Solved Computer Stopped Working

[Stanton]

Hello All,

I just built my first computer a few weeks ago. I installed Windows 7 through a USB stick and everything was working great. Recently though, everything went terribly wrong.

Long story short, the computer will not boot into windows anymore. When I try to use the System Recovery Tools, there is no operating system listed and asks me to restart the computer and select the OS. That does nothing, the OS is never listed. When I try to use that Startup Repair thing, it runs for a minute and gives me the message that it cannot repair the computer, great! After that tool doesn't work it mentions that there doesn't appear to be a HDD, or that it cannot communicate with it. Odd, because my SATA is listed in the BIOS.

So I got fed up and tried a reinstall, that should fix everything right? Well when I try that it asks me to insert the reinstall media and select the driver. Well what driver am I supposed to select? That is my current situation. Any help on this would be much appreciated.

Dan

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Stanton, welcome to Seven Forums!



Maybe the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is not working correctly or has an intermittent connection to the motherboard, have you tried the connection; maybe you should run some tests on it; have a look at the link below.

You can't think of any reason Windows may have quit working in the first place?


Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities

 

[Stanton]

I haven't tried anything with the connection. I had this computer working up until yesterday. There were programs installed on the HDD, so how could it just stop functioning?

I cannot think of any reason why Windows has failed. I was browsing the web and it became slow all of a sudden. My initial concern was malware, and I was right. I ran CCleaner and malwarebytes. It did find one malware infection and removed it. I then restarted the system. At first it would boot into windows, but it kept getting slower and slower until it would no longer work.

I was just able to run the Startup Repair. It completed and restarted the computer, which then failed to load windows again. So it is now in the process of running Startup Repair again.

It seems like I am encountering new problems each time I try something new.

Dan

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I'd imagine you are more infected than you first thought; another concern is the "one removed" had something to do with the startup routine.

The only way to correct for the infection may be to completely wipe (secure erase) the HDD, have a look at the info below.

   Information

After you have made backups of everything you care to save and you want to do a real wipe "clean all" to the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) have a look at this tutorial at the link below, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old Windows drivers, giving you the best possible space to install Windows 7 to; it goes hand-in-hand with a clean install.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

​

 

[Stanton]

Ok after the second time through the Startup Repair it said that it cannot repair the computer. But it seems to have found the operating system. So I am trying to do a system restore now. If that does not work than I will do the wipe.

Dan

 

[Stanton]

I am trying to wipe the Drive but I cannot access it again. When I ask for the list in diskpart it tells me "there are no fixed disks to show."

 

[Stanton]

Ok I found it in the list now.

I am cleaning it now. And because its a 1TB HD, this may take a really long time.

Will keep updating what happens.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Yes be sure to post back and this time don't put the OS on the whole HDD, make a single 100GB partition to do the install to using Step Two #2 and you can make any additional needed partitions after the install finishes. Windows will have an easier time not having to install to such a large space as 1TB.

How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7



Also with Windows installed to a 100GB partition, if you ever need to do another wipe you won't have to do the whole HDD; you would be able to do a partition specific wipe using the method out-lined in Option Three of this tutorial.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

 

[gregrocker]

If you have not yet tested your HD, you should find the HD maker's diag/repair utility at the link BFK posted earlier, burn to CD and run the full Scan. It can repair physical problems with the disk.

After that run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html from the Win7 DVD Repair console Command Line.

You do not want to install Windows until you have a clean bill of health on your HD. If so, then you can assume it was further infection causing the problems which will be overwritten by wiping the HD.

 

[Stanton]

Thanks guys. I am now formatting and labeling a created partition of 100GB as Windows 7 with NTFS. I will then perform the Disk Scan and check as Greg recommended.

What would you recommend for an anti-virus software? I only had AVG Free. I think I'll upgrade to something with more protection.

Dan

 

[Stanton]

When I put the CD with the diagnostic tool into the computer and restart the PC, I get a message saying there is no drive detected. How can that be If I just formatted it?

Dan

 

[gregrocker]

Which tool are you using? Try Seatools or WD Lifeguard

MS Security Essentials seems to be the favorite now along with the Windows Firewall.

 

[Stanton]

Great.

I have the computer running again. Now I am trying to install some programs and protection.

I just realized that the programs are being installed on the same partition that I created for Windows 7. How can I set it up so that I am installing to the primary partition with all the free space?

Dan

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again Dan; good to see you got it running.



Use this to create additional partition(s), then create a separate "Program" (or any name you like) folder as the main folder, then create individual file/folders to install each program to; also have a look at the second tutorial.

How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7

User Folders - Change Default Location



Greg has suggested one of the best free AVs most are using now.

Microsoft Security Essentials Free Antivirus

 

[gregrocker]

I would not install Programs to any other than the Win7 partition in the folder meant for them. Programs install reg keys which integrate them into the OS.

If you want to separate your User folders to another partition, here is how to do that: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html

This keeps your OS partition lean for imaging purposes. If Win7 becomes irreparable, you can simply reimage your OS/Programs partition and the data is ready and current.