Solved How to manually turn off Auto Restart after System Failure

[BigAl1954]

I am attempting to reinstall Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on an HP Pavillion DV6 laptop. Initial re-install went ok, but on reboot I am getting a quick BSOD with error messages, then going to the Restart options menu (Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc.) Turning off the Auto Restart after System Failure is not one of the options on the menu. I seem to remember a year or so ago reading that I could put a switch into the config.sys or another startup file to manually turn the Auto Restart off, but have googled extensively and can't find it.

FYI, I had the same problem on a previous reinstall attempt, so I know this is not just an issue that came up during this reinstall. I know the ISO I am installing from is ok. I have run all the built in system diagnostics and am getting no errors with memory, HD, etc. Also, I was able to successfully install the 32 bit version, but the machine came from the factory with 64 bit installed, and all the driver files @ the HP website are for the 64 bit version. I want to return it to the client in as close to original condition as possible. She does not have any backup or system restore disks.

Any help would be most appreciated. TY

 

[alphanumeric]

Disable restart on system failure should be one of the options on the F8 advanced boot options menu. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html?ltr=A
Windows 7 does not use a config.sys file.

 

[BigAl1954]

Yep, it SHOULD be an option, but as I noted in my original message, it is not on the options list. And I don't know if it uses it, but my other installs of Win7 do have a config.sys file.

 

[alphanumeric]

I guess its there for backwards compatibility, compatibility with what I'm not sure. It's a throw back to the old DOS days. I haven't messed with the config.sys or autoexec.bat files since Windows 98.
A BSOD is almost always a driver/hardware issue. I have no idea why your :disable restart on system failure option" is MIA. You could try last known good or maybe debugging mode.

 

[BigAl1954]

Don't have a last known good config cause I formatted the HD before reinstall. And debug mode is also missing from options. Thanks for trying, though. I feel 90+% sure there is a way to stop it from auto rebooting by editing a file somewhere there in the root directory, just wish I could remember what file...

 

[Johnthefast]

Hey. to turn off auto reboot on windows 7, right click computer, click properties. on the left you should see advanced system settings. click this. in the hardware tab click 'settings' under startup and recovery.
under system failure. see a checkbox labelled 'automatically restart' untick this and the pc will display the bluescreen until you shut it down or reboot.

for reference when you can actually load windows >.> try to do it in safe mode

also if you want to see the bluescreen files, you could access the pc (put it in an external hdd case.. use a live cd etc) and copy paste the minidump files and then use bluescreen view to analyse them

 

[BigAl1954]

Bro, please re-read my post. Error is happening after a hard disk format and reinstall, will not even boot after the first round of reinstall file installation.

However, I can access the HD by booting from a USB. Can you tell me where to find the dump files you talked about.

 

[Johnthefast]

yeah I read it properly mid post and left the information in just in case you didn't know.



Windows 7 default location is %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP
or
C:\Windows\Minidump\Minidump.dmp < this is the location mine are stored in

there is a program seven forum likes to use called sf_diagnostic which finds em for you if the pc would boot into windows

so you cant even boot into safe mode? and its a fresh install?

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/disable-auto-restart-windows-7.htm

 

[BigAl1954]

Won't boot with safe mode. Don't have turn off Auto Restart option on the menu. Don't have debug mode. Repair function when booting with the Windows install iso doesn't work. Pretty much SOL. Going to go see if I can find those files you mentioned and see if they tell me anything. Thanks for the info.

 

[Layback Bear]

Not knowing what system you have makes it hard to answer the question.
You could look in the bios under the Power heading.
That is where it's located on both my Asus boards.

Post #1
How to manually turn off Auto Restart after System Failure

 

[BigAl1954]

No luck finding the memory.dmp or minidump files. Hmmmm...

 

[Johnthefast]

The install might have botched. is this the first install attempt or?
also is it a clean known working ISO (dvd image) ?

 

[BigAl1954]

This was the third install attempt from two (or was it three?) different isos that are all good. Same issue every time. I would just install 32 bit - I got a 32 bit install to work - but all the drivers from HP for this machine are 64 bit and I am trying to restore the system to as close to factory original as possible.

I am wondering if I need to use the HP restore disks to do this (which the client doesn't have, of course.) The HD had a really weird setup, 4 dynamic partitions on the HD when I got it from the client. I have since reformatted to 2 standard NTFS primary partitions, because the Win7 install wouldn't allow me to reformat or do anything with the dynamic partitions.

 

[Johnthefast]

model number/motherboard number? if you can find the 32 bit drivers and they aren't running 4gb of ram or more, you could just pop a 32 bit install on. unless they specifically want need/want the 64 bit install. USUALLY theres 2 sets of drivers 32/64

So mobo number/setup number (if it was a prebuilt) ?

going out in about 20-30 mins so, good luck

 

[BigAl1954]

Model # is A3E87AV. Product Serial is 2CEE2282JCV. Product Specs here.

https://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc...dlc=en&lc=en&os=4063&product=5273547&sw_lang=

And yes, it has 8 GB of memory and they want it like it was when they bought it with 64 bit.

 

[Johnthefast]

Ah. that sucks. I take it doesn't have any backup or factory default partitions or discs?
Try a fresh ISO from windows?

 

[Johnthefast]

cant find many similar issues >.>
Blue Screens after fresh Windows 7 install [Solved] - Hard Drives - Storage
this person had managed to mess up the hard drive and had to clean format it and remove all encryption/partitions/mbr, have you tried a different hdd at all?
good luck with it. hopefully someone else has experienced the issue

 

[BigAl1954]

I've tried several different Win ISOs. The index for the Dynamic partitions apparently got trashed, so while there was a recovery partition, it was not accessible, which was why I reformatted the drive to standard primary partitions. Different HD is not an option because its a laptop, and diagnostics don't reveal any problems with it.

 

[BigAl1954]

Found the solution. There is a group of settings in the Registry called CrashControl that control memory dumps, whether or not the system auto-reboots if there is a system failure, etc. Since the system wouldn't boot, I had to download a repair disk that allowed me to edit the registry. I downloaded the Hiren's BootCD which is serious overkill at 600+Mb, but it had a lot of other tools that also looked useful. Here is a link to the settings in CrashControl: CrashControl

Now that I can see the error, have to figure out what is causing it. Lots of mentions of it here and at Microsoft TechNet forums, am going to go through them and see if one might contain the solution for my situation before I post here.

Thanks to everyone for all your help.