Laptop Won't Boot, can't get past Initial Windows Screen

[Peregrine]

Errors 2, 6, 7, & 8 are probably related to a card reader in your laptop.

Errors 3 & 4 are more troubling as they seem to point to your primary hard drive. Are they "disk" errors? What was the event id number? Often IDE errors can relate to a CD/DVD drive, too.

I think I would follow gregrocker's advice and run the manufacturer's diagnostic on the drive as soon as possible if you've not already done that (I can't remember through all the posts if this was done or not).

It's possible that the drive is fine but there are controller issues with your motherboard. Maybe something is loose after being dropped? It could also be that key Windows files are on bad sectors and Windows just can't run properly since it keeps accessing various files for various tasks and keeps choking since the files are not readable from some bad sectors. This may explain the other errors you're getting.

In my case, my symptoms were the same as yours but the event log errors were different. My drive kept showing event id 51 errors - errors during paging operations.

 

[Jacee]

Without going through all pages on this topic, do you have any USB devices plugged into the computer? If so, unplug them.

 

[gregrocker]

If you confirm in Disk Mgmt that your HD is the disk referenced in the repeat errors (and not a USB stick as Jacee suspects) then yes I think the HD Diagnostics we've been waiting for is more important than ever. If Data Lifeguard cannot be made to boot after burning another downloaded ISO at 4x speed, then try Seagate SeaTools.

Download and install this small app to read the HD SMART data from your desktop. CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World Please copy and post back the data here.

Please also uncheck this thread as solved at the very top so experts will stop in to help read the SMART data and further advise on your HD diagnostics.

 

[Jim15]

If you confirm in Disk Mgmt that your HD is the disk referenced in the repeat errors (and not a USB stick as Jacee suspects) then yes I think the HD Diagnostics we've been waiting for is more important than ever. If Data Lifeguard cannot be made to boot after burning another downloaded ISO at 4x speed, then try Seagate SeaTools.

Download and install this small app to read the HD SMART data from your desktop. CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World Please copy and post back the data here.

Please also uncheck this thread as solved at the very top so experts will stop in to help read the SMART data and further advise on your HD diagnostics.

I'm not really sure how to figure that out. When looking at details, it just says Hard Disk, so I'm guessing it is indeed the HD. I've taken out the flash drive, and haven't gotten any errors so far, though.

I think it's best to do the diagnostics just in case anyway. The Data Lifeguard disk still won't boot. I'd wager it's because there's no Windows 7 version available (Which I find odd, but the site could just be outdated too I suppose). So I'm going to download the Seatools after this post, as well as Crystaldisk.

I will post the results a bit later, as I'm guessing the scans will take some time.

 

[gregrocker]

The WD diagnostics don't need a WIn7 version since it runs from boot without reference to the OS on the HD it's scanning.

Crystal Disk Info will bring up the SMART data immediately upon install so you can post it up first. On Edit tab select Copy, then type Notepad into Start Seach box, Paste, Save, attach in Reply box using paper clip.

 

[Jim15]

The WD diagnostics don't need a WIn7 version since it runs from boot without reference to the OS on the HD it's scanning.

Crystal Disk Info will bring up the SMART data immediately upon install so you can post it up first. On Edit tab select Copy, then type Notepad into Start Seach box, Paste, Save, attach in Reply box using paper clip.

Maybe I need to re-download then. I may have accidentally used google chrome again for the download.

And I will post the SMART data in short order in that case.

 

[Jim15]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskInfo 4.1.3 (C) 2008-2011 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : Crystal Dew World
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

OS : Windows 7 Home Premium Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)
Date : 2011/11/13 19:36:17

-- Controller Map ----------------------------------------------------------
+ Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller [ATA]
+ ATA Channel 0 (0)
- WDC WD2500BEVT-22A23T0 ATA Device
+ ATA Channel 4 (4)
- TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C ATA Device

-- Disk List ---------------------------------------------------------------
(1) WDC WD2500BEVT-22A23T0 : 250.0 GB [0-0-0, pd1]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) WDC WD2500BEVT-22A23T0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model : WDC WD2500BEVT-22A23T0
Firmware : 01.01A01
Serial Number : WD-WXE1A70J1522
Disk Size : 250.0 GB (8.4/137.4/250.0)
Buffer Size : 8192 KB
Queue Depth : 32
# of Sectors : 488397168
Rotation Rate : 5400 RPM
Interface : Serial ATA
Major Version : ATA8-ACS
Minor Version : ----
Transfer Mode : SATA/300
Power On Hours : 2262 hours
Power On Count : 1226 count
Temparature : 32 C (89 F)
Health Status : Caution
Features : S.M.A.R.T., APM, AAM, 48bit LBA, NCQ
APM Level : 0060h [ON]
AAM Level : 80FEh [OFF]

