Hard Lock @ Welcome/Login Screen during Boot-Up, unable to resolve

[NKato]

I've recently reinstalled Windows 7 due to this problem, and everything was running smoothly up until today (approximately 4 days after I reinstalled the OS). This morning, I attempted to boot up my computer as usual, and it simply hardlocked as soon as the Welcome screen came up.

This hardlock only recently started happening with my PC when I hooked up a fourth monitor to my GPU, to produce a 3x1 monitor arrangement, plus my Cintiq tablet. (Currently, the Cintiq is in the shop for repairs.) When that configuration was plugged in, the computer started hardlocking. After that, I reinstalled Windows 7 over the weekend, and it was all working fine. Up until now.

There have been no BSOD's at all - even with the hard locks, and I attempted to use the driver verifier to see what was causing it, as this is my greatest suspicion. I rarely find that my computer builds have problems, though I don't have the tools to test my RAM yet (would like some help in this regard).

This is my workstation that I use for my art. I would like to resolve this ASAP before the week is over. Please help! ; 3

 

[Berton]

Have you tried the System Repair Disc you can make in Win7's Control Panel, Backup and Restore? It has to be for either 32-bit or 64-bit but your System Specs do show you have the 64-bit version of Windows. It doesn't necessarily have to be made from a specific computer.

 

[NKato]

I don't think a System Repair Disc will help here. The computer has been booting up just fine until this morning, and the OS installation is only a little over 72 hours old. (In other words, it's a brand-new OS install)

 

[NKato]

Annnd my computer stopped recognizing the windows drive. I tried disconnecting all other drives and that somehow caused it to Bork. I'm now attempting to do a reinstall, but the files are not decompressing. I think the os drive finally kicked it. We'll see. I'm taking a break while my computer tries to do a reinstall. If there is no progress when I get back, that'll be proof that the drive is indeed dead.

 

[NKato]

... This is a nightmare. An error saying that it could not find all the necessary files... What the hell? I have never seen this in my 10 years of building my own rigs.

 

[rvcjew]

Sounds like you have more than one issue at this point to to be clear your 4 drivers were not in raid or any kind of array correct? Also your cintiq may have caused a a short (how did it die?) frying say your gpu. First thing iw oudl try is remove your gpu then try to use one display with your integrated one then get the os installed and from there after getting all drivers then install your gpu and drivers for it.

 

[NKato]

Sounds like you have more than one issue at this point to to be clear your 4 drivers were not in raid or any kind of array correct? Also your cintiq may have caused a a short (how did it die?) frying say your gpu. First thing iw oudl try is remove your gpu then try to use one display with your integrated one then get the os installed and from there after getting all drivers then install your gpu and drivers for it.

The cintiq was dead because the power button stopped working. It is a non issue.

I think the hard drive is dead. I've reformatted the os drive three times and attempted to install windows on it. Each time, I got an error 0x80070017.

I will be looking at getting a new drive shortly.

 

[rvcjew]

that code normally means your dvd or install media is bad not your hdd, try this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[NKato]

I've removed the other drives for now and moved the rig to a place where I have more room to work. With everything isolated, it's still experiencing the expanding windows files problem. The disc, as far as I can tell, is fine. I'll test it with my other disc. (I have two copies of windows 7 ult.)

Edit: there it goes... It's expanding now. Once I've got the base install done, I'll have to connect my drives to get at the system image.

 

[NKato]

I still think the drive is in bad shape, though...

 

[rvcjew]

Are you installing windows then restoring for a windows backup image?

 

[NKato]

Tried to do it in that order, but it gave me errors. So I just reformatted the os drive again and it allowed me to install from system image. It's currently doing the install now.

 

[rvcjew]

Tried to do it in that order, but it gave me errors. So I just reformatted the os drive again and it allowed me to install from system image. It's currently doing the install now.

Best of luck, i'm a little confused on how the image was made if it was windows or not but either way doing just the image restore is probably better way anyway. I use acronis so am not as familiar with windows built in option.

 

[NKato]

I still haven't been able to diagnose the reason for my computer having hard locks at the welcome login screen. Any ideas? There are two reasons I can think of: bad hard drive or bad drivers.

 

[rvcjew]

I lean to bad gpu/bad drivers see if it hardlocks if you have it in safemode once your back up and running. If your sytem hardlocks in safemode too then shut it down take out the gpu and connect one monitor to the on-board graphics and see if it comes up in safe mode. Is your backup of a time before you were having hardlocks?

 

[NKato]

Does not hard lock in safe mode. Gpu unlikely.

 

[rvcjew]

in safe mode can you uninstall your amd gpu drivers through programs and features?

 

[NKato]

At the moment, due to the reinstall, there are no hard lock issues but I expect it to come back. I will try the full uninstall of catalyst in safe mode if it happens.

 

[rvcjew]

If you have none now I would do it in normal mode if you can it works better. Also if it does not lock in safemode that does not mean its the gpu it could be other drivers as well. I would if you get the problem again once in safemode go to msconfig and turn off boot programs till you find the cuplrit.

 

[NKato]

I'll put this issue on hold for now. I'll come back if any further issues crop up.