Setup Won't Load (Can't recover either)

[Tenny]

Hey Everyone,

So I've been running Win7 for a while, I would consider myself a pretty advanced user... So being stumped here really bothers me.

The basics:
Computer: Dell XPS1530, T8600, 4GB Ram, 500GB 7200rpm drive.
Updated 7-Zip, prompted restart. I restarted.
Computer BSOD's every boot now (Safe Mode, Normal, Last Known Good Config, etc).
When it begins to boot it recommends I go into Recovery Mode. If I do that, it goes to the basic Login Screen, but there's nothing displayed at all. It just sits there (I've left it alone for 20-30 minutes).

So at that point I was like, well even if I did recover, I would prefer a fresh install so might as well install...

So I go to install, and right after you get to the second page (where it gives you the option to Install or Recover (recover does the same as above)) it says Loading Setup, and once again hangs. I've left it there for about 30 minutes...

Anyone with ideas? I have plenty of things on the HDD I' would like to salvage, but it's a laptop hdd, so it's not as easy to salvage... I've considered putting the HDD in another comp and just seeing if it'd boot at all, but looking for ideas first.

I've also disabled all the hardware I could in the BIO's thinking that may have been one of the problems... but no luck yet.

 

[whs]

1. 7zip is benign, it should not have given you that trouble. I installed 7zip on several systems (XP, Vista, Win7) and never had to reboot.

2. To recover your data, try this: Computer First Aid Using Knoppix

3. Adding all your events up, it sounds more like a hardware problem than a software problem. But what part of the H/W is the million dollar question.

 

[gregrocker]

Test your memory using Windows Memory Diag Test from F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. Or use bootable memtest86 CD.

Use maker's HD diagnostics/repair full CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Try burning to CD the Repair disk to see if it will boot any differently than DVD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

If you have the 100mb Sys Reserved partition, you might also have Repair console available on F8 Advanced boot Tools menu. Once into Repair console, run Startup Repair and allow SysRestore if offered. Select SysRestore to attempt to get back before fatal Update (never allow 3rd party programs to auto-update your software - they are not only free-riders on RAM/CPU at Startup but this is what can happen).

See if Repair or installer ISO will boot when loaded onto bootable flash stick: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Boot free Partition Wizard CD to see if partitioning config has changed. Explore data to make sure it is still there. Is Sys Reserved 100mb partition or Win7 still System Active? If not mark Active and try running Startup Repair from DVD.

 

[Tenny]

Updates...

I recovered all the data I wanted ( live linux distro ). Everything seems fine.
Memtest86+ ran twice without any faults
I tried doing a USB Key Win7... same issues. (both with Install / Recovery)
The partitions seem to be in order, there is a 100mb system reserved "boot" partition, though I cannot get into the Repair Console. It doesn't give me that option.

There are no new dump files (or minidumps) within the past few weeks...

At this point, I just want to do a clean install... will probably just wipe the disc and hope that some how magically that will allow me to run setup again... (though I realize it probably won't do anything...)