Solved Stuck at Windows Startup Screen

[tppk]

My computer froze up a few days ago while I was browsing the web, I turned it off, and now the furthest I get is the Windows startup screen. When I turn it on it asks if I want to boot normally or launch startup repair. Starting normally brings me to the Windows startup screen, where it gets stuck. Launching startup repair says it's loading files, then goes to a black screen and stays there.

I've tried to do a Windows repair using my system recovery disks (came with the laptop) and again it got stuck at the startup screen. Using the recovery disks I tried to boot into safe mode at it got stuck loading disk.sys. Also using the recovery disks, I tried to load into the last good configuration, and again it got stuck at the Windows startup screen.

Based on the advice at this thread (http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/209576-start-up-problems.html) I tried booting and doing a scan with Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper (now called Windows Defender). It said it was loading files, then got stuck at a black screen with nothing but a white mouse.

Any ideas as to what's wrong?

For reference, the problems are on a Sony VAIO VPCC227FX laptop running Win 7 Pro 64. I had some problems with this laptop a couple months ago and ended up formatting the drive and re-installing everything (http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...chost-exe-using-too-much-cpu.html#post1636620).

Thanks for the help!

 

[writhziden]

Sounds like you have hard disk errors. Use http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html to select Repair Your Computer and get to the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html. Then select the command prompt. Do the following:

chkdsk /r c:
chkdsk /r d:
chkdsk /r e:
chkdsk /r f:​

.etc until you get the message that the volume could not be found. For any drives that do not give the message:
"Windows has checked the file system and found no problems"
run chkdsk again as above.

I realize you may only have one disk show up in Windows explorer, but you may have more than one disk through recovery options. This is because the system creates a hidden boot partition (which will be C: in recovery), you may have a recovery partition for your laptop that is hidden (which will be D: in recovery), and you will have your primary Windows partition (which may be E: in recovery).

 

[tppk]

I think you're right about the disk errors, but haven't been able to confirm yet. I got to the Advanced Boot Options screen, but when I select Repair Your Computer, it does this:

- Windows is Loading Files (like this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4110850942_bdc9098450_o.png)
- Microsoft Corporation progress bar for only a second or two (like this: http://www.petri.co.il/images/vista_boot_screen_1.gif)
- Black screen. Gets stuck here.

Any other ideas for what I could try? Thanks for the help!

 

[writhziden]

Try resetting your BIOS and the BIOS software/hardware connections.

Note: If you are using a RAID controller, this will reset the RAID and you will lose your data. Backup all important files and make a system image before proceeding with this step if you have multiple hard drives in a RAID configuration. .

1. Go into your BIOS and load default settings to clear the CMOS memory.
2. Save Settings and exit the BIOS.
3. Shut down and turn off the computer.
4. Unplug the computer from the wall or surge protector (then remove the battery if it is a laptop).
5. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This closes the circuit and ensures all power from components is drained to clear the software connections between the BIOS and hardware and clear any corruption in the temporary memory.
6. (If it is a laptop, plug the battery back into the laptop and then) Plug the computer back into the wall.
7. Turn it on to reinitialize the software connections between the BIOS and hardware, and post back your results.

If you are unsure whether you are running a RAID configuration, if you do not have multiple drives in your machine, you do not have RAID.

 

[tppk]

No luck. I reset the BIOS using the steps you described and it still gets stuck at the Windows boot screen.

 

[writhziden]

Odd. Have you tried any other bootable media? PartedMagic is a useful tool for drive recovery. Ultimate Boot CD - Overview also has good diagnostic utilities.

 

[tppk]

It turns out that Ultimate Boot CD comes with Parted Magic, so I used that. I tried the Check utility in Parted Magic but it quit with an "input/output" error, which doesn't seem good.

As for the other utilities in Ultimate Boot CD, do you have any favorite disk checkers? There are quite a few diagnostic utilities and I'm not sure which one will do what I want.

Thanks again.

 

[writhziden]

It turns out that Ultimate Boot CD comes with Parted Magic, so I used that. I tried the Check utility in Parted Magic but it quit with an "input/output" error, which doesn't seem good.

As for the other utilities in Ultimate Boot CD, do you have any favorite disk checkers? There are quite a few diagnostic utilities and I'm not sure which one will do what I want.

Thanks again.

The best disk checking utility would be one that is provided by the hard disk manufacturer. Do you know who manufactured your drives (Western Digital, Seagate, Samsung, Hitachi, etc.)? You should be able to find out by going into the BIOS.

