PC won't boot. Help needed please!

[martinlest]

My new Win7 PC was fine yesterday - today it won't boot. Startup Repair has run 8 times now and it concludes that it cannot repair startup. I have run System Restore from within Advanced Repair options to put the PC back to a time I knew it was working - which has made no difference. Also ran the Memory diagnostic but it didn't report any errors (not of course that I can get into Windows to see the log file it supposedly created).

When I try to boot into Windows, I get the usual M/B splash screens (and now - I don't think this came up before - 'Loading Asus Express gate') and then the 'Starting Windows' message and then a quick flash of a 'Blue Screen of Death' (far too fast to read anything) before the system shuts down and restarts the Startup Repair screen. Not sure how (or if) I can change the restart options in the BIOS so that the blue screen remains on screen (Asus P6X58DE M/B).

Starting Win7 in Safe Mode also gives a blue screen...

As far as I can see, unlike in XP there is no way to run a Windows 7 repair from the CD-ROM. Is my only option to reinstall Windows (and therefore waste the three weeks I have spent setting the PC up as I want it?). Or can anyone see any other ways forward before I do this?

I can boot using a BartPE XP disc, but that hasn't been much help..

Thanks,

Martin

 

[1Bowtie]

Maybe it doesn't like the overclock, if you have the Windows Home Premium dvd you can do a repair install, all your programs and data stay intact. Just a couple suggestions that might work

 

[gregrocker]

Make sure either the 100mb System Reserved boot partition or the Win7 partition itself are marked Active before running Startup Repair. Unplug your other HD's.

I would use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to do this as you get a picture of your HD's (post a camera snap back if you can) and it has a new Rebuild MBR function that may itself start it: Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

Or you can mark Active using DIskpart from Install DVD or Repair CD:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

Then run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to repair or rewrite the System MBR, first trying the 100mb SysReserved boot partition if you have it, then the Win7 partition itself: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

If you have the 100mb SysReserved boot partition, it places the Repair console found on the DVD and Repair CD also on the Advanced Boot Tools menu accessed by tapping F8 at bootup. So try to repair marking it Active first before Repairs, then Win7 partition.

You can copy out your files with DVD or Repair CD using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Hi,
The ram option may not work and the Ubuntu is a last option to try restore your data before reinstalling

I have had start up issues on my computer before. Try taking some ram out of the system, it stopped my bsod's, I just rearranged them. (Worth a try)

Can you remember what you last installed?

"To get your files run Ubuntu. Don't install it run it and copy your wanted files to an external storage facility."

Sorry if this is no help

 

[martinlest]

I'll have a look tomorrow at all this - thanks. meanwhile, I note that when I start towards a reinstall of Windows 7 from the original disc (but stopping short of actually reinstalling!) I see that all my partition letters are completely rearranged - Windows was on C:\ of course, now according to the list of partitions shown before you decide to reinstall, it is on G:\ - I don't remember if that is normal when you are running the system from the Windows installation disc - or is that a possible source of my problems? No boot.ini file in Win7 so I am lost.

Part of the difficulty is that I knew XP like the back of my hand (well, pretty much) but I haven't found my way around 'under the bonnet' of Windows 7 yet. There seems to be no option to repair the Windows installtion indeed, here it states "You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7, you cannot do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.":

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

My data, like My Documents was on a different partition and everything else was pretty much backed up, but of course I am going to lose all my installed programmes (took me 3 weeks to set them up, what with games etc.) if I have to delete Windows and start again. I did back up the Windows (C) drive with DriveXML about a week ago - but I never tested restoring the boot partition before..

M

 

[1Bowtie]

Just a caution if you decide to do a clean install, unplug all hdd's except the one you want to install too

 

[wpurcell]

Just a thought. Did you try this: Shut off the computer, then unplug it. Press the power button to "purge" any current. Wait 5 minutes or so, plug it back in, and try to boot it up. This has worked for me in the past, although I haven't had this problem in quite some time.

 

[gregrocker]

I note that when I start towards a reinstall of Windows 7 from the original disc (but stopping short of actually reinstalling!) I see that all my partition letters are completely rearranged - Windows was on C:\ of course, now according to the list of partitions shown before you decide to reinstall, it is on G:\ - I don't remember if that is normal when you are running the system from the Windows installation disc - or is that a possible source of my problems?

