Can't Boot Windows 7 BSOD

[thinkbig]

Thanks again for the help!!

I tried to copy my files in the recovery console with no success, it kept going too the BSOD, same error in my original post.

I finally got it to restore from a system image from 7/2013 (roughly 9 months ago) that I had on an external HD.

It went through the entire process and when it came time to restart I get "No Boot Device Available" I started it again with the installation disk and it looks like the operating system in now D: instead of C: ??

Is there a way to fix this to boot, and is there any way to recover the files from the last 9 months. If I can't recover the files it is no big deal, I just want to get it working.

After I get it working I should probably figure out how to make system image backups on a regular basis (-:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

 

[essenbe]

The drive letters will usually be different when booting from the installation DVD or the recovery CD. Try running startup repair. If it recognizes an OS, run it at least 3 times with attempts to boot after every time. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

If startup repair cannot find an OS mark the drive as active. make sure in doing this that the OS drive is the only drive connected. That goes for startup repair too. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html (Option 2) then run startup repair again., 3 times with attempted boots in between.

Almost everything you can do is in post #14 from Gregrocker and his tutorial he gave http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

Let us know how it goes.

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tested the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan since reinstalling it made it detected in BIOS? I would check to see if it is still detected, rely on the diagnostics to determine if it is salvageable. Then proceed with the repairs to see if you can get the image to boot. Often images will not be marked Active at transfer and need to be marked Active and have the repairs run as Steve outlined.

 

[thinkbig]

I went to mark the partition as active. I am assuming that the largest partition is the one I want?

It shows the following: Partition 1 OEM 39 MB Offset 31 kb
Partition 2 Primary 14GB offset 40 mb
Partition 3 Primary 581 GB offset 14 GB

Is it partition 3 that I need to make active?

If so, I have done that.

When running startup repair I'm getting: Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically

Under Problem details it lists:

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: -1
Problem signature 05: external media
Problem signature 06: 1
Problem signature 07: MissingBootManager
os version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

The HD is showing up sometimes in the bios and sometimes it is not??

I've also tried the HD Diagnostics and couldn't get it to run.

Now I am seeing when restarting: Press any key to boot from CD or DVD....
BOOTMGR is missing
Press ctrl alt delete to restart

Any suggestions? Thanks again!

 

[thinkbig]

Found the BOOTMGR is missing tutorial and followed the instructions at the command prompt:
It came up as 0 installations found.

I am now following the Bootrec.exe instructions, will let you know the results.

It is showing an operating system now: Windows Home Premium Partition size: 595439 MB (C: OS

 

[gregrocker]

Often times on Dell the Recovery partition is the System partition, so if it doesn't start after running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times with the large (C) partition set Active, move the Active flag to the second partition to try the 3 repairs again.

What HD Diagnostic extended CD scan are you trying to boot? Did you burn it to CD using Windows Image Burner? Does it boot in another PC?

What happened when you tried to boot the CD using the Dell F12 key at boot, then choose the CD/DVD drive to boot? Also what happens when you select Diagnostics from that menu? Does the HD and other hardware pass? Try also choosing Utility Partition to get a fuller suite of Diagnostics.

 

[thinkbig]

OMG!! It actually worked!! It went to the desktop!!! (-:

Been working on it for 4 days!! Thanks again for all the help!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to recover the files from the last 9 months (if even possible) as it
is now as it was on 7/2013?


This is an awesome forum!! It's great to know that there is help available when needed!!!

 

[gregrocker]

If you saved the drive which held the old OS then you can access the files from Win7 now, if necessary assigning a drive letter if it doesn't have one so it will show up in Explorer: Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

If you formatted over the drive then it is unlikely you can recover the files. I think that you were in the process of trying to do that and then when I checked back you had jumped to recovering using an image. Had you waited we could have helped you access the files if the drive is still good since they are always recoverable even if one must use a boot disk, and BSOD's which were interfering might have been allieviated.

There really isn't much we can't do here ever since Win7 beta when most of the fixes for the OS were developed right here. It just takes patience and total cooperation.

 

[thinkbig]

I did use a system image from an external drive to restore the HD. Does that mean the files were overwritten? If it is, it's no big deal, I'm just so happy to have my computer back!!! (-: I also learned a whole lot during this process, and found lots more to read up on!!

 

[thinkbig]

Hi Again,

Everything was working great, then Windows did an update and my computer wouldn't start?? I started with the Install Disk and ran startup repair several times and it seems to be working now??

I'm wondering what happened and how I can avoid that again? Also when it wouldn't start it took me to a BIOS screen that showed some kind of error (sorry, don't remember what it was) and said press F1 to continue, F2 to enter setup? Then I got press Ctrl Alt Delete to restart.

I am on that PC now, it seems to be working. Do I need to update the BIOS since I reset it to factory defaults when I had all these issues? If so, can you please point me to how to do that?

 

[essenbe]

It should not need a bios update just because you set it to default values. It should be the same bios. In your bios it should tell you which bios version you have right now. If you wanted to update bios, you will need to go to the Dell driver page for your model and it should list the latest bios. But, that should not be necessary. Setting it to defaults should not change your bios version, just the OS. As for the Windows Update, I have no idea, but it does occasionally happen.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you're interested in maintaining Win7 well, I'd go over these Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which will uncover any problems, familarize you with it better and help optimize it for best performance based on what's worked best here since Win7 beta.

