Solved Repeated startup repair problem

[lobsters15]

When I boot my windows 7 64 bit Dell computer windows states that it is loading files and then states that the computer was unable to start. Start-up repair kicks in and many minutes later I receive the message that start-up repair cannot repair the computer automatically. I then click finish and I can use the computer normally. I have tried to boot from the windows 7 disk and repair from there to no avail. The details of the repair state that d:\windows\system32\drivers\fs_rec.sys file is corrupt. I cannot do a system restore as this start-up problem was present from my earliest restore point. As I mentioned the computer can be used but only after a wait of about ten minutes. As my family require this computer to be working I am thinking of not shutting it down and leaving it on permanently.

 

[Brink]

Hello Lobsters, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if the tutorial below may be able to help with this Startup Repair loop.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139576-startup-repair-infinite-loop-recovery.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[edwar]

Have you thought about saving all the personal info on the drive and erasing it completely and reinstalling Windows Clean.

This is what I would do.

Also there seems to be something amiss on your system. Why is Windows installed on the D drive.

Please post a screen shot of the full Disk Management window showing all drives in the bottom half of the window.

 

[lobsters15]

Rather than reinstall Windows 7 I have decided to boot from the Windows 7 DVD rather than the hard drive. This works although it is probably not the neatest solution.

 

[gregrocker]

If you can boot Win7 from the Win7 DVD then it means the boot files need repair or rewriting.

Boot into Windows 7 DVD System Recovery Options or Windows 7 System Repair Disk to Mark Win7 or it's 100mb System Reserved Partition (preferred if you have it) Active.

Then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Windows 7 starts and it's boot partition holds the System Active flags.

If this fails when System Reserved partition is marked Active, move the Active flag to Win7 partition itself and then try the 3 repairs again.

 

[lobsters15]

I have arranged the Bios to boot from the Windows 7 DVD
However if I do not press as instructed any key to boot from cd or dvd, Windows loads perfectly. Why then does it go through a Startup repair when I boot from the hard drive?

 

[gregrocker]

As explained most likely HD's boot files are corrupted needing repair or rewriting using the steps I gave you.

 

[lobsters15]

Many thanks gregrocker as I can now boot from the hard drive.

 

[lobsters15]

Spoke too soon. After a number of successful shutdowns and reboots, the problem has returned.

 

[gregrocker]

You ran the three repairs and it sorted out only temporarily and now requires the DVD in the drive to boot?

Startup Repair automates all boot repair commands but sometimes manually running the bootrec tool from installer or Repair CD Command Line to rebuild the BCD store will solve the problem: How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows . The commands are demonstrated here.

In this case you may have bad boot code on the HD which is interfering. I would back up your files and run Dell Windows 7 PC Restore, or Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 after wiping the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command.

 

[lobsters15]

I repeated your earlier repair suggestion and all again seems to be well. Thanks for the help.

 

[lobsters15]

I have tried the bootrec suggestions from the Command prompt and the problem continues. It looks like I will have to reinstall Windows 7. I have reinstalled Windows XP before without too difficulty but checking the Dell support site reinstalling Windows 7 seems to be a bit more daunting. The Dell site states one should be familiar with all the hardware on the computer and to download all drivers before reinstalling. Other reinstalling sites I have viewed suggests Windows will automatically find these drivers. This is my memory from reinstalling XP.

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you the steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Did you read them?

In your case I also suggested you first run Diskpart Clean Command to wipe the HD of all boot code which might be interfering. To do this access the Command Line at first screen after booting installer by pressing Shift + F10.