-- S.M.A.R.T. --------------------------------------------------------------
ID Cur Wor Thr RawValues(6) Attribute Name
01 200 200 _51 000000000000 Read Error Rate
03 152 134 _21 000000000578 Spin-Up Time
04 _99 _99 __0 00000000064E Start/Stop Count
05 200 200 140 000000000000 Reallocated Sectors Count
07 100 253 __0 000000000000 Seek Error Rate
09 _97 _97 __0 0000000008D6 Power-On Hours
0A 100 100 __0 000000000000 Spin Retry Count
0B 100 100 __0 000000000000 Recalibration Retries
0C _99 _99 __0 0000000004CA Power Cycle Count
BF __1 __1 __0 000000000176 G-Sense Error Rate
C0 200 200 __0 000000000093 Power-off Retract Count
C1 199 199 __0 000000000DB8 Load/Unload Cycle Count
C2 111 _98 __0 000000000020 Temperature
C4 200 200 __0 000000000000 Reallocation Event Count
C5 195 195 __0 0000000000D1 Current Pending Sector Count
C6 100 253 __0 000000000000 Uncorrectable Sector Count
C7 200 200 __0 000000000000 UltraDMA CRC Error Count
C8 100 253 __0 000000000000 Write Error Rate

-- IDENTIFY_DEVICE ---------------------------------------------------------
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +A +B +C +D +E +F
000: 42 7A 3F FF C8 37 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 3F 00 00
010: 00 00 00 00 20 20 20 20 20 57 44 2D 57 58 45 31
020: 41 37 30 4A 31 35 32 32 00 00 40 00 00 32 30 31
030: 2E 30 31 41 30 31 57 44 43 20 57 44 32 35 30 30
040: 42 45 56 54 2D 32 32 41 32 33 54 30 20 20 20 20
050: 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 80 10
060: 00 00 2F 00 40 01 00 00 00 00 00 07 3F FF 00 10
070: 00 3F FC 10 00 FB 01 10 FF FF 0F FF 00 00 00 07
080: 00 03 00 78 00 78 00 78 00 78 00 00 00 00 00 00
090: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1F 1F 06 00 00 00 4C 00 40
0A0: 01 FE 00 00 74 6B 7F 09 61 63 74 69 BC 09 61 63
0B0: 40 7F 00 29 00 29 00 60 FF FE 00 00 80 FE 00 00
0C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 59 70 1D 1C 00 00 00 00
0D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 01 4E E2 5A 33 7C 30
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 18
0F0: 40 18 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
100: 00 29 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 E5 00 00 00 00
110: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00
120: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
130: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
140: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
150: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
160: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
170: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
180: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
190: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70 37 00 00
1A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1B0: 00 00 15 18 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 1E 00 00
1C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1D0: 00 00 00 00 00 01 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A5 A5

-- SMART_READ_DATA ---------------------------------------------------------
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +A +B +C +D +E +F
000: 00 10 2F 01 C8 00 00 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 27 03
010: 98 00 78 86 00 05 00 00 00 00 32 04 63 00 4E 63
020: 00 06 00 00 00 00 33 05 C8 00 00 C8 00 00 00 00
030: 00 00 2E 07 64 00 00 FD 00 00 00 00 00 00 32 09
040: 61 00 D6 61 00 08 00 00 00 00 32 0A 64 00 00 64
050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 32 0B 64 00 00 64 00 00 00 00
060: 00 00 32 0C 63 00 CA 63 00 04 00 00 00 00 32 BF
070: 01 00 76 01 00 01 00 00 00 00 32 C0 C8 00 93 C8
080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 32 C1 C7 00 B8 C7 00 0D 00 00
090: 00 00 22 C2 6F 00 20 62 00 00 00 00 00 00 32 C4
0A0: C8 00 00 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 32 C5 C3 00 D1 C3
0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 C6 64 00 00 FD 00 00 00 00
0C0: 00 00 32 C7 C8 00 00 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 C8
0D0: 64 00 00 FD 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
100: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
110: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
120: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
130: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
140: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
150: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
160: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1F E0 7B 01
170: 00 03 00 01 61 02 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
180: 00 00 02 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
190: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 9E 00

-- SMART_READ_THRESHOLD ----------------------------------------------------
+0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +A +B +C +D +E +F
000: 00 10 33 01 C8 C8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 15 03
010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00
020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 8C 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
030: 00 00 00 07 64 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 09
040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00
050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0B 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
060: 00 00 00 0C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 BF
070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00 00
080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C1 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
090: 00 00 00 C2 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C4
0A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C5 00 00 00 00
0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C6 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0C0: 00 00 00 C7 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C8
0D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
100: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
110: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
120: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
130: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
140: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
150: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
160: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
170: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
180: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
190: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
1F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A6 00

Here it is. I have no idea what any of it means. lol

Although I did see on the disk read itself that the status was "Caution". Seems like every answer to my hard drive related problems is something neutral when it comes to these diagnostic programs. No wonder it's so tricky to figure out.

Will be attempting to use the Data Lifeguard disk, this one is newly downloaded and burned at 4x speed. Hopefully it works.

EDIT: Doesn't look like it's going to work. The same thing is happening as last time. It gives me a brief text at first, and then goes to a black screen. I'll give it 10 minutes, though I doubt it'll start up. After that, I'll try seatools.

