Computer hangs upon boot. HELP!

[hamneggs]

I have a Windows 7 desktop--2TB HDD, 8GB RAM.

For a while now, when I turn the computer on, it hangs on "starting Windows" and will not go any further. If I shut it down (pull the plug) and turn it back on, it will load normally (about every other time), however slowly.

I have used Windows repair, cleared the disk cache, cleared the prefetch and temp files. I checked the memory and it's ok, done system restore, and even a complete restore from recent backups. I've checked for Malware and none exists. I've done these steps many times. Still the problem persists and it's aggravating.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello hamneggs mate if you can get into safe mode run these please
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < if necessary include the /f switch and if this does not make any improvement then just run this switch instead /r in the command line as per Option2 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Run these in safe mode and the sfc often best run for two to three runs – you can leave out the /r switch in ckdsk if you feel it not necessary [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]NB SFC often said best to be run three times consecutively[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]if no fix then these [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.superantispyware.com/ [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif](NB If you are running Kaspersky as the main AV then it might need disabling it when trying ADW because it does not like it at times)[/FONT]

 

[mrjimphelps]

There's probably something hanging the computer at startup. It tries to load, but it can't, and in the process it bogs everything down.

To see if this is the case (and to fix it), you could go into Safe Mode, then run MSCONFIG. Go to the Services tab. Disable all non-Microsoft services. Restart the computer into normal mode.

If the computer runs normally now, then you can go back into MSCONFIG and re-enable one service at a time (rebooting after each re-enable), to see what the culprit was. You will know, because things will slow down again after you have re-enabled it. Once you find it, go back into Safe Mode, run MSCONFIG, go to the Services tab, and disable that item. Then reboot into normal mode. Things should run normally now.

Continue this process, re-enabling one thing at a time, till you get everything except for the culprits re-enabled.

You don't have to re-enable everything. You could leave some things disabled - for example, an auto-updater. But realize that if you leave something disabled, whatever functionality it provided won't be working. For example, some program won't get auto-updated.

 

[hamneggs]

I did try the fixes

Thanks for your help. I followed your input exactly and still the same old thing. Didn't help matters at all. The strangest part of the whole thing is that it boots correctly (slowly, though) **every other boot** without fail. Why every other boot??

Seems like I've tried everything I've read here and elsewhere. Nothing solves the problem. Maybe I'll get a new HDD and go from there. I've been seriously considering getting a Mac anyway.

Anyway, for the record here are my non-Microsoft services:

AMD Fuel Service
AMD External Events Utility
Device Handle Service
MBAM Service
Mozilla Maintenance Service
Macrium Image Guard Service
Macrium Service
VIA Karaoke Service

 

[mrjimphelps]

Since it is every other boot, did you reboot after doing all of this, so as to have one more boot? In other words, to test two consecutive boots.

 

[hamneggs]

Since it is every other boot, did you reboot after doing all of this, so as to have one more boot? In other words, to test two consecutive boots.

Yes. Still every other boot. I give up. Thank you for your help, anyway.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello mate now just how old is the computer and it would help if you could follow this
Now before we can help we do need to know what is in your machine so please do this System Info - See Your System Specs
or either enter the specs of your system in your forum profile the specs will appear when we click on that little box bottom left of the post screen it is for me the preferable option as it is easy. As you may appreciate it is very hard when you don’t know what one is working with for example a diesel or petrol engine. Please include what antivirus program you are using.
(pretyped to save time)


After asked this if the drive is an old one then it could possibly be on it's last legs that's why I would like to know the specs please.

 

[Layback Bear]

Another option. A tutorial by Brink.

Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup - Windows 7 Help Forums

Jack

 

[hamneggs]

Reply

hello mate now just how old is the computer and it would help if you could follow this
now before we can help we do need to know what is in your machine so please do this system info - see your system specs
or either enter the specs of your system in your forum profile the specs will appear when we click on that little box bottom left of the post screen it is for me the preferable option as it is easy. As you may appreciate it is very hard when you don’t know what one is working with for example a diesel or petrol engine. Please include what antivirus program you are using.
(pretyped to save time)


after asked this if the drive is an old one then it could possibly be on it's last legs that's why i would like to know the specs please.

done

 

[Megahertz07]

Boot from Win 7 installation disk, go to repair and launch a CMD window
Type:
chkdsk c: /f

Pay attention on the results, specially bad blocks and bad clusters.

 

[hamneggs]

Boot from Win 7 installation disk, go to repair and launch a CMD window
Type:
chkdsk c: /f

Pay attention on the results, specially bad blocks and bad clusters.

Thanks for the response.

I did not receive a Win7 installation disk with this computer. However, I do have a Win7 installation disk for another computer. Will I be able to use that one?

 

[Megahertz07]

I did not receive a Win7 installation disk with this computer. However, I do have a Win7 installation disk for another computer. Will I be able to use that one?

Yes.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate lets try what Megahertz has advised and if we still are in trouble then it might be worth testing the hard drive- te one with the OS on it the other will need disconnecting and in fact it might be worth while disconnecting the non OS drive anyway..
If we are going to test the drive use the test form here as I am assuming the smaller WD dirve is your OS one Testing a drive for problems using Data Lifeguard Diagnostics for Windows | WD Support