Startup/Boot hang

[Calvin]

Startup/Boot hang/freeze

Hi

My computer has been hanging at the following screen upon startup/boot (note: the Windows flag or whatever it is does not show up).

The following is a brief sequence of what happens:
1) I press the power button to turn it on
2) It hangs at the above screen (I've waited as long as ten minutes at this screen)
3) I force shutoff by holding the power button
4) I restart by pressing the power button, again
5) It asks me if I want to start up normally or repair (I forgot the exact words, I'm away from my PC and posting from a netbook now)
5a) If I choose repair, it does a system restore - computer now turns on. However, if I shut it off (the correct way, not a force shutoff) and turn it back on, this whole process restarts.
5b) If I choose to start up normally, it starts up just fine. Again, if I shut it off (the correct way, not a force shutoff) and turn it back on, this whole process restarts.

I have defragged, run a check dick (C drive), and done two system restores. Nada.

The only changes I've made are uninstalling Kaspersky and installing Avast - but this was well over a week prior to the problem and installing Windows updates (defender, security, malicious software, etc updates).

Please advise!

Thank you!

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

Try opening an elevated command prompt and running sfc /scannow. You can also try running a Startup Repair.

Good luck!
~JK

 

[Calvin]

Thank you for your quick response! I will try both when I get home.

Which do you recommend doing first?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Well, the first one is faster, but the second one is possibly more likely to work. Try the startup repair first.

 

[Calvin]

I ran the sfc /scannow prompt: Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

 

[Calvin]

After running the startup repair 4 times, it started up OK. Let's hope it stays that way.

Thanks, JK!

 

[Jonathan_King]

After running the startup repair 4 times, it started up OK. Let's hope it stays that way.

Thanks, JK!

No problem. Glad I could help. If you need anything else, you know our address!

~Jonathan

 

[Kahbrohn]

Hello... New here so I do apologize if I sound like I am beating a dead horse here.

I have read a few posts to see if I can find my exact situation (and therefore, HELP!) but I have unfortunately not been able to do so. This thread has been the closest I have seen to my problem. I even tried the fix suggestions to no avail.

What is different with the OP problem to mine is as follows:

Everything he states that happens to him, happens to me EXCEPT... I only get the problem during a cold start-up in the morning (computer turned off overnight). Once I get the machine up and running normally, I can power off/on throughout the rest of the day and no problem.

I have tried a system repair and a restore to previous point and the following morning the same issue. I see the "Starting Windows" screen and the Windows logo only partially materializes (freezes) and I must then hit the reset button or hold my power button down for a bit to shut-off and restart.

I would greatly appreciate any help/comment... or even better... if my problem has been discussed in another thread, a good point over to would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello... New here so I do apologize if I sound like I am beating a dead horse here.

I have read a few posts to see if I can find my exact situation (and therefore, HELP!) but I have unfortunately not been able to do so. This thread has been the closest I have seen to my problem. I even tried the fix suggestions to no avail.

What is different with the OP problem to mine is as follows:

Everything he states that happens to him, happens to me EXCEPT... I only get the problem during a cold start-up in the morning (computer turned off overnight). Once I get the machine up and running normally, I can power off/on throughout the rest of the day and no problem.

I have tried a system repair and a restore to previous point and the following morning the same issue. I see the "Starting Windows" screen and the Windows logo only partially materializes (freezes) and I must then hit the reset button or hold my power button down for a bit to shut-off and restart.

I would greatly appreciate any help/comment... or even better... if my problem has been discussed in another thread, a good point over to would be appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome to SF!

It sounds like either a hard drive or RAM issue. Unfortunately, I have yet to see a solution.

If you're desperate enough, you may try replacing components, but I doubt that is cost effective.

Edit: try testing your RAM. Download a copy of Memtest86 and burn the ISO to a CD using Iso Recorder. Boot from the CD, and run at least 5 passes.

 

[Kahbrohn]

Thanks...

I had thought about hardware being a problem but I wanted to see if there was something up with the OS.

I have an extra HDD installed in my desktop that I only use to back up games and store songs on. So, re-0formating it wont be a problem. Was my old 500GB drive I used before I was given a 750GB (new) drive. Any suggestion for downloadable software that I can use to "move" everything from the 750GB to the 500GB?

As for the RAM... I may be able to get a hold of some working sticks. I have thought of them as being the culprits but they are fairly new (4 months old) and a good brand-name.

I'll try both options to see. I am just trying to avoid my very last option... reformat it all and start over again from scratch. My Win7 x64 is the "DigitalRiver" version and was a real pain to get installed. I can't boot from it as it is so it's sort of impossible for me to make a "restart disk" with it. Might just go buy myself a copy I guess.

Thanks for the help and I'll post here if any of those two suggestions works. May be a couple of days before I fully know the results.

 

[Kahbrohn]

Ok...

Couldn't test the memory. The additional sticks I had I had forgotten I had given away.

After some thought, I decided not to mess with my drives. They have not shown any sign of problems so, as Grandpa Kah used to say... "If it ain't broke... don't go do something stupid and break it!".

So, I decided to mess a bit with my wireless adapter card (old D-Link WDA-2320, bought in 2006/7 but worked for nearly 6 months with my Win 7). I had needed to pull it out, dust it a bit, check/clean (with a pencil eraser) the connector and re-install. Ironically, upon pulling the card out I found myself in the need to start-up the old box of nuts n' bolts (old guy lingo for "computer"). When I started her up... IT BOOTED WITH NO PROBLEM! Uncle Kah here said... "Hmmm... fascinating!" and I went ahead and reinstalled the wireless card. Started it back up and WHAM! Freeze up! Took the wireless card back out and no problem... rinse and repeat and WHAM! I found my culprit.

I went out and bought myself the D-Link DWA-160 A2. I installed (using the drivers found on the D-Link site - Ver. 1.60 - NOT THE CD DRIVERS which is ver. 1.40 and a pain when you mix it up with Win 7 x64). Presto... a fully functional machine again. I will let it run another few days just to make sure everything is in order. I still need to confirm that it is the old wireless card and not the motherboard slot I had it plugged into which is the only slot I have left.

Just figured on mentioning this as a "possibility" and share my experience. I guess that what I am trying to say is that before you go out and buy all kinds of new things to test, try going back to basics and test your present equipment little by little.