You can ask back any questions or report back what you find and we may have more suggestions.

Most likely something about the Updates didn't agree with your Win7 and it needed to system Restore to a point before them. This is automated in Startup Repair.

If you'd like for us to check over the configuration of your HD post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.

Sometimes resetting BIOS to defaults can change to another boot drive, change the SATA controller setting from what it was set for installing Win7, etc. So its best to take note of those settings before resetting to defaults. I would not update BIOS unless it specifies in the Read Me that the changes pertain to something you want or need.

 

[thinkbig]

I am still getting that BIOS error screen and cannot boot into windows except for the recovery console.
I did startup repair 5 times with a restart each time and that didn't help.

On the BIOS error screen the errors listed are:

ACHI Port 0 Device Error

S.M.A.R.T capable and status bad

I can get the rest of the info off of that screen if needed.

Thanks.

 

[essenbe]

I believe you said earlier that you tried to run the manufacturers diagnostic test and it wouldn't run. Do you mean it wouldn't boot or that it found the hard drive and wouldn't scan it? You also said that you had a friend that would test it for you but I don't recall you telling us the results. All indications in this thread seem to be from a failing hard drive. The message you received from BIOS "S.M.A.R.T capable and status bad" Refers to the hard drive smart (Self Monitoring and Analysis technology) means the hard drive monitors itself and reports statistics. The message says that the hard drive is saying it has failed the self monitoring test. As suggested in several previous posts, you need to test the hard drive.

 

[thinkbig]

I tried to test it with the Bootable HD Diagnostics that was suggested to download. I downloaded it onto my laptop and put it
on a dvd. When I put it into my desktop it didn't do anything?? It was not able to boot from the dvd drive.

On the website where I downloaded it from it said for a Western Digital use the download for Hitachi which may work, that is what I did.

Since I did get it working, I never did bring it to my friend to test.

I looked up "ACHI Port 0 device error" and it came up as failing hard drive as well.

At this point should I just replace it, or does it still make sense to have it tested?

While it was up I was able to make another system image. Can that be loaded on a new HD?

 

[gregrocker]

WD CD ISO to burn to CD using Windows Image Burner is here: https://app.box.com/shared/gl0fifqgj4

To boot from a flash stick download from here and follow steps given here: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...ndows-7-doesn-t-want-install.html#post2457531http://support.wd.com/product/download.asp?groupid=612&sid=2&lang=en

 

[essenbe]

All indications are the hard drive is failing. However, I would certainly test it before spending money to replace it. Are you using the one time boot key, I believe for Dell it is F12? Use the arrow keys to select what to boot from. The problem is if the hard drive cannot be seen by BIOS, I do not believe it can be 'seen' by the diagnostic test. In that case I would remove it and connect it in an external enclosure and try to see if it can be seen. If it cannot be seen by BIOS, it is most certainly dead. Have you tried connecting it to another sata port?

 

[thinkbig]

I am using f12 each time and selecting the DVD drive to boot from. Sometimes it is showing the os and sometimes It is not.

I used the 2 links above to get the diagnostics. I burned a dvd from the file above and when I run it I get : No Drive Found Error status code: 0120 Hit any key to continue. When I do that I get a command prompt A:\>

The link above to put it on a flash stick is bringing me to a blank page. If I do get it onto a flash stick, does the stick need to be empty or can it contain other files on it?

I have not tried connecting to another sata port? Not sure what you mean or how to do that??

I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but I have been looking at Hard Drives and dell has one on sale for $45 with free shipping that will fit my system and seems to have plenty of space 500GB. I believe mine is 640GB but I don't think am using anything close to that?? Dell 7200 RPM Serial ATA Hard Drive - 500 GB : Storage, Drives and Media | Dell Can someone please look at that drive and let me know what you think?

Also, gregrocker suggested that I get an SSD drive? Can someone point me to one anywhere that would work for my system (Inspiron 560) so I can get some idea of what I am looking for?

Thanks again to everyone!! Really appreciate your help!!

 

[gregrocker]

Did you unzip the ISO before rightclicking on the ISO file (not ZIP) it to burn to CD with Windows Image Burner?

The download page for flash stick diagnostics is here, but you must follow all the steps including typing into the DOS prompt the command given: WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS / WD Black

It will format the stick so move your files off first.

Some are having problems with the WD tool so if it persists try Seagate Seatools. Rightclick on the ISO to burn the ISO to CD using Windows Image Burner.

 

[essenbe]

An SSD is the most noticeable upgrade you can do to a computer. It makes it extremely fast. I own 8 of them and would not ever have a computer without one. But, to answer your question, the hard drive you linked to will work. It is a rebranded drive built by someone else. Dell warranties it for 1 year. You can look around and find another if you like. Any sata 3.5" hard will work in your computer. The SSD is a 2.5" drive and you can buy a converter for $10, or use Velcro dots, as they are extremely light. For either one you will need a sata data cable and a sata power cable. Your case should have an extra sata power cable if you are adding a drive. If you are replacing the one you have, just use the cables attached to that drive. Sata cables are pretty much universal and will fit any sata hard drive.