Solved Computer boots to blank 'Windows' graphic screen but no login prompt

[mikeinnc]

I realise this type of problem has been discussed before, but none of the issues seem to fit my problem! I have a modified (ie it is not a standard 'factory' build) HP6730B laptop that has been working extremely well with Windows 7 Ultimate and a 500GB SDD. I recently downloaded some photographs from my phone via USB on to the computer, and removed the phone. While looking at the photos, as is often the case, many were incorrectly orientated. I clicked on one photo and attempted to rotate it through 90 degrees. This was successful. I then tried to do three at once - selecting the three and again selecting 'rotate 90 degs' on a right click. The machine then hung! After about 30 minutes of a spinning circle, I had no option but to shut it down. When I rebooted, it got as far as the blue graphical screen with a "wispy cloud" across it and the Windows logo and 'Windows 7 Ultimate' at the bottom - but NO login prompt.



I was able to boot into 'safe mode with networking' and can login and do all that I assume safe mode allows. I have performed a disk check and a sfc /scannow but NO errors are shown. I have confirmed that the registry points to 'explorer.exe' as my shell. I have tried to revert to two last restore points, but neither made any difference. I did try 'revert to last known good system' but as I did that after a system restore, it would appear it hasn't done anything positive. I have also tried 'upgrading' using my original and authentic Windows 7 disc, but it informs me that my version is now newer (presumably because of updates?) and will not allow me to go any further. I have done a complete image copy of my SDD from safe mode, so have a complete backup.



If possible, I'd like to NOT have to rebuild - does anyone have any sensible ideas as to what action I might take to fix this problem? Again, I can do most things in 'safe mode', but this isn't a long term option, and I'd like to get back to my 'normal' login! Sincere thanks in advance to anyone that can help!!

 

[mikeinnc]

More information....

Well, as I have been trying a swag of 'fixes', I appear to have some success - and further problems! Firstly, when in Safe Mode, I tried to create a 'system repair disk' but it failed with a message "Windows repair disc has stopped working". Is this a Safe Mode issue - or yet another problem?


Reading other posts (many of them!!), I found someone had some success with removing HP Protect Tools (which was installed and working on my computer). I did that but it appeared to not to do anything. I then used msconfig > selective startup (I'd tried to use another option - diagnostic - but the system kept switching it to 'selective'). And on restart - success!! The logins appeared for my accounts (admin and mike). However, I can't login directly as it appears the HP Protect Tools haven't been uninstalled - even though I'd thought they were. However, there IS an option to ignore the 'Credentail Manager' and use a HP "Wizard" to login - and that IS successful. Of course, as many of the services aren't running, most of the functionality of the OS is not available. I'll try more later and report back....... Thanks to everyone who has looked at this!!

 

[iko22]

Hello mikeinnc,

I then used msconfig > selective startup (I'd tried to use another option - diagnostic - but the system kept switching it to 'selective'). And on restart - success!!
... Thanks to everyone who has looked at this!!

If you have had some success with the selective startup (clean boot), then you may wish to explore that tip a bit deeper, and read the steps in this tutorial
:ar: Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup

You may find that approach helps you find the problem service or program.

 

[mikeinnc]

Well, to say I am gobsmacked is an understatement! When I restarted previously, I had set a 'diskcheck on startup' flag, and the check ran. Unfortunately, I didn't see the results as I'd stepped out. However, when the computer started and gave me a limited start (with most services stopped), I then reset it for a normal start; restarted and it has booted perfectly normally!! Of course, there are updates pending - understandable as I'd 'restored' to a previous point in time before, but on first glance, all looks to be well. I haven't had to use the very informative 'services check' as suggested, although the principle appears very sound and I must say thanks so much for the suggestion. One to keep in mind for the future!



So, should I mark this strange and perplexing problem as solved? Maybe not just yet - let me be 100% confident all is fixed, although still really no idea what the cause (or the destabilising effect!) was. Oh, and it appears?? that the 'HP Protect Tools' played little part in this, as they are a devil to uninstall!! They are still running and appear to be OK. Curiouser and curiouser, I think.......



I'll do a comprehensive check after the updates and report back.

 

[Megahertz07]

Some laptops have a protection tool to park the HDD head if the laptop is detected to be falling.
To detect that it's falling, you have a motion sensor.
As you have a SSD this protection is useless but I don't think it makes any harm.
On disk manager you will find the motion sensor driver.

 

[mikeinnc]

Thanks, Megahertz07. I'm not quite sure what the effect of such a sensor would be on my problem - and indeed, I'm not sure such a sensor is fitted to the HP6730B - and, as you correctly say, with a SSD, it's immaterial. However, it does appear that the problem is - inextricably - solved, and I really cannot say why. The only positive action I took was to try and remove the HP Protect Tools suite - depressingly ineffective as that appears to have been. However, the very process of attempting to remove the tool suite may have solved the problem. I do know that after using the selective start-up option, I could only log-in using a non-tools option, presumably as the Protect Tools service was stopped. But apart from that, the system now seems to be back to where it was before this problem arose. I've successfully updated the OS and also reinstalled the updated software the restore had removed - and all appears to be well. I'll leave it to others to determine if this post is worth keeping as a salutary lesson to others - and breathe a sigh of relief I didn't have to rebuild! Thanks to all who read and responded!