Unable to open Win7 normally even booting from DVD.

[jlumbtx]

I am unable to open Win7 64 bit normally. This has been an escalating problem for about
a month. It began as a problem every 4-5 times I started Win7. It got more frequent and
then, about two weeks ago, I was unable to open Win7 normally at all. I can get to Safe
Mode. When I try to open Win7 normally, I get the Windows logo and Starting Windows,
then the screen goes black. The red light indicating hard drive activity continues to flicker
but the screen will remain empty for as long as I want to wait.


I have run Startup Repair booting from the installation DVD. It either finds nothing wrong or
fixes something and tells me to restart, but I can't. I have tried System Restore three times
with no luck. I'm just going around in circles.


The only things new to the computer are more RAM and an nVidia graphics card but these
were installed after the problem began.


I have 2 hard drives, one with Win7 and one with Ubuntu Linux installed. The Llnux side
works fine so I have internet access.


I have run Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware, something from Kaspersky that looks for rootkits.
I have run hardware diagnostics. I have Norton 360 on the Win7 drive. All are up to date.
None can find anything wrong.

Last week I took it to trouble-shooting session at HAL-PC (Houston Area League of PC users)
and it worked fine plugged into their CRT monitor and wired keyboard and USB mouse.
When I brought the set home, it still didn't work Is it the display or the keyboard causing the
problem?


I have a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse and a Viewsonic LCD monitor. The PC,
monitor, keyboard and mouse are about 3 years old.


I have unplugged everything from the PC except the monitor and the wireless keyboard dongle.
I tried starting and then immediately unplugging the dongle so the the PC could not be
getting spurious signals from the keyboard or mouse. It didn't work- wouldn't open.


Do I go buy/rent/borrow a CRT and wired keyboard/mouse to test the PC at home?

John in Houston

 

[gregrocker]

Can you boot Win7 if you unplug the Linux HD and assure Win7 HD is set first to boot in BIOS?

If not Mark Partition Active the 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or WIn7 partition then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times from the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk .

Try running that way to see if the problem persists before plugging back in the Linux HD to boot itself via the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key at boot. Uninstall GRUB if it still messes with Win7.

If these fail then I'd borrow a wired keyboard and mouse to try that.

 

[jlumbtx]

gregrocker,

No luck. I unplugged the Linux HD, ran Startup Repair 3 times. Each time it seems to have nothing to repair: it ran for seconds, ended, told me to Restart. No improvement.

By the way, something I forgot in the first post: when trying to start Win7 normally, when the Starting Windows and Windows
logo disappear, for 2-3 seconds there is a blue rectangle in the upper right corner of the screen with white lettering: DVI.
I don't know if this is relevant to anything.

Off to MicroCenter this afternoon to see of they can supply me with a cheap wired keyboard and mouse.
If that doesn't do the trick then I guess it may be my monitor.

John

 

[gregrocker]

Did you mark Win7 partition Active first?

 

[jlumbtx]

NO. I missed that. I don't know how. Can I change Win7 partition without opening Win7?

 

[jlumbtx]

gregrocker

I discovered that I can get into Disk Management in Safe Mode. When I right-click the Win7 HD partition as instructed but I see
nothing that allows me to "Mark Partition as Active."

Also there is a warning about "Don't mark a partition as active if it doesn't contain the loader for an operating system." In GRUB I see Windows 7 loader. Is that what it's talking about?

But, since the PC worked fine at the HAL-PC lab but not at my apartment, how can it be that system settings are the problem? It didn't work at my apartment. It did work 45 minutes later at HAL-PC. Then it failed again when I took it home. I didn't change settings. The only thing different between the HAL-PC office and my apartment were the monitor and the keyboard/mouse.

John

 

[Danthevan]

Maybe try the simple thing before getting into the deepest depths of your hdd......... Keyboard/mouse/monitor

 

[gregrocker]

If you want to try a borrowed keyboard and mouse first then it might solve the issue. I am only providing you with the steps to make Win7 bootable on its own without being corrupted by GRUB bootloader which is garbage imposed on Win7.

To do this uninstall GRUB, mark Win7 partition as Active using Option Two if Disk Mgmt won't provide the Option. The tutorial shows every method so you need to be as thorough as it is. Then run Startup Repair 3 separate times with reboots to see if it will start.

A better way is here to Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux - Windows 7 Forums

 

[jlumbtx]

Wired keyboard/mouse had no positive effect.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd try to get Win7 booting on its own using the steps I gave you. Uninstall GRUB first.

 

[jlumbtx]

Bad graphics card. Took it back to Micro Center in Houston. They gave me a new one which works fine.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
John

 

[gregrocker]

Micro Center has a great parts desk to work with if you have one in your town. I use them in Boston for spec'ing RAM and other parts and have found it much more convenient than shopping online given the spec'ing risks and not even that much more cost.

Here in Ft Lauderdale we have a Tiger Direct store with parts desk, while many places have a CompUSA nearby.

 

[jlumbtx]

Micro Center is a nice store and convenient. We have a couple of Frys in Houston but they're not convenient. Just this
afternoon i spotted a Tiger Direct which I will check out soon. I discovered that the TD is occupying an old CompUSA store.
CompUSA pulled out of Houston a couple of years ago, I think.
John

 

[gregrocker]

Come to think about it TD may have bought CompUSA.

Fry's is great for deals and parts, too.