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

[SlasherIT]

Hi,

Ok, um, lots has happened since I went to bed...

Did the download finish? It should be around 3GB.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes you can dismount the volume to chkdsk. Again it's best to run all repairs from the DVD Repair console. I'd not use the DVD you previously downloaded which is not complete. Wait until the new ISO is downloaded and burn to DVD using Imgburn at 4x speed.

If you cannot run Disk Check following the steps given in this tutorial to run from Command line, then burn to CD Partition Wizard and Check File System on each partition. There is also a Surface Scan. Post up a cam snap of the drive map w/listings. Check Active and Rebuild MBR from Disk tab.

Now is the time to make a Walgreens run to get a $2 5-pack of CD's for Partition Wizard CD, HD diagnostics, MSS scan, and a Repair CD so you don't have to wait for DVD to do repairs. These are valuable tools for keeping. Then you can write your Win7 ISO to flash, or really splurge and buy DVD pack, too .

Corzon has added important pieces below - please stick with the thread.

 

[Corazon]

Just two quick things I wanna add here:

1. You should be able to identify your harddrive brand/model from within the BIOS, as all the drives are usually listed there by name. You don't need Windows for that.
2. When checking a volume with chkdsk it shouldn't be the current path in your command window - that's why it would be locked and why you're being asked whether to dismount it before checking. There's no harm in doing it this way, but normally you'd simply stay at the X:> prompt (drive X being the recovery environment, which is actually a temporary RAM disk) and type chkdsk /f D:

Hope you get it all sorted out - gregrocker knows what he's talking about and you're in excellent hands with him. Just follow all the steps carefully

 

[Jim15]

Hi,

Ok, um, lots has happened since I went to bed...

Did the download finish? It should be around 3GB.

Yeah, and it seems to be the full ISO this time. The other two were much too small for it to have everything. I think google chrome's downloader had something to do with it.

However, I'm not quite ready to do a reinstall. I want to see if gregrocker can help me fix this.

Yes you can dismount the volume to chkdsk. Again it's best to run all repairs from the DVD Repair console. I'd not use the DVD you previously downloaded which is not complete. Wait until the new ISO is downloaded and burn to DVD using Imgburn at 4x speed.

Okay, I'll do that next time it asks me if I want to. I should be all set to burn the full Windows Install ISO now, so after this post I'll start it in img burn at 4x speed.

If you cannot run Disk Check following the steps given in this tutorial to run from Command line, then burn to CD Partition Wizard and Check File System on each partition. There is also a Surface Scan. Post up a cam snap of the drive map w/listings. Check Active and Rebuild MBR from Disk tab.

I'll keep this in mind for if Startup Repair or chkdsk don't work out, or we can just do this later anyway. I can take a picture pretty easily as well, but didn't you say I have to get the paid version?

Now is the time to make a Walgreens run to get a $2 5-pack of CD's for Partition Wizard CD, HD diagnostics, MSS scan, and a Repair CD so you don't have to wait for DVD to do repairs. These are valuable tools for keeping. Then you can write your Win7 ISO to flash, or really splurge and buy DVD pack, too .

I went and picked up 4 DVD-Rs today, and just in case I need more, there's a place nearby where I can get more. I get the feeling I'll need some more, so maybe I'll run back out and get 4 more. I was surprised at how cheap they were. :shock:

Corzon has added important pieces below - please stick with the thread.

Don't worry, I won't be bailing out now. Just had a few things to attend to before I could get online.

Just two quick things I wanna add here:
You should be able to identify your harddrive brand/model from within the BIOS, as all the drives are usually listed there by name. You don't need Windows for that.

Hm... probably under the main info. Since I'm not very knowledgeable here, I might have to name out a few things, but one of them is bound to be the HD, thanks!

When checking a volume with chkdsk it shouldn't be the current path in your command window - that's why it would be locked and why you're being asked whether to dismount it before checking. There's no harm in doing it this way, but normally you'd simply stay at the X:> prompt (drive X being the recovery environment, which is actually a temporary RAM disk) and type chkdsk /f D:

Ah, so that explains it. I was worried if I didn't specify the drive beforehand that it would automatically check C: or something like that. Thanks again!

