Solved Laptop Won't boot Anything

[SoapDodger]

And how do I find that?!? lol

I think I missed the error message first time It went quite quickly.

 

[rsedgarroman]

If the above methods mentioned does not solve your problem, then it is possible the hard drive is faulty, hence, replace your hard drive. I had problems trying to re-install windows on a computer i was working on, turns out if the hard drive is bad windows will not load or re-install will not work either. Let us know OK!

 

[SoapDodger]

Right. The USB stick didn't work. However at least I have a screen which I can explain. When I booted the USB drive it came stright up with the following:

SYSLINUX 4.83 2010-10-22 EDD Copyright (C) 1994-2010 H. Peter Anvin et al

The cursur then just hangs under it. It does nothing and I can't do anything. What would cause this?

Your suggestion about a dodgy hard drive is valid however a couple of days prior I have re-installed windows from a recovery disc... unless ofcourse something currupted within those few days?!?

How can I test for hard drive errors if I can't boot from anything?

Cheers, Dan.

 

[rsedgarroman]

What i usually do is remove the hard drive and test it using a ide/sata connector to another computer, i don't know if you have another computer available to do this but if the hard drive cannot be tested or read on another computer then the drive is bad.

 

[SoapDodger]

Right, I don't have a cable at the moment, but I have access to 3 other computers. If I were to get a cable how would I test the hard drive? What programs would I use once it's connected?

I really want to get it fixed Asap so if need be I will buy a cable tomorrow

 

[SlasherIT]

This probably has nothing to do with the hard drive. You do not need a hard drive at all to boot a live system such as Ubuntu. Since its not booting, I'm more inclined to think something may be wrong with your motherboard... But lets not rule that out yet.

 

[rsedgarroman]

if your other computers are running windows, then once you connect the drive and it is recognized you use the windows tools to check the disk and format if necessary, right click on drive and check for errors and fix file system. try that first, ok

 

[SlasherIT]

@rsedgarroman - did you not read my post above?

 

[SoapDodger]

How could I check the motherboard? Could is be the driver support for the USb and CD drive? Would that cause the ISO not to boot properly?!?

Cheers, Dan.

 

[SlasherIT]

First of all, do you have a separate computer you could use to test to see if all your bootable CD's and USB's boot or not? Or at a friends or work or something? We need to fully rule out whether the problems are with the bootable media or your motherboard.

 

[gregrocker]

In Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot which I posted 17 hours ago, it shows in Step 5 exactly how to write the latest official Win7 installer w/SP1 Win7 to flash stick to do the booted repairs, copy out your data, or wipe the HD to Clean Reinstall.

If tool given fails try Universal USB Installer which was also suggested earlier.

 

[SoapDodger]

Yes, I have just booted up an old Laptop. When my USB finishes what it's doing I will try booting it and installing Ubuntu on my spare which I was about to try anyway. If that works then I'll be back, if it doesn't work we can assume it's the media in which I am trying to boot

 

[SlasherIT]

Alright then, sounds good .

 

[SoapDodger]

Ahhh Bad news I am afraid. I booted the Windows 7 DVD into my old laptop and it had no issues with it. Granted my Ubuntu disc is faulty because I used Nero, I am in the process of making another Ubuntu Live disc in the hopes that will help rule out the hard drive

 

[gregrocker]

With the rootkit infection it never really gets clean until the HD is wiped and WIn7 reinstalled on the clean slate.

I gave you steps earlier to copy out your data, wipe the HD and boot the installer all of which use disks that will boot themselves, forcing the WIn7 installer to ultimately boot itself to do the Clean REinstall.

 

[SoapDodger]

Hey Greg, I folowed them instructions and it worked. I went into the boot command promt, I then used the diskpart command and the 'clean all' command on my C drive to completely clear it. I then inserted the recovery discs and put windows 7 back on. After 2 days of trialing the clean install I tried backing up from a windows image and that is how I ended up here :/

I can't even get back to the command prompt to clean the HD again I will try my "new" ubuntu disc when it's finished installing on my old laptop and see where the problem lies.

Cheers, Dan.

 

[SlasherIT]

The harddrive has nothing to do whether your bootable media will boot or not.

Yes, try booting from the Ubuntu disk to see if it works or not when you are done.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you remember what you were doing just before the Clean Reinstall went south?

Have you tested the hardware as given in Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums ?

Is there a newer BIOS update? If not reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Can you boot a disk now? Can you access Repair console on F8?

 

[SoapDodger]

Right Guys, Basically I made another Ubuntu Disc and it worked. I booted the live CD which of course doesn't use the hard drive then I installed Ubuntu on the full hard drive (formatting it all). This basically fixed my computer. It must have refreshed the MBR or something because I then put the Windows 7 disc in and installed that I have been back on top ever since with no problems. Although I have just realised I installed the 32bit version of windows instead of the 64bit version >_< now I have to start again lmao Cheers though lads Much appreciated!

 

[itami]

there is probability that the hard drive is bad? so use a diagnostic tool to check the hardrive health. if you boot from a usb flash drive and nothing freezes then am thinking the hard drive is bad, try a complete format on your hard drive. I seen bad hard drives that lock in the windows logo and never finish logging in.

complete format with gparted in the usb ubuntu