BSOD loop at BOOT, useless laptop

[sebastianrhrh]

Hey guys, I got a new Gateway NV55C with Windows 7 Home Basic 64 bits Pre Installed on it. Processor Intel Core i5 430M, 3GB Ram, 320 HDD. I got it for christmas, and today, I tried to use it, and after the windows booting logo ended, the screen went black and BSOD appeared. So it reboot itself automatically, like after 1 second, then I had 2 options. Recovery Mode or Normal Mode. I just went to normal, cause this has never happened. And it happened the same thing. So I tried going on Revory Mode/Options. Windows try looking for errors and didnt found any. So i went on something called "Advanced Reapiring Tools" or something like that. There were various options. I tested all of them. Sistem Restore, I restored to the last point it showed me, nothing worked; I checked Disc for errors and also RAM, still the same, and the only option left was the "Full Factory Recovery". I don't wanna do that cause i don't want to lose all of my data (I'm a DJ, so i got tons of music, edits, remixes, projects, and a lot more stuff i CANT lose). But there was also another option, which was to open a CMD window, thought that could be useful but i dont what to do on it, so if anyone have any suggestions on that, i would appreciate it. I also tried, running XP Pilitos Live CD. So i selected to boot from CD, everything fine, windows XP was charging, and SAME THING HAPPENED! I started to get a little bit worried at this point. Nothing worked! Please help me, what should I do? How can I save my files? Thanks.

S

 

[sebastianrhrh]

I know i have to post some information with this post, like dumps and stuff, but i cant since i cant even start windows. Hope you understand.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

Start out by downloading Ubuntu, and burning it to a CD. Boot from the CD, and run Ubuntu without installing it.

Download | Ubuntu

Backup your data from there.

Next, boot up the Windows installation DVD or repair disc; if you have neither, create a repair disc:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

Select "repair my computer", and then open a command prompt. Enter the following:

bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /rebuildbcd

If that doesn't work, return the computer to where it came from; it's probably under warranty.

 

[sebastianrhrh]

Thanks a lot for the help jonathan,im downloading ubuntu right now. But i have a question. Does Ubuntu recognize external Hard Disks or at least USBs? Because XP Pilitos didn´t, and i don´t have another cd burner.
Also, i tried changing the HDD with another one from my old laptop, which had installed Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit, and the same BSOD appeared. So Im guessing its something maybe related with hardware?
Then I put my HDD with Windows 7 into my old laptop, but it also failed to start, not with a BSOD, it only rebooted itself. But, in my old laptop, i could run XP Pilitos from a CD and see all of my files in the Windows 7 HDD. Thing is, i couldnt back them up cause it doesnt recognize external HDD (All my music is around 80GB).

Ok so im going to try Ubuntu. I dont have the windows disc or DVD, but ill download that repair disc and come back with the results. Thanks very much for your help again.

S

 

[sebastianrhrh]

Oh, I just read about that repair disc, that it lets you enter the System Recovery Options. Actually, I CAN do that. But i haven´t tried with those commands you post. But doing it from the CD ir from the System itslef its the same thing right?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Ubuntu should recognize your external hard drive.

I don't think you can run the bootrec commands from Windows. If it doesn't give an error when you try to run it, it means it worked fine.

 

[sebastianrhrh]

So what you are saying is I should use the repair disc, right? I havent tried it out yet. I have just finished downloading Ubuntu, I´m burning it into a disc. SO i an a few minutes i'll be back.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Yes sir, that's the best way to get to a command prompt in your case.

 

[sebastianrhrh]

Ok so i just burned ubuntu into a CD, and put into my laptop, boot from it and selected "Try Ubuntu", but is is still loading (I dont know what, because the only thing happening is that the pointer changed to a loading kinda pointer). And Im still waiting.

But. While the disc was burning I tried running XP Pilitos, expecting the BSOD to appear, and it did, so I take note of what it said. So at the bottom there was this:

STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D6528, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Maybe this would help, i dont know. And Im still waiting.

 

[Jonathan_King]

I didn't realize you could get into Windows.

Upload a BSOD report: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[sebastianrhrh]

DONE. Im writing this from Ubuntu on my Gateway. I thought the BSOD will appear again, but thankfully it didnt. So right now im backin up all of music and files. IM SAVED! Thanks a lot!

