Random Crash & Nothing Will Fix

[MobiusOne]

Today I was using my computer like normal, playing a game of Left 4 Dead 2 when all of a sudden the whole computer completely locked up. I turned it off and turned it back on not thinking much of it but when I tried to boot Windows 7 it would say Windows Starting with the logo, but then just restart.

I figured that perhaps my hard drive had died, but I later found that I could boot in Safe Mode just fine. I have tried Startup Recovery which said it couldn't fix the problem, I have run System restore which only gives me a very limited date range, and that often says it couldn't restore the system. I ran chkdsk as well and nothing has helped. Since it works in Safe Mode I figured that it may be a program that may be causing the problem when it boots so set MSCONFIG so that only the basics should load on startup yet nothing changed!

I have no Windows 7 CD because I got it at a very low-price through Microsoft for being a student. They gave me a digital download but I had also checked the option for having a disk mailed to me but they never ended up sending it! So I cannot use my disk to try and repair my operating system.

Anyone have any idea as to what the heck is wrong with my computer and what I could possibly do?

 

[usasma]

Try the steps here: How to Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Startup in Windows 7 or Vista
A system that will boot into Safe Mode - but not into normal mode - has issues with things loading in normal mode. These are normally associate with 3rd party programs/drivers.

 

[MobiusOne]

Hmm, I tried doing the clean startup but somehow that still didn't work. Something to be noted is that every time I would disable all non-Microsoft services and then click Apply, Norton 360 would automatically recheck itself. I uninstalled it once but I think the system restores I've attempted brought it back. I just don't understand what could make a safemode boot-up work but not a clean start-up.

 

[usasma]

Try this:

Anti-Virus Removal:
Please do the following:
- download a free antivirus for testing purposes: Free AntiVirus
- uninstall the Norton from your system (you can reinstall it, if so desired, when we're done troubleshooting)
- remove any remnants of Norton using this free tool: KB Article Not Found
- IMMEDIATELY install and update the free antivirus
- check to see if this fixes the BSOD's

 

[MobiusOne]

Removed Norton but still no dice. I'm wondering if I should do another system restore now that Norton is gone? Or would it just bring Norton back?

 

[hkancyr]

What is the temperature situation?
Is it dusty?
How is the power supply?
What are your specs?

 

[usasma]

Please try the clean startup thing again.

Also, please provide this info: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html The reports may contain information that we can use.