Boot the Win7 DVD, press Shift + F10 at first screen to open a Command Line, type:
DISKPART
list vol

Confirm the Win7 partition's present letter.

If it has changed, boot free Paragon Rescue CD, select Normal Mode , then Boot Corrector.

Correct drive letters in the system registry.

I did back up the Windows (C) drive with DriveXML about a week ago - but I never tested restoring the boot partition before..

See Perform a Complete System Restore with DriveXML here: http://lifehacker.com/326086/hot-image-your-pcs-hard-drive-with-driveimage-xml

 

[SIW2]

I would restore the image you made with DXML.

 

[martinlest]

Shutting down the PC in the way you suggested wpurcell didn't help I'm afraid.

I ran Diskpart from the advanced repair options (Command Prompt). It shows my four drives - and the boot drive has two partitions, Windows and the 100MB System Reserved section, which latter I marked as active (as per link you gave gregrocker).

I have run the startup repair four times (between each, when I reboot the PC tries to start normally and I get the blue screen and then it reboots with the Startup Repair option - not sure if that is how it is supposed to be. I always get the same 'cannot repair this computer automatically' result.

I made a video of the normal startup process so that I was able to see on my laptop what the blue screen error says. The only information is:

STOP: 0x0000007B (0xFFFFF88000y

at which point the screen goes black. I see that 0x0000007B shows "Inacessible Boot Device" but I think I gathered that much.

I suspect I am going to end up having to reinstall Windows afresh. Why would I need to disconnect the other drives if I am sure I am installing to the correct one (it does say 'Windows' - the label I gave it). I could do without having to haul my PC out from its niche and opening it up, unless it is really necessary....

Do I now have to go back and mark the Windows partition of the boot drive as active?

Thanks again,

Martin

 

[paul1149]

Two things I would look at here. First, I would disable Asus Express Gate in the BIOS, if possible. I'm not sure how that works, but I would get it out of the way for testing purposes. Could be that the BIOS needs flashing.

Second, it may be that your C drive's MBR is messed up. I would use a boot disk to view the drive independently. Hiren's BootCD has a superb free tool, TestDisk, that will find the partitions, ascertain that the disk's partition table is sound, and make corrections to it if necessary.

 

[Carl Lawrence]

Have you tried reinstalling it?

 

[martinlest]

Gregrocker, I downloaded and ran the Paragon Rescue CD - got to 'Correct Windows Installation' - it shows my main drive as two partitions OK, the 100MB reserved one (marked 'System' - Disk 0, Partition 0) and my Windows 7 x64 installation (marked 'Boot' - Disk 0 Partition 1): I selected the Windows partition and go to 'Correct Drive Letters in the System Registry'. It does show my Windows installation as drive C:/ so there was nothing to do.

Tried using the partition wizard you suggested to rebuild the MBR, but I still get a blue screen as soon as Windows starts to load. I think I am going to have to try a clean installation after all. At least I have a DriveImageXML file that (in theory) will get me part way back to how things were.

Martin

 

[gregrocker]

Are you running Startup Repair from the DVD or Repair CD or the one which comes up from the bluescreen? Sometimes running it proactively from disk can work better.

If the Win7 partition in Diskpart was still lettered C then you don't need to run Paragon Rescue to change back the drive letter.

If you've confirmed 100mb SysReserved is marked Active and it won't repair pro-actively running Startup Repair from the disk (not the one generated from the Blue Screen) three separate times with reboots, then mark the Win7 partition itself Active and try Repairs from disk again.

What is the problem with running the DriveXML recovery from the image you were smart enough to store recently? Follow the steps in the tutorial I posted above.

If you clean reinstall then wipe the HD first of any possible infected code. The steps to get a perfect reinstall are given here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[martinlest]

I'd already tried changing the active partitions as you suggest, but the same blue screen..

So I formatted the original C: partition, reinstalled Windows 7, then overwrote that (from an XP installatiuon on the same PC) with my DriveImageXML backup. Whereas after reinstalling Windows clean from the disc, I could then boot fine into the o/s again, after reinstalling the XML backup I return to the blue screen as Windows starts to load. Odd, as the backup was made a week ago when everything was working just fine - the non-booting only began yesterday.

