Problems with Startup Repair/Disk Consistency Windows 7

[litefoot]

I went on holiday 1st March and didn't get back until 6th. My Lenovo PC was working fine the day I left. On my return, I switched it on and couldn't get into Windows (7). So I rebooted and it went into Startup Repair. It ran for two days straight. After that it started a disk consistency check. That took many hours, and once finished, the PC restarted... and went into disk consistency Check again. And again. And again...

Each time the Disk Consistency message showed, I tried cancelling it, but the computer just hung, so I had to reboot again.

I looked for help online and found this thread which described similar problems.

https://www.sevenforums.com/perform...-one-your-disks-need-checked-consistency.html

I rebooted again but this time used F8 before the Disk Consistency message. I opened a Command Prompt (which strangely started with drive X). I switched to C and typed

fsutil c:

as described in that thread. It found no errors so I rebooted again. Disk Consistency showed up but this time when I cancelled, it eventually loaded Windows.

Logging in took an age - and the desktop was completely black for five minutes, except the cursor - but eventually the desktop appeared. Windows Explorer ran incredibly slowly. And clicking on applications had no effect. I was able to open some notepad files and move stuff to Recycle Bin but nothing else. So, I rebooted again.

This time I was prompted to use Startup Repair... so I'm back to square one.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok now am assuming you can get into safe mode so run these for starters
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check < if necessary include the /f switch and if this does not make any improvement then just run this switch instead /r in the command line as per Option2
Run these in safe mode and the sfc often best run for two to three runs – you can leave out the /r switch in ckdsk if you feel it not necessary

if you get it into "normal" mode then I think you would best to run these too
SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes Premium
AdwCleaner Download
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(NB If you are running Kaspersky as the main AV then it might need disabling it when trying ADW because it does not like it at times)

I am just thinking too when you were away did you leave the machine plugged in? - it might be worth asking your neighbours if there have been any power disruptions while you were away eg lightning strikes etc and is there any possibility someone else eg a family member has used the machine in your absence??

 

[litefoot]

Ok now am assuming you can get into safe mode so run these for starters


I am just thinking too when you were away did you leave the machine plugged in? - it might be worth asking your neighbours if there have been any power disruptions while you were away eg lightning strikes etc and is there any possibility someone else eg a family member has used the machine in your absence??

I can't get into Safe Mode. When I try, it loads Windows Files very slowly, and eventually freezes at this point:

I did leave the machine plugged in, but there were no lightning strikes, nor did anyone use the PC in my absence (no one here is computer literate except me).

My antivirus software is Eset Smart Security, I've not had a problem with viruses or malware since I've been using it. Which is not to say nothing could get past it, of course!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok well that is a blow and I think that if it could be malware it might be worth running a rescue disk that is a scanner that runs in a non Windows environment but you might know this already.

So if you have access to another machine download and make a bootable disk or stick (I prefer a disk) of this
http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk it takes only a short time to run and checks everything in the machine

 

[litefoot]

Ok well that is a blow and I think that if it could be malware it might be worth running a rescue disk that is a scanner that runs in a non Windows environment but you might know this already.

So if you have access to another machine download and make a bootable disk or stick (I prefer a disk) of this
http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk it takes only a short time to run and checks everything in the machine

OK, I have gotten hold of a USB stick and put the download file on it. When I reboot, the screen says:

invalid system disk, press any key

and takes me to the Windows normal safe mode options etc.

Have I done something wrong or is it the PC?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No mate you just need to make the stick bootable you just cannot copy the download to the stick and use it like that.

It put simply is on power up because the BIOS looks for system boot command from whatever device is in the machine and because the stick is not bootable it will then go to the next bootable device - eg your hard drive

This looks complicated but really is not How to make an USB Bootable? (5 Methods) - Bootable USB | Bootable USB if you get into strife just ask.

Now one thing you will have to do too is to set the boot order in the BIOS to the USB option and I would set the hard drive to last option. After you have finished re scan then revert the boot order back.

Again if you are not sure or are having difficulties please post back

 

[litefoot]

No mate you just need to make the stick bootable you just cannot copy the download to the stick and use it like that.

It put simply is on power up because the BIOS looks for system boot command from whatever device is in the machine and because the stick is not bootable it will then go to the next bootable device - eg your hard drive

This looks complicated but really is not How to make an USB Bootable? (5 Methods) - Bootable USB | Bootable USB if you get into strife just ask.

Now one thing you will have to do too is to set the boot order in the BIOS to the USB option and I would set the hard drive to last option. After you have finished re scan then revert the boot order back.

Again if you are not sure or are having difficulties please post back

Sorry about the loooong delay. I was getting so frustrated I needed some time away from it.

OK, I have a new USB stick and I've put the 300MB disk image file on it (kav_rescue_10) from the link you gave above.

But i'm confused about what you want me to do next. I don't understand the 'how to make a USB Bootable' link you gave me above. What is it on that page I have to do exactly? For example, the first method for making a USB bootable is this:

"1st Method: Install Any Operating System on your Personal Computer, using your USB Flash Drive

Step 1. Search for Command Prompt. Now run Command Prompt, by right-clicking on it and choosing Run as administrator. If it’s required, insert the password of your Administrator account.
This tutorial will make a bootable USB Flash Drive. Copy the whole disc of your operating system installation. Now you have a portable and bootable USB drive."

I don'r know how to 'copy the whole disc of my operating system'. Contrary to what was said above, this is getting very complicated!

Can someone give me a simple step by step guide? Thanks

 

[SIW2]

If you have a resore point to a time before the problem, suggest you use system restore from booted repair media.

 

[litefoot]

Ok, I have an update. I asked someone on Skype to help me. I downloaded ImageUSB (Passmark Software) and used that to write the Kaspersky disc image to the USB drive.

I plugged it into the PC and switched on. I didn't need to go into the BIOS, it booted straight from the flash drive. It showed the Kaspersky Rescue Disk screen. I selected 'Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Graphic Mode'. It showed the Kaspersky logo again (with a white progress bar at the bottom?). Then I got this screen:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39408774@N05/34431269396/in/datetaken-public/

It hangs permanently at that point. I tried using the USB sockets on the back of the PC as well but all gave me the same result.

If you have a resore point to a time before the problem, suggest you use system restore from booted repair media.

The only discs that came with the PC are Windows 8 (I don't know why they sent me these when the PC is installed with Windows 7). I never made any discs.

 

[SIW2]

You can borrow this:

17514x64.iso

 

[SIW2]

If you can't boot the Kaspersky or the 17514 you may have a hard drive problem.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply mate have had problems ++ myself but you need to make the disk or stick bootable and two programs you can use are ImgBurn and PowerISO
PowerISO - Create, Burn, Mount, Edit, Compress, Encrypt, Split, Extract ISO file, ISO/BIN converter, Virtual Drive, DAA File and The Official ImgBurn Website see video he goes rather quick but just do it in stages. Make a Bootable ISO with ImgBurn - YouTube

Personally I prefer a disk rather than a stick and there is some discussion on that one should use the slowest rate of burn that you can fine - I always do but it is up to you keep in mind a fast burn may corrupt the finished product. You can do this for the Windows ISO's should you need one and in fact hey are better than the original disk one sometimes get bause the updates have been already taken car of in the main of course you will get some.

Having aid that the fact that it booted from the stick as SIW pointed out means there is almost certainly some thing wrong with the hard drive.