HELP! Startup Repair Offline

[krisko09]

As of about 3 days ago my Dell Inspiron N7010 (Win7 Home Prem 64bit) fails to boot up. It gets to the initial Windows screen before the login screen and freezes, then sends me into Startup Repair. I run it and get this:

Event Name: Startup Repair Offline
Problem Signature 1: 6.1.7600.16385
Prob Sig 2: 6.1.7600.16385
Prob Sig 3: unknown
Prob Sig 4: 21200653
Prob Sig 5: AutoFailover
Prob Sig 6: 14 (this number has been different before)
Prob Sig 7: FailureDuringSetup

I've tried running the diagnostics and get no error codes. I've tried restore points, memory diagnostics.. pretty much everything except factory image, with no success. I have a lot of government programs installed on this laptop, so I REALLY don't want to wipe it. I've tried looking this up on every forum, website, etc for the past few days and no one seems to have this issue. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

 

[usasma]

Try hard drive diag: HD Diagnostic

I wonder why that last Prob Sig is "FailureDuringSetup" if you don't want to wipe the system?
Have you checked the setup error logs in Windows? Here's an article that describes them: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Vista setup log file locations

 

[krisko09]

I talked to a dell tech support agent and they convinced me to restore it to the factory image.. after doing that, the problem persists. I can't do the HD Diag that u posted because this is my only computer. And how do I check they error log without being able to access windows? Can I do it through the command prompt? (Sorry, im not PC illiterate, but i'm also no PC genius haha)

 

[usasma]

You can burn the HDD diag to a CD on another computer
Then insert it into the Dell
Press F12 when the Dell screen shows (to select the boot menu) and boot from the CD.

As for the setup logs, you can view them through the command prompt - but there may not be a lot that's really helpful to you.

I'd suggest calling Dell back and telling them that their "fix" didn't work. See what they can do to help you.

 

[krisko09]

I guess i'll have to find someone whose computer I can use. I DID call dell back to gripe at them and they told me i'll have to track down the windows disc that came with the laptop and reinstall windows. Issue is, I haven't seen that disc in a year.

my parents have a disc for there's which runs the same OS.. I wonder if I could just use their disc with my product key?

 

[usasma]

In general Dell disks are interchangeable (at least in the US). It should be light green with something about Windows 7 64 bit on the face of it.

 

[krisko09]

Ah they must just have Win 7 Home then and not HP.. there's is orange.

 

[usasma]

Hmmmm - I though Home Premium was the green one. Haven't even seen an orange one with Win7
What does it say on the disk?

 

[krisko09]

Yep, its HP.. its a 3-pack so idk if that makes a difference on the color.. i'll have to give it a shot when im down there next week and let ya know how it works.

 

[krisko09]

So! Reinstalling windows worked. HOWEVER, now all of my programs are gone. I backed everything up, is there a way to get my programs back???? And it won't let me set up any internet connections?

 

[usasma]

The only way to get the programs back is to reinstall them. The programs in the backup are "coded" for the old system (a different ID number for the installation) and also have numerous different file locations (and files) along with many, many registry entries.

As for the connection issue, go to Start and type in "devmgmt.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter when devmgmt shows up at the top of the search box.

Are there any devices that show up as having problems?

If so, the first step is to download the ethernet driver (from the Dell site) on another computer and carry it over to this computer and install it. Once that's done, you should be able to connect with a wire - and then you can go to the Dell site and get the rest of the missing drivers.

 

[krisko09]

I had "!"s next to all of my networking drivers. I just updated them by searching "C:/" and everythings running fine now. Now I just have to reinstall everything :-S lol thanks for the help! Much appreciated