So I am going to have to reinstall Windows yet again and set everything up as it was before - took me weeks!

This is my second PC in 3 months - the first one (similar specs) was such a pain and crashed after 4 days (returned from manufacturer with a new M/B - then sound and other stuff didn't work) that I returned it and got a full refund. Now this second PC lasts 3 weeks before it crashes too - fortunately it seems to be a software not hardware issue, so at least I don't have to send it off to the makers like last time. But if I hadn't spent to much £££ on it and really want to be able to run my games, I'd send it back too (or just give it to charity) and find something else to do. I can't believe the frustration and unreliability of these things. Wish I'd never started in a way..

Thanks again for the advice. (Any other comments still welcome).

M.

 

[gregrocker]

Why did you need to clean install Win7 before overwriting it with the DriveXML image recovery? You should do one or the other.

What I would do now is wipe the HD of any possible infected code, because merely overwriting, deleting or formatting leaves all possibly infected or corrupt code on the disk. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Then apply the DriveXML image to see if it works this time. If it won't boot, make sure it's marked Active and run three Startup Repairs as some imaging programs don't copy the MBR correctly.

If this fails and you get the bluescreen again then it's cause is probably included in your image. I would then wipe the HD again (in case image reapplied any infectious or corrupt code) and clean reinstall following the reinstall steps I suggested above.

As suggested in the steps I linked, install Updates and then your programs slowly enough you can monitor problems which one of them might be giving you, all the while monitoring the logs and diagnostics given here to attend to problems ahead of time: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...-lags-every-couple-seconds-2.html#post1131640

 

[martinlest]

Oh this is getting to be a real pain

Windows is reinstalling yet again as I write this, but I'll do it all over again, following your advice - and post back when I have some news (good or bad!). Might as well do it properly at this stage!

What needs to be 'marked active'? The partition with Windows 7 on it, or the 100MB reserved partition?

Thanks a lot for the replies - I really do appreciate your time and input on this,

Martin

 

[martinlest]

er, no ... stupid question (I asked it before I got started with the cleaning process!) - this will leave me without the 100MB partition, won't it?

Another problem though - having wiped the C: disk with diskpart as described, there's no longer an option for me to boot into the Windows XP installation (where DriveImageXML is installed), I suppose as the bootloader has gone. I can only reinstall Windows7 on the C drive, then reboot to the XP installation and run DriveImageXML from there. That will wipe the new Win7 installation and replace it with my backup. Is that OK? I don't know how else to get to into XP - I tried (after making sure it was marked active) to get my boot options menu up and choose the drive with XP & DIXML on to boot into - but I get the typical dll missing notices.

Am I OK installing Win7 and wiping it with the XML backup like that or is the installation of Windows first somehow going to spoil something?

M.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a boot disk to run your DriveXML reimage?

I don't understand why you think you need to reinstall Win7 before reimaging over it? Do one or the other. The image is applying the OS to the drive in full, just as it was when you took the image. You may need to repair the MBR if it doesn't reimage properly, using the DVD/Repair to run Startup Repair x3.

If you have XP in a dual boot on another Hard Drive, then unplug it when you install Win7 so that the HD's remain independent bootable via the BIOS. This way they can come and go as you please.

Once you've either reimaged or reinstalled Win7 to the wiped HD, plug back in the XP HD and boot it via one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first Boot Screen.

If you don't have the one-time BIOS Boot menu key to press, or don't want a BIOS-managed Dual Boot, then keep XP plugged in when you install Win7 so it configures a Windows-managed Dual Boot, or if you reimage install EasyBCD 2.0 to add XP.

 

[martinlest]

The reason I have to install Windows 7 first from the CD-ROm is that without any Win7 installed I can't find a way to get into the XP installation - and if I can't get to the XP installation I can't run DriveImageXML, 'cos that's where it's installed.

I've tried adding DriveImageXML plug-in to a BartPE disc to run it from there, but my laptop won't create the needed .iso image, because there are errors in the log - can't open/close hive and stuff. I am getting further and further back - now trying to troubleshoot why BartPE won't create an iso image - it's getting ridiculous. I've spent two full days now trying to do this - what a waste of time. For two pins I'd sling the whole lot out the window.

M.