Solved Multiple Windows7 loading failures - now image restore problems

[Scottyh56]

Hello all, first post!

6 weeks ago I bought a new Intel based PC from PCspecialist.co.uk. After 2 weeks the system failed to load, multiple attempts at loading gave varying outcomes, occasionally getting into safe mode but never Windows proper and all VERY SLOW - 30 mins say to get to safe mode.

I reinstalled from scratch. All was well for 2 weeks & then I had to use System restore to start. But was over in 10 mins & all OK.

But 2 hours ago it did not boot again. After one hour getting only to the pastel blue screen with a little plant life I gave up and used my system recovery disc aiming to recover to an image I made 6 days ago.

Problem is that using this disc it has taken 20 minutes to get to the System Recovery Options screen. There I was unable to select Restore using system image because of an 'egg timer'. After about 15 more mins while I was not looking up came a pop up "Searching for Windows Installation". I have been watching this search now for the last 30 mins....

BTW, on the option screen, Windows 7 Is listed with partition size 0mb on local disc E....

I am stuck now as to where to go. If this fails another clean install? I suspect that would get me back in action but it seems to me that there is an underlying issue.

Help much appreciated

Scott

 

[Scottyh56]

90 mins later and I have struggled through to the Select a System Image Backup screen. 5 mins after hitting Next it started scanning for system image disks....

It surely should not be this slow?

 

[Scottyh56]

After 5 hours I was able to get to the start the image backup from the external drive. I deselected the second internal drive and started the system backup on the C drive. After about 30 mins of "preparing" I got the error message:

The system image restore failed.
Error details: Windows cannot create a disk on this computer needed to restore from the backup. Make sure the disks are properly connected, or add or change disks, and try the restore again. (0x80042402)

I now see a choose a recovery tool screen. I will now try to restore from the image on the internal disk. It seems to require a restart. I did not go to the boot disk but allowed it to go to the hard drive C which has probably been reformatted because I get the message "missing operating system"

Now this second recovery attempt is going much more quickly. What previously took 30 minutes now takes a minute or two.

It makes me wonder if there is a problem with my C drive disk?

Obviously I am trying to solve this myself while logging what is going on here. If anyone can give some guidance, please butt in!

 

[Victor S]

Seems you have faulty hardware.
Unless you can troubleshoot this yourself, it may well save you time and grief to take it to a pro with the tools to quickly resolve it.

 

[Scottyh56]

Thank you - I think you are right.

Working this through has helped though - I have just succeeded in getting the image back and the machine working but have also got in touch with the manufacturer who suspect a disk problem too. They will probably tell me tomorrow to swap the disk back to them. Having the image is a lifesaver.

 

[Victor S]

Thank you - I think you are right.

Working this through has helped though - I have just succeeded in getting the image back and the machine working but have also got in touch with the manufacturer who suspect a disk problem too. They will probably tell me tomorrow to swap the disk back to them. Having the image is a lifesaver.

Didn't expect you to get it up and running. You are a champion!
Yes, images are a great tool. If everybody used them, much of this forum would dry up. But what fun is that?