System Restore/Windows Update Problem

[Markus250]

I bought a Windows 7 Dell desktop computer about 3 years ago, it worked fine until this spring. The computer would freeze, I would use system restore to go back a few weeks and it would work fine for another 2 weeks or so. This happened 3 times in a row, then it worked for a good 2 months and then the next time it froze, it couldn't successfully restore from the last point so I used Dell Data Safe to make a backup of my hard drive and restore everything to factory default. I asked it to backup all videos, pictures and documents but for some reason it only backed up the videos. I downloaded recuva and was able to salvage a good portion of the pictures though the documents wouldn't open despite the fact recuva seemed to think they were restored in excellent condition.

At this point, I took all the videos and pictures and put them on an external drive and decided to do another restore but this time start completely fresh and only bring back the old files that I truly want. I'd run some programs (I heard about PC Decrapifier which was supposed to be good for getting rid of useless background junk) and get the computer working like new again. When I was loading chrome, avg and the decrapifier I accidentally clicked a "fake" download link on one of the pages that wasn't for the program I wanted. AVG could recognize a trojan on the system and claimed it was removing it but if I ran another scan 2 seconds later it would just claim to find and remove it again. Opening Chrome would have it pop up and alert me it found that virus once again but for some reason it could not properly get rid of it. I figured that since the computer was restarted only a few hours ago, it was easiest to just restore it again rather than deal with this virus. Upon restoring, this time around Chrome wouldn't install. It would just go through the loading endlessly, so I decided to restart the computer. It had the same problem with the system update, loading endlessly. All I can do now is shut off the computer manually and it just loads back up to the system update fruitlessly. Nothing in F2 setup seems to help, hitting f12 doesn't actually load up the menu it says it should, f8 isn't starting safe mode (even with a restore disk I made on my windows 7 laptop, I no longer have the disk the system came with) and I am out of ideas. I can't access anything because I can't log in, does anyone have any tips for what I can do?

 

[VistaKing]

Markus250 welcome to SevenForums

Lets try this

   Warning

You will need a

USB FLASH DRIVE

   Tip

Download the Tool from a non infected PC

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

Choose one that goes with your OS bit version . Save the file to a USB Flash drive

32-bit Version OS :ar: Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

64-Bit Version OS :ar: Farbar Recovery Scan Tool x64

   Note

Click the rb: button and right-click Computer .Select Properties . Look for System Type: which will say 32-bit Operating System or 64-bit Operating System

Plug the flash drive into the infected PC.

Enter System Recovery Options.

:ar: To enter System Recovery Options from the Advanced Boot Options:
Restart the computer.
As soon as the BIOS is loaded begin tapping the F8 key until Advanced Boot Options appears.
Use the arrow keys to select Repair Your Computer menu item.
Select US as the keyboard language settings, and then click Next.
Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
Select your user account an click Next.

:ar: To enter System Recovery Options by using Windows installation disc:
Insert the installation disc.
Restart your computer.
If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc. If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check your BIOS settings.
Click Repair your computer.
Select US as the keyboard language settings, and then click Next.
Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
Select your user account and click Next.

:ar: On the System Recovery Options menu you will get the following options:

• Startup Repair

• System Restore

• Windows Complete PC Restore

• Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

• Command Prompt

Select Command Prompt

In the command window type X:\FRST.exe (for x64 bit version type X:\FRST64.exe) and press Enter

   Note

Replace letter X with the drive letter of your flash drive.

   Tip

Type the commands below to see what your letter is for the USB drive and press ENTER after each command

Diskpart
List volume

The tool will start to run.
When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
Press Scan button.
FRST will let you know when the scan is complete and has written the FRST.txt to file

Upload the FRST.txt file

   Note

FRST.txt file will be inside the root of the USB Flash Drive

 

[Markus250]

I assume I'm checking to see if the system I'm *restoring* is 32 or 64 bit? I can't access the start menu (or anything else), so I'm not sure how I can determine this.

 

[VistaKing]

Download both of the versions place it inside a USB flash Drive and boot to the System Recovery on the PC that is having the issue . Select command prompt . Follow the steps to get to the System Recovery .

 

[Markus250]

Sorry about the delay, I haven't had a chance to try this until tonight.

I loaded both files onto a USB. Just like when I put the restore disc in, nothing different happened. F8 still doesn't do anything, f2 brings me to a series of menus that don't help and hitting f12 doesn't actually bring up the advanced options it states it should. It then says "resuming windows" and goes right back to installing update 1 of 2 endlessly.

 

[VistaKing]

Can you boot off a Windows Installation Disc ?

 

[Markus250]

I made a restore disc with my laptop but I don't have the original installation disc from either machine.

 

[VistaKing]

A factory Restore disc ? If your laptop and your other PC is the same OS bit create a System repair disc and use that to boot off and select Command Prompt.

 

[Markus250]

The laptop is Windows 7 64, not sure what the PC is. I already tried the system repair disc and nothing happened.

I did some more digging and found a disc that has "Drivers and Utilities" for the Dell PC I am trying to fix. I think this is the only disc it came with and it also doesn't allow me to do anything beyond the CMOS menu.

 

[VistaKing]

On your Desktop

Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties.

Under System, locate System Type

It will say either 32-Bit or 64-bit Operating System

 

[Markus250]

I can't do anything on the PC, all it does it load to the install screen and since it isn't actually installing the update, nothing happens. All I can do is turn the computer off and start over, and f8 doesn't let me load in safe mode or anything. I literally can't do anything.

EDIT: I may have found a solution. I fiddled with the boot options before to have the CD/USB boot before the hard drive to allow them to do their job but that didn't do anything. This time I just set the hard drive to flat out not boot at all and the system recovery disc loaded windows successfully without trying to do the system update. Since I had already backed up everything I needed, I was able to run the dell restore program and I'll give an update on what happens when it's done.

 

[VistaKing]

When you tab on F8 what happens ?

 

[Markus250]

It would just make a noise and nothing would happen. The bottom right of the screen would tell me to click f2 for one menu, f12 for another. Hitting f2 would cause the text to change from grey to white and load the CMOS menu, hitting f12 would make the same noise as f8 and do nothing.

 

[VistaKing]

Is it a clicking noise ? Might want to spray some can of air spray on the vents .