Hope you get it all sorted out - gregrocker knows what he's talking about and you're in excellent hands with him. Just follow all the steps carefully

Me too.

Things are looking a little better, so I'll definitely follow his advice.

 

[Jim15]

Nothing in my BIOS outright says what my HD is. I'm guessing that it's just calling it something else. Any idea what else it would be called? Also, after some trial and error, I have successfully burned the Windows 7 install disk. I tested to see if it could get past the driver problem and it did!

So I now have a fully functional Windows 7 install disk. The first thing I'll try to do is a chkdsk like it suggested last night. Will update soon.

chkdsk is running now, I'm expecting some files to not be readable as right now it's hanging at 9%. I will report back in a with what happens, though I'm guessing it'll take an hour or so.

 

[gregrocker]

If Disk Check hangs, I'd run the HD extended diagnostics scan. If there is nothing given like a serial number to google in BIOS under Installed Devices for that device, Use SeaTools

If you're ready you can also move to reinstall following these steps for Reinstalling Windows 7.

The fact that you have moved past the install error makes the HD diagnosis less urgent. Let's see how install proceeds.

 

[Jim15]

If Disk Check hangs, I'd run the HD extended diagnostics scan. If there is nothing given like a serial number to google in BIOS under Installed Devices for that device, Use SeaTools

If you're ready you can also move to reinstall following these steps for Reinstalling Windows 7.

The fact that you have moved past the install error makes the HD diagnosis less urgent. Let's see how install proceeds.

Well, I returned back to my computer just now to find that it is still on 9%. However, it hasn't frozen. It has encountered an unreadable file segment... in my case, many of them. The exact message:

"File record segment *Number* is unreadable."

So far, I count 12 of these file reading problems.

I think this means my disk has gotten much worse than when the problems began two weeks ago. I used to get only 2 or so of those errors.

Also, a new thing just popped up as I was typing this:

"Deleting corrupt attribute record <128, "">"

Never seen that message before, but it sounds like it's fixing something...

Okay, I will give seatools a try.

I need to look at the link you gave me first, but I thought we were trying to avoid a reinstall? Does it seem like the HD is beyond saving after all?

 

[gregrocker]

Problems with the file system are not as serious as surface problems which would be revealed by HD Diagnostics.

It would be good to give another look in BIOS for installed Devices, determine which is the HD and google the identifier to see if it reveals the make/model. If not use Seatools.

I would pursue Disk Check unless it stalls out, then run HD Diagnostics followed by Disk Check again. Surface problems might be resolved that assists repair of File system.

You'll have a better idea of your HD condition then. It doesn't mean you can't continue with reinstall, but if HD continues to be suspect I'd plan to replace it and keep everything backed up - as should be done anyway.

 

[Jim15]

Well that's good to hear. I would do the HD diagnostics, but I'm having trouble figuring out what the HD's listed as.

Maybe I could take some pictures of screens in my BIOS? I'm sure you'd be able to spot my HD rather easily.

Disk check is still going, but hasn't shown any signs of progress since I reported that it deleted the corrupt attribute record. Should I give it more time? I'm not sure if it's actually stalling or just struggling to read the files.

 

[gregrocker]

The HD should be listed under the SATA settings, by its name or some code that may be part or all of its serial number. Or it could be just HDD. But often there is enough that if you google it you'll get the make/model.

Sure you can post camera snaps of what you suspect might be the HD listings, and while you're at it boot free Partition Wizard and show us a snap of your drive map and full listings. That may reveal all. (I know I've typed this at least four times now - I was guessing you didn't have a camera. But maybe you still don't have disks, which are $2 per 5 pack at Walgreens on every other corner.)

The only way to know if Disk Check is processing files is if there is HD activity light blinking.

