Solved System crash, repair no work, can't get beyond Windows splash screen

[retread]

No matter what I do, I can't get into Windows. That includes Safe Mode. Therefore I can't get error dump info. Windows repair can't fix it. Repair result: Fail. Error code 0x4005. Ran repair over 7 times.

Restore won't work ... says I need to set protected mode. Can't boot... how can I do this under this circumstance?

When attempt to boot to Safe Mode, get the same BSOD right after the Windows splash screen. Neither Normal boot or Last Known Good work either.

No new hardware but I was running backup programs when it happened. I had just finished backing up and cloning my C:\ drive to a new HDD and also ran a Registry Cleaner when it suddenly rebooted and displayed the BSOD.

Yesterday I defragged the HDD and used the PC without trouble all day today until today's sudden BSOD. No new devices other than the HDD (which is certainly not part of the problem). I ran a bootable (WinPE) CD and checked for HDD errors.... found none. This 2 year old Seagate Barracuda (C:\) has shown no signs of problems.... no noise, no reboots, etc. Every scan test passed without error....

I'm stuck. 6 hours of troubleshooting and I give up. I'm open for suggestions.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome retread mate I think the problem lies in that reg clean out you did. I do not use any reg clean up tools except CCleaner and then I always backup the result before I fix.
As a general rule it is a good idea to back up the registry when you first install.

To do that go to Start > type regedit > right click > run as admin > File > save as - put it wherever you like a stick is good idea as well as the documents.

Now have you "cleaned" the reg in the clone?? if not then just maybe you need to disconnect the drive that is playing up and boot from the clone and reclone that back to the original drive. But for your own sake get rid of that reg cleaner mate.

 

[retread]

I appreciate your response. I used to feel the same way about registry cleaners and got rid of them, however, I rethought the issue and found that oft-times issues developed that required a registry overhaul. At this point the issue is moot.

I would add that Windows repair insists that it is a device driver as the cause. Here is the error info:

Startup Repair log
Problem signature:
Problem event name StartupRepairOffline
Problem event signature 01 6.1.7600.16385
Problem event signature 02 6.1.7600.16385
Problem event signature 03 unknown
Problem event signature 04 21215624
Problem event signature 05 AutoFailover
Problem event signature 06 10
Problem event signature 07 Bad Driver
OS version 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID 1033

The only driver added recently was an external HDD dock... the one I used to attempt to clone the C: drive. The problem is, I can't boot into Windows to get to the Control Panel to un-install it. Besides, it installed itself just by plugging in the eSata cable. I thought this would have been a Windows install.... am I not correct? I didn't use any installation software.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I cannot agree with your decision to use add on cleaners my friend but each to his own.
If you cannot get it to boot even into safe mode then it looks very much like a reinstall.

 

[retread]

I did an image recovery to another old disk laying around and got much of the same scenario. Problem is this old disk was known bad. However, Windows repair correctly diagnosed it as bad, whereas the disk I am concerned with Windows reported no disk errors but said bad device driver. No device drivers installed for quite a while on that disk, so ran SeaTools for DOS. Aha! SeaTools found one error and I ran repair. Reconnected original disk (now with repaired bad sector) but get the same-o, same-o. I am in the process of restoring a supposedly good image to it and try again.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok now another test you could run on that drive is the surface test with Partition Wizard this is more of a physical test but worth a try if things are still not right.

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. see my pic - just make sure you click on the very end like I have.
By the by this is a very handy tool to do all sorts of work with on partitions wiping drive etc etc

 

[retread]

The problem is not HDD. It continues with a new HDD if the partition data is restored via software restore pgm. I've gone thru 3 different HDDs... I have installed a fresh copy of Win7 on a brand new HDD and that install runs. Once I import the data and partition I need, the problem returns. It seems that because it causes a system crash between the splash screen and the log-in screen, that it must be a corrupted boot manager or something of the nature. I'm not an IT expert, so I really don't know what loads in that region.

I am presently trying to establish a bootable copy of Win7 on this new HDD and import my data files one at a time without partition and system files. I don't know if it will work, but continuing to run around in circles leaves me dizzy. I have found that running Windows Repair is a waste of time. I am starting from a clean install.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

This is beginning to smack of malware retread and I suggest you run these and post back because as you say the problem returns when you import data back into the drive.
http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
download from bleeping computer

Free Malware Removal Tools < scroll down to the TDSS application and run it.

 

[retread]

Problem not due to malware, although I took the time to delete all found. I replicated the issue. I installed a new HDD (fresh out of the box), and copied the disk with the clean install of Win7. Changed boot to new drive... works great. Tried to restore saved backup to new HDD, and BSOD, ditto, ditto. Restored clean install HDD to new (now unbootable) and Walla!... boots again (sans needed backup files). This means the backup data is corrupted, most likely in the boot manager. I have run a file recovery program and can get my data files, but I would really like to restore my user profile. I understand it is located in User\AppData folder, but how do I go about this? Just copy and paste?

And the big ? is: With no links to the program shortcuts (since I have not restored my files yet) will this cause a problem? IOW... which should I attempt first?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply retread this is a a tricky ask I think as something is corrupted along the way I would be very careful what you copy / paste mate.

If it were me rather than do it wholly I would tend to do it it in small amount copies and only the data that you actually need.