Startup Repair Not Working; Results in BSOD or Black Screen

[technosos]

Hello all,

I have Windows 7 installed on my Acer desktop computer. Over the last few days, the computer has been quite laggy. It would freeze, forcing me to restart it. Startup repair used to work. It would give me the option of "restoring system settings" to a time when things were working correctly (or something like that). After that, the computer would seem fine but this would last only briefly. Freezing would inevitably happen again and so I kept repeating the aforementioned process.

Now, whenever I try restarting it, I get the usual windows error recovery message as follows:

”Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

If Windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, Startup Repair can help diagnose and fix the problem. If power was interrupted during startup, choose Start Windows Normally.”

Followed by these two options:

“Launch Startup Repair (recommended)”

“Start Windows Normally”

If I click the repair option, I get a black screen or the following BSOD:

"*** STOP: 0x000000A5 (0x0001000B, 0x50434146, 0xFFD01200, 0x00000000)"

If I choose to start normally, it loops back to the original windows error recovery message or I get a black screen again.

Now the key thing is I'm really not at all that technologically literate so in my quest to search for solutions to this problem online, I have constantly found myself scratching my head in confusion. If anyone could take this into consideration and kindly assist me with this problem, it would be greatly appreciated. It might also be important to note that my CD driver in jammed because I have come across numerous replies saying to reboot with the windows CD. If needed, I would somehow need to work around this.

Thank you.

 

[Arc]

"*** STOP: 0x000000A5 (0x0001000B, 0x50434146, 0xFFD01200, 0x00000000)"

STOP: 0x000000A5 means ACPI_BIOS_ERROR. So, the BSOD is caused for the BIOS.

1st Arg: 0x0001000B : The length of the ACPI table is not consistent with the table revision.
2nd Arg (0x50434146) indicates to the ACPI table signature.
3rd Arg (0xFFD01200) is a A pointer to the ACPI table.
​

I have a few questions for you.

1. Have you done anything to the BIOS lately?
2. How old the computer is?
   • If it is within warranty, ask for a warranty replacement.
3. Is the motherboard has dual BIOS?
   • If there is Dual BIOS facility in the motherboard, apply the other BIOS.

If it is out of warranty, and no dual BIOS, you have two more options left, as far as I can say.

• Reset the BIOS to optimized defaults. 3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow
• Search in Acer. If there is any update to the BIOS, apply it.

Let us know the situation up to this.

 

[technosos]

I have a few questions for you.

1. Have you done anything to the BIOS lately?
2. How old the computer is?
   • If it is within warranty, ask for a warranty replacement.
3. Is the motherboard has dual BIOS?
   • If there is Dual BIOS facility in the motherboard, apply the other BIOS.

If it is out of warranty, and no dual BIOS, you have two more options left, as far as I can say.

• Reset the BIOS to optimized defaults. 3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow
• Search in Acer. If there is any update to the BIOS, apply it.

Let us know the situation up to this.

First of all, thank you for your swift reply Arc.

To answer your questions...

1. Not that I'm aware of. I mean, up until now (once the computer starting freezing up like this), I've never even heard of the term BIOS before. I'm still not entirely sure what it is to be honest.

2. Unfortunately, it's too old to be up for warranty.

3. I'm not sure. Is there a way I can figure that out? How do I apply the other BIOS (if I indeed have dual facility)?

I just want to reiterate that the CD driver is not working so if any of these processes involve it, is there any other way I can do that? USB maybe?

Thanks again.

 

[Arc]

Dual BIOS is a new thing. If a computer is out of warranty then there is no chance that it has dual BIOS. So this option also goes, IMHO.

I am not the best person to guide you about BIOS updates. I am asking for more help in your thread ... some of our hardware experts will take care of it.

In the mean time, you plan to try the Clear COMS .... Method 3 of 3: Removing the CMOS Battery.

 

[technosos]

Thanks again for your reply Arc.

So I tried removing the CMOS battery as you suggested. Once I opened up the computer and got to the motherboard, it took me a while to figure out where the battery was located but I think I found it. I did not fully remove it though because it was really packed in there, but I did fiddle around with it a little. Anyways, that seemed to work because upon restart, I am now once again getting the option to do a proper system restore after choosing the startup repair option. This is the message I am getting:

"Do you want to restore your computer using System Restore?

Startup Repair can try to restore your computer to an earlier point in time when it worked correctly.

This repair will not change personal data, but it might remove some programs that were installed recently. You cannot undo this restoration."

After doing the system restore, the computer restarts normally without any black screen or BSOD. However, I underwent this exact same process a few days ago and it inevitably went back to freezing after some period of time. I will see how it goes and keep you posted.

 

[Arc]

OK, let us know for any further BSOD.