

The second screenshot shows the Active flag moved to the OS partition. Did it repair when you ran Startup Repair with Active flag there? How many repairs?

Now back up your diary file externally to another HD, disk, USB stick, another PC on the network.

Or use a simple free cloud solution similar to Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums which can backup and sync your files at the same time on all devices to the web, where you can also access them from anywhere.

I would also have a Win7 backup image saved externally so if C ever becomes unbootable again you can reimage it in 20 minutes and be up and running: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup.
Macrium - Image your system is a preferred alternative by many here.

It's possible your Recovery partition won't run now, although you can queue it up to see. If not then you can recover the disk space using PW CD to delete it and then Resize C into its space: Partition Wizard Resize Partition - Video Help.

Finally, if this is the original factory preinstall then it is a corrupt install to begin with, larded with sponsored bloatware and duplicate utilities which have better versions built into Win7. Most tech enthusiasts choose to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get a perfect reinstall. I would delete all partitions when doing this, after making your Recovery disks so you have them on hand if ever needed.

 

[virajk]

GregRocker, I have the standard edtition of the diary that has no backup. So I manually copied all the text onto MS Word Doc.
As for whether this is a factory install, then yes..but I did reinstall using the recovery partition and that copy too has some immense amount of bloatware, which I cleaned. I will do a clean reinstall using the guide you gave.I have made the recovery disk already.

Now back up your diary file externally to another HD, disk, USB stick, another PC on the network.

Or use a simple free cloud solution similar to Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums which can backup and sync your files at the same time on all devices to the web, where you can also access them from anywhere.

I would also have a Win7 backup image saved externally so if C ever becomes unbootable again you can reimage it in 20 minutes and be up and running: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup.
Macrium - Image your system is a preferred alternative by many here.

It's possible your Recovery partition won't run now, although you can queue it up to see. If not then you can recover the partition using PW CD to delete it and then Resize C into its space: Partition Wizard Resize Partition - Video Help.

Finally, if this is the original factory preinstall then it is a corrupt install to begin with, larded with sponsored bloatware and duplicate utilities which have better versions built into Win7. Most tech enthusiasts choose to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get a perfect reinstall. I would delete all partitions when doing this, after making your Recovery disks so you have them on hand if ever needed.

 

[gregrocker]

First read over the steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 carefully and ask back if you have any questions, so you fully understand it and are prepared.

There are also steps here to Clean Up Factory Bloatware

 

[session13]

I am having a simular situation. I have multiple units to support. They have all been imaged the same. We are running over 300 units at this time. A unit that has been working properly for almost 3 years suddenly will not boot to windows. It goes to the windows restore window and loops back to restart. I have 1. replaced the hard drive with a known working one. Same result, but placing the hard drive in question into the other unit we find it works fine. 2. Reimaged 3 times. 3. Tried to boot from a windows 7 disk to no avail. 4. Called HP and they determined it was a faulty motherboard. We replaced it yesterday. Same problem. 5. Re-contacted HP. We tried all the efforts they were able to come up with. They are sending a new board as the first appears to be faulty. We should get it tomorrow or monday. 6. After we contacted HP again, we continue to try solutions. We removed partitions from the hard drive. We were then able to load Windows and make it start up and boot to windows. Rebooted several times. 7. Reimaged and the boot quit working...back to the loop. 8. By the way, we have changed all external items...kb, mouse, even power supply and monitor. It is stand alone and not connected to the internet. 9. Reimaged with an earlier image - same result. 10. Went online and downloaded latest version of bios (existing v1.10 6.09.10 to latest available) and put it on a working unit. Now we have successfully replicated the problem. Now we have 2 units, same make and model with the same image that loops from restart to windows restore screen to restart. 11. We are guessing either bios or driver conflict. I would be happy for suggestions. As I said, we have 300 units and if this is not an isolated problem, we may soon have a very large one.

 

[essenbe]

Welcome to Seven Forums. May I make a couple of suggestions?
1. This thread is already marked as solved. You will Get better results if you go to Crashes and Debugging - Windows 7 Forums and begin your own thread by clicking the new thread button and give it an appropriate name..
2. Read the Crashes and debuging postining instructions, that will give our people the info the will need to help you. Include the SFDianostic test with the first post which can be found in the posting instructions.
3. To get a little ahead of the game, include screenshots of the expanded disk management so the top and bottom portion can be seen. Also the system specs of the computer in question if not the one in your System Specs.

 

[Britton30]

This will help you.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...nt-post-screen-capture-image.html#post2261610