Embarrassing mistake going from bad to worse 0x0000007b +missing OS ++

[ThreePeak]

I'm the last person to screw around with stuff without either a) an idea what the hell I'm doing..or b) a backup/backup plan. I had an HP envy 17 j034ca laptop running windows 7 as primary, but dual booted with a win 10.

I had not been happy with the performance lately, and despite executing a ridiculous amount of best practices, scans, tweaks you name it....I wasn't getting the results. I'm comfortable with most of the inner workings of the win OS's and can fix 99.9% of issues I've encountered...one way or another.

My clever self found sysinternals suite, and while browsing through its data/options, I found what I believed to be many unnecessary or non crucial tasks that could stand to be toggled off. Again, Im not a newb, so nothing I triggered gave me the impression it could cause problems. But I was dabbling in scheduled tasks, startup etc. To note, a bunch of windows updates had just finished as well and awaited reboot.. Did it work fine? HELL NO :sarc: And here I am.

Started off as a constant BSOD when trying to start win 7 after that initial reboot. I believe it's always been the same error of 0x0000007b. Supposedly related to inaccessible boot device/controller. Every time, it proceeds with boot (set to verbose/detailed so lists the processes/drivers loading as they do) gets to the point where it stops listing paths and does its usual black windows loading screen with green progress bar. It only manages to get to that screen for avsplit vsecond before triggering the BSOD. Attempting all manner of startup repair, RE commands ( including check disk and bootrec and bcdedit variety), system restore etc has NO effect. Using the f8 boot option mode from windows OS select ( is safe mode, last good etc) ALL end the same way.....bsod 0x0000007b.

At this point, the existing OS were still found annd listed by RE , but during an initial system recovery attempt, it froze out, and I've spent the last 5 days trying to recover from the never ending death cycle known as missing operating system! With all files still intact when mounted, but NOTHING resolving the issue...and I mean NOTHING! Even down to manually rebuilding the BCD from fresh win 7 ISO.. Long story short, I gave up before "accidentally" smashing the laptop. I went nuclear baby! Active kill disk to wipe it ALL to scrap, reinstalled win 7 cleanly. Apart from pain in the ass of getting functionality and drivers and win 7 updates all over again, newvinstall booted and worked fine.

And then....I decided to try and recover my files from the drives prior to wiping. I was going to just mount the backup image (its a tib format made/running Acronis True image 2014) and copy paste all but maybe the OS files. I did have a lot of things I really liked about that install that I would never remember if starting from scratch...so I decided to run the restore option for the drive ho!ding the files via True image thinking whatever boot loader issue had occurred was resolved... MISTAKE!!! I'm back to square one with win 7 booting back to 0x0000007b!!!!

So trolls, don't bother, not listening. Anybody else with any ideas ? I'm all ears. If it WAS indeed something I triggered with sysinternals, I feel like I could figure out what it was....but I m not aware if I can run it or access it outside the booted win environment. And YES! I have run oodles of anti virus/malware/rootkit etc scans, I HAVE run startupbrepair and chkdsk /f ( and /r if I remember) multiple times, I have tried to rebuild boot, system restore etc etc etc.. So no need to copy and paste that go to chunk of text lol I don't need to loose any more hair from this, help!!

 

[cyclops]

ThreePeak, did you ever try booting in Safe Mode?

 

[jadinolf]

Sorry, couldn't help it.

 

[cyclops]

Do you mean that you could not boot in Safe Mode? Does it go directly to blue screen or can you access recovery console before that?
Have you tried a repair installation following this tutorial,,,http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

 

[ThreePeak]

Repair install cannot be done as you need to be able to get into windows to Initiate it. Safe mode and all other "f8 boot options" all result in the blue screen error less than a second after transition from verbose boot log (listing what drivers/modules are being loaded) to the black screen with windows logo and windows is loading screen

 

[cyclops]

Have you tried option #2 in the windows repair tutorial? Making sure to have the bios set to boot to the cd/dvd drive first!!!!

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

 

[ThreePeak]

Sorry could you clarify? Option #2 on what tutorial? The link you posted about repair install? There is no issue accessing the windows RE, command prompt or other RE features...with the exception that startup repair doesn't solve the issue no matter how many times its run and system restore claims there is no restore points

 

[ThreePeak]

Oh, and I've also tried running it from the uefi startup AND the CSM (compatibility support module, aka MBR boot for uefi systems).

 

[cyclops]

ThreePeak, what on earth is RE? Did you open the attached .pdf in the post #6?
You need to go into your bios and set the first boot device to be DVD drive, insert your windows DVD in the drive and reboot to have the computer to boot from the dvd and the select to repair your existing windows installation. Please read in it's entirety when someone is trying to help you at no expense to you.

 

[Layback Bear]

Maybe this will be helpful.

Tutorial by Brink:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

 

[cyclops]

Good evening LaybackBear. I have posted that to this thread twice today. You can lead a horse,,,,,,,,,

 

[Layback Bear]

I notice what you did in your post. As far as I can tell you pointed the OP in the right direction.

Just thought it might of been missed so I made it bigger and highlight it and no PDF needed.

 

[Urthboundmisfit]

ThreePeak, what on earth is RE? Did you open the attached .pdf in the post #6?
You need to go into your bios and set the first boot device to be DVD drive, insert your windows DVD in the drive and reboot to have the computer to boot from the dvd and the select to repair your existing windows installation. Please read in it's entirety when someone is trying to help you at no expense to you.

RE= Recovery Environment. The OP has stated numerous times he has no trouble getting to these options, they just don't solve the problem.

 

[cyclops]

Booting up to the windows DVD is going to totally over ride/ by-bass those options/hurdles. Please try it or I quit!

Boot to DVD is not the same as RE

 

[ThreePeak]

Setting the record straight/clarification

Ok... I truly appreciate each and every message or attempt anybody puts forth trying to help solve the issue. That is the case whether the content is the answer, beneficial OR totally useless/not applicable. So don't take any feedback as an insult or being ungrateful. To clarify the intent of the original post: Only a single poster clued in. RE=Recovery environment...which is accessed by booting from the windows dvd (yes, with the boot order changed in the bios to set dvd drive as first boot device). I'm trying to tow the line between too much info and over simplifying. What I can say (and if you re-read the original post, should be able to discern) is that every solution that has been proposed by any poster to this thread thus far has already been attempted multiple times prior to posting. I avoid wasting people's time with a thread that could have been answered easily with a little googling and effort. The issue can be summed as thus: Every windows RE/windows dvd boot "repair" options available has been attempted without solving the issue. Whether that be an automated one click style fix like startup repair, system restore etc... Or an applied attempt involving various command line operations/fixes. I also spent a good chunk of time in the DISKPART and BOOTREC sections (for specific actions as guided by tutorials). Thanks again for the patience guys. I assure you I read the links and resources you have suggested and attempted the steps.