EDIT 2: It's now saying

"NO DRIVE FOUND

ERROR/STATUS CODE: 0120"

http://support.wdc.com/techinfo/general/errorcodes.asp

"120- Unknown Error - An unknown error has occurred during testing. This may be an anomaly. Check connections and retest. If the error repeats, replace the drive."

Although it never seemed to even try checking my drive, so I may have to wrong error code.

EDIT 2:

Looking online, I found out that I needed to switch to IDE in my BIOS. However, after doing this, I got a new problem.

"Unable to locate the license Agreement file, DLGLICE.TXT!!!

Please make sure that the License Agreement file is located in the same path as DLGDIAG.EXE...


Cannot load the file A:\COMMAND.COM
Insert correct disk and strike any key"

Jeez, either imgburn is unreliable, or the Lifeguard Diagnostic itself is for having the TXT file in the wrong place upon download. That's another CD wasted...

For the hell of it, I'm going to try my old CD.

EDIT 3: Same problem. *Sigh*

I guess I'll just wait to see what people say about the scan above. Actually, I'm just going to go ahead and use Seatools instead.

 

[gregrocker]

Caution rating is not neutral - HD should be replaced if HD Diagnostics do not demonstrably repair it, followed by clean Disk Check.

If you installed WIN7 in AHCI mode, then return the SATA controller to that setting. I would only install to an IDE drive in that mode, or if WIN7 cannot install in AHCI Mode first.

All indications are that the HD is failing. I have had GWScan (WD Lifeguard) diagnostics fix a HD to return it to service, however you'll have to boot it first.

 

[Jim15]

Caution rating is not neutral - HD should be replaced if HD Diagnostics do not demonstrably repair it, followed by clean Disk Check.

If you installed WIN7 in AHCI mode, then return the SATA controller to that setting. I would only install to an IDE drive in that mode, or if WIN7 cannot install in AHCI Mode first.

All indications are that the HD is failing. I have had GWScan (WD Lifeguard) diagnostics fix a HD to return it to service, however you'll have to boot it first.

I found the download for GWScan, the HD diagnostics repair I use which works for all models and is based on Data Lifeguard. BUrn it to CD and try it now: GWSCAN 3.15 for all Gateway hard drives. This file will also extract in Dos.

Yeah, I returned it to AHCI. I'm not able to boot in IDE mode anyway. So it looks to be failing? Not what I wanted to hear, but at least that means the nightmare is almost over.

I will try out GWscan now. If that doesn't repair anything, should I assume that means I should plan on buying a new HD?

 

[gregrocker]

If it doesn't see the HD like the Data LIfeguard disk then I suppose you could try Seatools to see if it gets any traction. If it runs it should tell you the HD Status and I think it could be trusted although I'd keep my files and an OS IMage backed up externally.

How is the overall performance of the laptop? ANything other than the serial disk Errors in log?

 

[Jim15]

If it doesn't see the HD like the Data LIfeguard disk then I suppose you could try Seatools to see if it gets any traction. If it runs it should tell you the HD Status and I think it could be trusted although I'd keep my files and an OS IMage backed up externally.

How is the overall performance of the laptop? ANything other than the serial disk Errors in log?

Okay, just one thing. The directions for downloading the GWscan are for a floppy disk. Is it even possible to burn? I'm just being careful because I only have 2 blank disks left. Not sure if you usually do it that way or not.

It's actually running beautifully right now. Granted, it has very few programs on there, but still, the boot up, performance etc. are lightning fast for the moment.

 

[gregrocker]

Sorry it has disappeared from the web after Acer bought Gateway, which is too bad since it is the only diagnostics that worked on all makes., a modified Data Lifeguard.

Here is my own ISO but I had to upload it to Skydrive for you as it is oversize for 7F:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=365ea77f74a302f6&resid=365EA77F74A302F6!779

 

[Jim15]

Stand by. I'll upload my own GWScan ISO file here within a minute.

Alright, thanks.

 

[Jim15]

It keeps telling me an error occurred and to try again. I get the same message each time I try.

Sorry for the trouble.

 

[Jim15]

This is with the GW Scan disk booting? Is it autostarting on its own? Try booting with one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

Try the Seatools.

I mean for the download, actually. When I get to the screen, it tells me an error occurred. I'll try in a different browser.

 

[Peregrine]

This is with the GW Scan disk booting? Is it autostarting on its own? Try booting with one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

Try the Seatools.

I mean for the download, actually. When I get to the screen, it tells me an error occurred. I'll try in a different browser.

I get the same error using Firefox 8 and IE9.

 

[gregrocker]

New link it generated for me: https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=365ea77f74a302f6&resid=365EA77F74A302F6!779

 

[Jim15]

There we go, now it's working. I'll update back with what it finds.

 

[gregrocker]

We are due for some major good luck soon.

 

[Jim15]

Just double checking, I should do the extended test, right? For some reason I thought I remembered you saying I should have it write zeroes to the drive, so I'm just checking in before I do anything further.