So backin up is done. Now, I just realised that early in the morning I entered the Recovery Options and clicked on the Gateway Recovery Options and then I went on one that said, it would get back to factory settings without erasing any of my documents. I completely forgot about that. So what happened was it finished backin up all the documents and then it started to reinstall windows. At some point it said it needed to restart and automatically did that. Then boot up and the screen showed that windows was installing services, something like that. And then, it said that services couldnt be configured to THIS MACHINE. After that, it rebooted and it said: windows is initialising services and then a popup window apperaed saying windows couldnt install and that it will reboot. I clicked OK, and then it said windows will continue installing after it reboots. So it turned off and on back again, and the same process was repeated. Windows cant install, windows will continue installing after reboot, and infinite loop.

Thing is, while im here in Ubuntu, I can see all of my HDD files, and it doesnt seem like anything has uninstalled, all my programs are still there, all the windows files are still there, so im confused. IDEA: ill search for that famous minidump folder!

 

[sebastianrhrh]

I just read your last post... I cant enter windows, BSOD screen shows right after XP Loading Logo, the same as with Windows 7. Well, not anymore cause apparently its uninstalled.

But i found the minidump folder, and theres only one file in it. Ill attach it.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Either the problem is with hardware, or some nasty virus hiding in the MBR.

Run those bootrec commands I posted earlier; hopefully that will cure any MBR virus.

For hardware tests, start with RAM. Run Memtest86, according to this guide: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

A hard drive test would be a good idea too; use the DOS version of SeaTools.

...Summary of the dumps:

[font=lucida console]
Built by: 7600.16617.amd64fre.win7_gdr.100618-1621
Debug session time: Thu Jan 13 19:40:06.643 2011 (UTC - 5:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:00:48.406
Probably caused by : wininit.exe
PROCESS_NAME:  wininit.exe
BUGCHECK_STR:  0xF4_36B1
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0xF4_36B1_IMAGE_wininit.exe
SystemManufacturer = Gateway
SystemProductName = NV55C
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
  
[/font]

 

[sebastianrhrh]

I'm sorry jonathan, id didnt understand well your instructions.
1. What is the MBR?
2. Where should I run those bootrec commands? In Ubuntu or from the Recovery CD?
3. Where should I run the RAM test and HDD test? In Ubuntu? Or where?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jonathan_King]

MBR - Master Boot Record. Master boot record - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Run the bootrec commands from the recovery CD.

The RAM and HDD tests are in their own custom environment. Download them, burn them to their CDs or USB drive, boot from it, and you'll enter a mini-OS. It is all explained in their respective links, if you have any questions.

 

[sebastianrhrh]

bootrec /fixboot
operation completed succesfully

bootrec /fixmbr
operation completed succesfully

bootrec /rebuildbcd
scanning all disks for windows installations
may take a while...

succesfully scanned windows installations.
total identified windows installations: 0 >>>>>>>> 0 INSTALATIONS? IS THIS OK?
operation completed succesfully.

First part done.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Can you boot into Windows? If not, mark the Windows 7 partition as active, and then startup repair on it:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

 

[sebastianrhrh]

No, I cant. It says the same thing:

Windows cant install, to install reboot. When I reboot, same message. Right now I'm checkin the HDD with SeaTools for DOS "Long Test". I read the post about memtest, and apparently it takes a lot of time. So I was thinking, if this test is about checkin RAM, couldnt I just swap RAM with my previous laptop and try? Wouldnt that determine if the problem is RAM?

Thanks.

P.D.: Formatting the HDD and reinstalling Windows would solve the problem? I have all of my files backed up so I was guesing...

 

[Jonathan_King]

If you have everything backed up, a clean install is a good idea. Don't just format though, as that may leave traces of possible viruses behind. In your case, I'll have to recommend a complete wipe.

Boot to a command prompt, and enter the following:

diskpart
list disk
select disk [I]n[/I] // where n is the number of your Windows drive
clean all

When that is finished, install Windows again.

If that does not solve the problem, send the computer back; it is a hardware problem.

 

[sebastianrhrh]

Illl try to do that... thing is... i dont have a copy of windows. The laptop came like that, wit Windows Home Basic x64. So should I send it back now? Should say Ive run all of these tests?

Thanks for all your time Jonathan.