 

[Jim15]

The HD should be listed under the SATA settings, by its name or some code that may be part or all of its serial number. Or it could be just HDD. But often there is enough that if you google it you'll get the make/model.

Sure you can post camera snaps of what you suspect might be the HD listings, and while you're at it boot free Partition Wizard and show us a snap of your drive map and full listings. That may reveal all. (I know I've typed this at least four times now - I was guessing you didn't have a camera. But maybe you still don't have disks, which are $2 per 5 pack at Walgreens on every other corner.)

The only way to know if Disk Check is processing files is if there is HD activity light blinking.

I'll take another look in the BIOS when the disk check is over or I've just decided to shutdown. If I can't find anything, I'll post some pictures for you of the BIOS pages.

Yeah, partition wizard has been on the "To-do" list.

Remember though, I'm trying to go in the order of your suggestions, that's why I haven't used it sooner. If you recommend it though, I can just do chkdsk later and do partition wizard now. I do have a bunch of DVD-Rs to use now, so I'll download and burn it at least. Like I said, let me know if you think it'd be a good idea to exit disk check and use it now. It's still currently at 9% and doesn't appear to be making progress.

My HD activity light is blinking, but not quickly. There's usually a couple of seconds between each blink.

Anyway, what do you recommend I do right now? I'm unsure if I should stay in chkdsk...

Edit: And of course right after typing that, chkdsk started making progress again. lol

Once again though, whatever you recommend I do now, I'll do.

 

[SIW2]

Cbb to read the whole thread - in a nutshell - what have you done since your post #2 ?

 

[Jim15]

Cbb to read the whole thread - in a nutshell - what have you done since your post #2 ?

You'd think a lot has happened since this is a pretty long thread, but really? Not a lot.

Since post #2, I was instructed to reinstall windows. So I was shown the methods to do so, but had quite a bit of trouble along the way. First I downloaded Ubuntu and backed up my files, then I attempted to download the Windows 7 install iso and burn it, but a problem was happening with google chrome's downloader, so the full iso was never downloaded. Therefore, I kept getting errors saying I needed more drivers when attempting the reinstall.

It was at this point that I started following gregrocker's direction. So he helped me undo the damage I did myself in post #2. Beforehand I was unable to reach recovery, but greg instructed me on which partition to activate. From there, I was told to do startup repair up to three times. However, when doing that, I got the warning that it would probably take over an hour. In the past, this meant that it wasn't going to work at all. I've let it run for over 5 hours before without it doing anything.

At this point I was in the middle of downloading the windows 7 install iso in full, so I used the one with missing drivers to enter recovery. When I entered the recovery environment, I got a message telling me to do a disk check.

Basically, I'm doing a disk check now. I also set it to fix any problems it encounters, but that hasn't worked in the past. So far, it has encountered over a dozen files that couldn't be read, and has deleted a corrupted attribute record.

And that's where I am now. The reason this is so long is probably because I'm a novice when it comes to this sort of thing, and often checked back and needed clarification on what to do.

 

[gregrocker]

If you're not using the official ISO DVD Repair console then I have no confidence in any repairs including the Disk Check, which is why I urged you to wait until download finishes for official Win7 download and certainly not try using the unknown one which wasn't even downloaded fully. What is running DiskCheck now?

If the DVD Is not ready, then yes I would download and burn PW to CD/DVD, boot, post back pictures of the drive map and all listings. You can then use the steps I gave you in my first post to mark Active and run Rebuild MBR from Disk tab:

We need to see a picture of your HD. Boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD take a camera snap showing drive map and all listings, post back using paper clip in reply box. The 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) or Win7 should be marked Active - if not rightclick to Modify>Set to Active. Then click on HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply, reboot. You can also check File System (Disk Check) with repair boxes checked.

This might start Win7 itself without the need to run Startup Repair from Win7 DVD.

You can also use PW CD to rightclick on each partition to Check File System with both boxes checked (full repairs), and Surface Scan the HD.

But first post back the camera snaps of listings and drive map which may reveal a lot.