 

[tppk]

It's a Seagate drive, and they have a disk checker that you can put on a bootable CD. After about six rounds of scanning, finding errors, and fixing errors, it got through an entire scan without finding any errors. After that I was able to boot into Windows without any problems. Thanks for all the help!

Do you think this is normal for a hard drive, or is a sign of disk failure?

 

[writhziden]

It's a Seagate drive, and they have a disk checker that you can put on a bootable CD. After about six rounds of scanning, finding errors, and fixing errors, it got through an entire scan without finding any errors. After that I was able to boot into Windows without any problems. Thanks for all the help!

Do you think this is normal for a hard drive, or is a sign of disk failure?

Every hard disk eventually ends up with some bad sectors due to a lot of use. Hard drives are designed for this eventuality by having extra sectors available so those spare sectors can be reallocated to the drive table and bad sectors cast aside. If the drive is fairly new, what you have described may be a bad sign. If it is a year or two old, what you described is uncommon, but not unheard of. Once the drive is past its warranty period, it is more common for sectors to be bad and be replaced.

Regardless of the age of the drive (unless it is new, in which case you should back up data and call the manufacturer to see if it should be RMA'd), keep a watchful eye on it and see if similar problems come back within a month. You may also want to be more diligent about keeping a backup during that time. If problems return within 4-5 weeks, either RMA it, or if it is past the warranty, replace the drive.



How is the system currently running now that hard disk errors were fixed?

 

[floydmac]

Hello, I am currently experiencing the same problems with my laptop. I have the same laptop you have, I was wondering if you could explain what you done to help fix the problem?
Thanks

 

[writhziden]

Have you done the disk check steps I laid out for the other user in this thread? This user's thread was solved by doing those steps. If you still have problems after doing the same steps as the original user who started this thread, you should start your own thread to get more help.

 

[Dobick]

Here is what worked for me, running an Lenovo T60p, had this start up problem after updating, specially large updates, did everything in these forums with no avail. Decided to use another laptop, and when I picked this one up noticed it was very hot, blew out the fan vents (great deal of dust) and walla, now works perfect and a lot cooler. Suspect the processor was overheating and causing the crash.

 

[Atata]

I have the same problem since yesterday I could not get solution for it; the laptop got stuck at starting windows and I have waited but cannot start, the BIOS setting is fine.. I have tried to go thru safe mode but I cannot, tried to repaire but cannot go to, it just try to load the windows after I insert a OS Windows 7 istallation CD and trying to start the Windows this where has stopped. I just couldnot go/do any thing... even cannot backup my data using the OS CD.
I plug the HD into another desktop computer as slave.. and I was able to see my data and I did backup my data.
I also tried to put the HD into another laptop (the same model) which is Lenovo L421 and I was able to load the windows normally without any problem..
I tihnk there is somthing wrrong with the hardware but I couldnot know which one ... finally I did air blower to remove if there is any dust... and I removed the RAM and put back again but no luck...

can some asist me if he find a solution to this problem.

 

[sus364]

Sounds like you have hard disk errors. Use http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html to select Repair Your Computer and get to the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html. Then select the command prompt. Do the following:

chkdsk /r c:
chkdsk /r d:
chkdsk /r e:
chkdsk /r f:​

.etc until you get the message that the volume could not be found. For any drives that do not give the message:
"Windows has checked the file system and found no problems"
run chkdsk again as above.

I realize you may only have one disk show up in Windows explorer, but you may have more than one disk through recovery options. This is because the system creates a hidden boot partition (which will be C: in recovery), you may have a recovery partition for your laptop that is hidden (which will be D: in recovery), and you will have your primary Windows partition (which may be E: in recovery).

Today I have tried this solution for my computer it did well for c drive and got stuck for d drive. In my computer mainly all the files are in c drive. In any case as it got stuck I stopped it and restarted again, windows automatically tried the startup repair option and then could not figure out anything. After that I shut it down as it directed and after restart my computer has started working again. What I am really worried about is that is it a permanent solution? Or I should plan for some other preventive measures?

 

[whois]

hi, had this problem, boot in safe mode and uninstall avg av and or and other av.

 

[Zenicablues]

Not so serious !!! - Open Microsoft AutoRuns, uncheck Hide Windows Entries & Microsoft entries & check that is all (even not necessary) in Winlogon, LogOn and Boot execute are CHECKED !!! - Windows needs most of them !!! - No need and repair !!!