Laptop wont boot to windows

[LJThorburn]

Hi guys. I need help desperately before I lose my mind! Gradually over the last few weeks my laptop has been getting slower and slower and on occasion has struggled with booting up. I've been trying to back up my work to do a full reformat. However a couple of days ago I shut down and ever since it won't boot up again. I switch it on and I get the start-up screen where I can press f2 or f4 for setup or recovery then the screen goes blank with the cursor showing and that's about as far as I get. I've used my Windows CD to try to repair, I've used command prompts to fix the MBR etched and even performed a memory test. All tests come back as no faults found. But also no system restore points can be found. However during the system repair it mentions something about removing any hardware such as a camera etc from the computer, but I haven't attached anything. I can't even boot up in safe mode. A couple of weeks ago I had issues with some malware but managed to get rid of it, however, that's about the time my problems started. I'm using Windows 7 on a Samsung notebook model np300e5a. I will gladly give any info required where possible as I really want a reformat to be a last resort
Thanks in advance

 

[Pendaws]

Before you try anything drastic, do you know how to remove the Memory from the Laptop?
Your nasty may be a memory resident one? If you are able to remove the ram with safety, do so and leave it out for about 15 mins and put it back in then try to start again. If you DO get into windows, do a virus scan.

If not, you may be looking at a re install.

 

[LJThorburn]

Hi there

Thanks for the response. I've never attempted to remove memory from a laptop before. If its simple enough I can give it a go because I'd rather try then lose all my stuff. I'm used to building and putting together desktop PCs but I know laptops can be a little bit more fiddly.

 

[LJThorburn]

Well I did just as you said. I removed the memory from the laptop and left it out 15-20 mins, popped it back in....no change! Although once...before the memory thing...I did get as far as the windows startup screen where you pick which user and type ur password...it never showed me any of those icons but it did have the background on!

 

[Mellon Head]

That malware may have severely damaged your install. You may have no choice but to re install Windows.

How long are you letting it boot up? It may boot fully if you leave it long enough. Then at least you could do a virus scan, or use Microsoft Safety Scanner:

Microsoft Safety Scanner - Antivirus | Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free

Try MSS (if you can get it to completely boot up by leaving it run) and let us know what happens.

 

[LJThorburn]

Hi there.
Well in answer to how long it was left...at one point 4 hours! I managed to get to do command prompt and do a chkdsk slightly differently with it being NTFS. That took a few hours too but I managed go get logged on after it repaired and removed some clusters. I have now backed up and will be doing a full reformat! But so I don't come across this again what would likely have caused the issue? Would it have still been the malware? It was one of those PUP things that just kept latching on until I went through quite an extensive process to get rid.

 

[LJThorburn]

I will actually try MSS before I reinstall and keep you posted on what it comes up with

 

[Mellon Head]

I will actually try MSS before I reinstall and keep you posted on what it comes up with

Use this tutorial and run MSS at boot. You can copy MSS to a USB drive and run it from there.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html

It's a better option that waiting for the machine to boot, as it should boot fine with your Windows disk.