Hey guys, need some help.

[DrunkSupersonic]

I recently was installing new drivers for my integrated RADEON HD 3200, since my 9800GT was a DOA. While I AM currently saving up for a possible new card, I downloaded CATALYST, the thingy from AMD, I think it's some sort of driver or whatever, I just was told that it was a driver update or an updater, or whatever the hell it is. So I downloaded, installed, and it said it would download an appropriate driver.

I delayed restarting until later, and then I turned it off, thinking it would do the trick or something. Apparently not.

It seems that some kind of "bad driver" situation is going on, and now I can't boot Windows correctly. Startup Repair can't actually restore my computer automatically, and so it's stuck like that. System Restore tried to push itself back to two days ago, before I installed CATALYST, and then when I restart my computer for it to boot from windows, it loops back to the BIOS, then attempts to start windows, and it STILL screws up.

Help me, please.

 

[zigzag3143]

I recently was installing new drivers for my integrated RADEON HD 3200, since my 9800GT was a DOA. While I AM currently saving up for a possible new card, I downloaded CATALYST, the thingy from AMD, I think it's some sort of driver or whatever, I just was told that it was a driver update or an updater, or whatever the hell it is. So I downloaded, installed, and it said it would download an appropriate driver.

I delayed restarting until later, and then I turned it off, thinking it would do the trick or something. Apparently not.

It seems that some kind of "bad driver" situation is going on, and now I can't boot Windows correctly. Startup Repair can't actually restore my computer automatically, and so it's stuck like that. System Restore tried to push itself back to two days ago, before I installed CATALYST, and then when I restart my computer for it to boot from windows, it loops back to the BIOS, then attempts to start windows, and it STILL screws up.

Help me, please.

Try booting into safe mode (F8) and remove the vid driver. Win 7 will reinstall one on reboot


Ken

 

[DrunkSupersonic]

What do you mean by booting in safe mode? When I boot, it shows some stuff from the bios. Typical. Then, something about my drives and HyperDriveUtility, something that's usually not there when I boot. All that actually does is show info about my drives. Then it goes to "Verifying DMI pool data" which is where it usually switches to Windows. There, "Starting Windows" appears, and the four colored orbs dance around until they abruptly stop and then the screen cuts to black. Then it repeats the procedure and then it goes to "Windows cannot boot correctly" after completing the failing process. There, I have two options, "Launch Startup Repair", which is what I've been doing, and "Start Windows Normally" which takes it back here after 5 minutes. Dude, help me, I went through a lot of trouble asking my dad to call the guys at SYMANTEC and MICROSOFT to explain that the old computer broke, and if we could transfer licenses, and it would be mean to him if I had to start that all over...

 

[Dzomlija]

What do you mean by booting in safe mode? When I boot, it shows some stuff from the bios. Typical. Then, something about my drives and HyperDriveUtility, something that's usually not there when I boot. All that actually does is show info about my drives. Then it goes to "Verifying DMI pool data" which is where it usually switches to Windows. There, "Starting Windows" appears, and the four colored orbs dance around until they abruptly stop and then the screen cuts to black. Then it repeats the procedure and then it goes to "Windows cannot boot correctly" after completing the failing process. There, I have two options, "Launch Startup Repair", which is what I've been doing, and "Start Windows Normally" which takes it back here after 5 minutes. Dude, help me, I went through a lot of trouble asking my dad to call the guys at SYMANTEC and MICROSOFT to explain that the old computer broke, and if we could transfer licenses, and it would be mean to him if I had to start that all over...

To go to Safe Mode:

When you turn your computer on, repeatedly press the F8 key during the BIOS phase, before the "Starting Windows" message appears. When Windows is supposed to start, a menu will come up from which you can choose "Safe Mode".

Once in safe mode, go to control panel and uninstall the bad driver.

 

[Pusspa]

some bios's will give you boot order screen when u hit f8, so if you see that, choose ur hardrive and then (quickly, lol) hit f8 again.

 

[DrunkSupersonic]

Alright, I pressed F8 like a madman. There was SAFE MODE, that didn't work, just did the same thing. As did "last known good settings".

 

[AussieGuy92]

try booting into safe mode with with networking and safe mode is so you can trouble shoot and fix the problem it does not fix the problem go into device manager and uninstall the driver restart and install the correct program/driver for your video card.

hope that this helps you with your problem, Andrew.

 

[gregrocker]

Run Startup Repair repeatedly from the install DVD or Repair CD.
Startup Repair - Windows 7 Forums.URL
System Repair Disc - Create - Windows 7 Forums.URL

If this fails, make sure Win7 partition is marked Active using DISKPART:
Partition - Mark as Active - Windows 7 Forums.URL
Then run Startup Repair again up to 3 separate times to repair the MBR.

If this fails, open the Command Line again on DVD/CD to type:
bootrec.exe /fixboot
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
Bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force
Then run Startup Repair repeatedly until it starts.

If this fails, you can copy out your files by running the Win7 installer, at "Where do you want to install Windows" screen, click Load Drivers, browse to your files to copy and paste to external, DVD or Stick. Or use Paragon Rescue Disk to attempt to rescue partition and then files.

 

[DrunkSupersonic]

I already did run startup repair from the whatsit. The hard disk.

 

[gregrocker]

Better to run it from the DVD Repair console or Repair CD. I gave you the steps to assure everything possible can be done to start it, or the files can be copied out if it won't start after all steps tried.

 

[DrunkSupersonic]

Well, I shoved in the installation disk, (fun fact: it's a built system and the disc is OEM) and it really didn't do anything except hang around at the dull blue screen with a little vine, stem, or whatever.

EDIT: Well, if I leave the disk in, it takes me right back to the installation, asking me for the language, time, input and whatnot. Is this the right thing to do? Doesn't really seem that there is any backup/rescue-the-poor-kid files.

 

[DrunkSupersonic]

Oh, I see. I found those repair tools. I ran it, first time it said, "Windows cannot fix this computer automatically" and then after that and for three more times it said "Windows cannot detect a problem", even though it still can't boot from the hard drive anymore. Anyone got news?

 

[DrunkSupersonic]

Okay, not to be annoying, but it's not actually working.

 

[myzr7]

Okay, not to be annoying, but it's not actually working.

Run Startup Repair repeatedly from the install DVD or Repair CD.
Startup Repair - Windows 7 Forums.URL
System Repair Disc - Create - Windows 7 Forums.URL

If this fails, make sure Win7 partition is marked Active using DISKPART:
Partition - Mark as Active - Windows 7 Forums.URL
Then run Startup Repair again up to 3 separate times to repair the MBR.

If this fails, open the Command Line again on DVD/CD to type:
bootrec.exe /fixboot
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
Bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force
Then run Startup Repair repeatedly until it starts.

If this fails, you can copy out your files by running the Win7 installer, at "Where do you want to install Windows" screen, click Load Drivers, browse to your files to copy and paste to external, DVD or Stick. Or use Paragon Rescue Disk to attempt to rescue partition and then files.

Drunk Supersonic, did you try all of GregRockers suggestions? The last part tells you how to copy your files that needed rescued. Good luck to you and Welcome to Sevenforums

 

[gregrocker]

Did you confirm the Win7 partition is marked active using the DISKPART commands given above?

Then run Startup Repair 3 separate time with reboots regardless of what messages it gives you.

If it still doesn't start, run the three commands I listed above to try to jumpstart the Repair, then run Startup Repair again x3.

If you have tried all of these steps exactly as given earlier and it still won't start, then you will need to copy out your files and reinstall.