 

[Jim15]

If you're not using the official ISO DVD Repair console then I have no confidence in any repairs including the Disk Check, which is why I urged you to wait until you have the official Win7 download and certainly not try using the unknown one which wasn't even downloaded fully. What is running DiskCheck now?

If the DVD Is not ready, then yes I would download and burn PW to CD/DVD, boot, post back pictures of the drive map and all listings. You can then use the steps I gave you in first post to mark Active and run Rebuild MBR from Disk tab:

We need to see a picture of your HD. Boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD take a camera snap showing drive map and all listings, post back using paper clip in reply box. The 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) or Win7 should be marked Active - if not rightclick to Modify>Set to Active. Then click on HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply, reboot. You can also check File System (Disk Check) with repair boxes checked.

This might start Win7 itself without the need to run Startup Repair from Win7 DVD.

You can also use PW CD to rightclick on each partition to Check File System with both boxes checked (full repairs), and Surface Scan the HD.

But first post back the camera snaps of listings and drive map which may reveal a lot.

greg, you must have missed one of my older posts. The new Windows iso was fully downloaded and burned. I also tested it on the installer to make sure no drivers were missing, and it worked flawlessly. Then I canceled and did the chkdsk that's still going now. I wrote it out a bit more detailed a page or so back if you need any specifics from that.

So since I'm using the full windows install CD, do you think I should wait it out in chkdsk before proceeding with your other directions? It is running along a little better now, but still running slowly. I;m guessing it's because I specified it to fix any problems it encountered.

On another note, it has reported 20 unreadable files segments up to this point.

Edit:

Okay, step 1 of 3 finally completed. The file segment varification is over, and now it's processing the bad records from before.

It's running significantly faster than before as well. Hopefully this fixes something.

 

[gregrocker]

Jim, this sounds promising. I thought I'd read a few posts back you were still waiting for ISO. It's hard to remember everything without reading back through.

You're doing a great job hanging in there. Let's hope Startup Repair can also get your boot sorted so it starts up. If not let us see the picture from PW CD, and try Rebuild MBR with 100mb set Active, then Win7 partition itself marked Active. If this fails do the same but run Startup Repair 3 times now that Disk Check will be out of the way.

What we will be doing here is trying to repair or rewrite the System boot files on both the 100mb System Reserved (boot) partition, then on the possibility it is corrupted and irreparable, moving those files to the Win7 partition itself.

Once both of these methods (PW Rebuild MBR and Startup Repair x3) are tried on Active 100mb and then Active Win7 partition, we'll know we've done everything we can to mark Active - unless no Installation shows up to repair when booting in, in which case we will have to jump start it with Bootrec commands.

 

[Jim15]

Jim, this sounds promising. I thought I'd read a few posts back you were still waiting for ISO. It's hard to remember everything without reading back through.

You're doing a great job hanging in there. Let's hope Startup Repair can also get your boot sorted so it starts up. If not let us see the picture from PW CD, and try Rebuild MBR.

Lol, that's understandable. It's pretty hard to keep track of 12 pages of this stuff.

Thanks man, and thanks again for sticking with me on this. If this works you will have saved me from losing all of my previously installed things.

 

[Jim15]

Oops, I missed your edit..

Alright, sounds like a good plan to me.

Right now the chkdsk has slowed down again. Odd how it runs at blazing speeds then suddenly slows to snail-like speeds. Currently at 67% in verifying security descriptors. I'll update when something significant happens or the disk check finishes.

By the way, should I try booting normally after the chkdsk ends? Or would you like me to go straight to startup repair on the install cd?

 

[gregrocker]

Always try booting normally between repairs, or you might miss something.

 

[Jim15]

Always try booting normally between repairs, or you might miss something.

Good point.

I've burned the PW CD, so that's ready to use just in case chkdsk doesn't solve the problem and startup repair doesn't do the trick.

The chkdsk is still running very slowly. It's processing about one file every 15 seconds, with about 11,000 files to go. Any idea why it would run so slow while verifying security descriptors?

Thanks again!