*URGENT* System restore fail, Device manager wiped out, Many more.

[ParadoXeX]

Hi all,

I am having an urgent problem with my HP Pavilion Dv6,

I'll start from the beginning:

I am currently running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, and I encountered a problem today with scanning using the printer (Printing was alright). I can only remember vaguely as I thought it some kind of connection error, I was using a USB cable and it was working find earlier. Spent hours googling to no avail, so I decided to use System Restore to restore to yesterday where it was working perfectly. So when the laptop started the process through -Control Panel> Recovery> Open system restore it logged out and everything, but hung at initializing for about 40 minutes, I googled that with another laptop and 99% of them said I should turn on my laptop with the button, then try the System Restore in the boot options when choosing the Repair Computer option. Guess what! That also didn't work .

Well I started windows normally after the second power off, turned on without any problems, but then realized in the taskbar it shows the Ethernet wire connection for internet where I am connected wirelessly, I check my network adapters through Network & Sharing centre and the adapters are missing. I start panicking and instantly check device manager, its blank (Plug and Play is on). At that point I'm pissed off when I remember that when I started the laptop again, ATI gave me a message that no drivers were found. Have all my drivers been deleted? If my network adapters are missing, how am I connecting to the net? I also checked msconfig, tried a clean boot (Hopeless), but also noticed many Microsoft services are stopped. I just tried to scan again now to get an error message but the printer was not found, I figured this was from deleted devices?

PLEASE HELP, I have my exams coming around the corner and I need my laptop in shape.


Thanks,


-ParadoXeX



*Edit: I just saw this and it looked weird, when I did System restore, It had my C: drive ticked, but there was another C: and it said drive not detected or a similar message. (System Restore has worked in the past).

 

[gregrocker]

I would immediately install and run a full scan with Malwarebytes free version. If clean, back up your files externally next. If not, back them up anyway but to quarantine.

Check for actual Restore points. If none it likely means Startup has been repaired and put a recovered C listing in the System Protection list. Turn off both C listings to see which one goes away. This of course doesn't help your problem since a first line of defense for these catastrophic failures is SysRestore.

Then run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

If there are irreparable System files try repairing them as given in tutorial. If this fails, you likely need a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

If you lose boot use http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

Otherwise there are other steps to work through in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html working up to if necessary a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[ParadoXeX]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply, I do have Restore points still Available from the 22nd of this month, where this problem only occurred today. As in the original post, system restore isn't making any progress and keeps getting stuck, I already had Malwarebytes installed (My favorite clean-up) and it is running and has been running a full test for the past 1 hour 18 minutes.

What do you mean to quarantine? Encase they get deleted?

I will post the info if the Malwarebytes scan comes out not clean.

 

[gregrocker]

If the files are infected and cannot be immediately cleaned up then back them up to a disk or stick where they can be further cleaned later, so you can get on with repairs and not risk the files loss.

Run Malwarebytes again if it finds infection, post up any serious infection in our Security forum for specialized help.

You may have better luck with System restore from the Win7 DVD or REpair CD as shown in the Failure to Boot tutorial. But you want infection cleaned up first.

 

[Alejandro85]

It seems like a virus or something like that has really been wrecking havoc in yous system I guess. In those cases, when the installation is already destroyed, I think the best option to have a working system is to perform a full reinstall of Windows (which you should be doing regularly anyway).
In the long run, the only way to ensure the system is stable is to do a full reformat and reinstall everything from scratch. Most times you can spend more time trying to fix your existing install. Just make sure, if it even was caused by a virus, to check the documents you backup so you don't carry the problem forward to the next reinstall.

 

[ParadoXeX]

Hi,

I ran a full Malwarebytes scan and no malicious items were detected.
I can supply the notepad (scan results) for it if you want, Ill start on the
SFC scan with the elected command promt now. By the way, I think the actual
problem started to occur when I cancelled system restore? Just an idea.


Thanks

 

[ParadoXeX]

Hi,

I did the SFC scanner like you told me and it came up with Windows Resource protection did not find any integrity violations. Should I run it again? Thanks

 

[ParadoXeX]

Also I just tried to save a file on Microsoft word but it said Cannot verify license to this product, repair in control panel. Im guessing something in my registry is stuffed up too? Again the weird thing is, even if my device manager and network adapters is blank, I still have net connection, which makes me think they are there somewhere. Also when try to go to properties on my wireless connection, it says specific error: the data is invalid, windows encountered an error saving the wireless profile. Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

I would back up my data and run a Repair Install

 

[ParadoXeX]

Hi,

Does this: "extract the Windows 7 SP1 ISO file to a folder on a partition or HDD other than the current Windows 7 partition." mean I can use Local disk C: and just make a folder there? sorry I am a bit lost

 

[gregrocker]

You can download the ISO to C but I would then burn it to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool so you have bootable rescue media if needed. You will then run (not boot) the installer as given in tutorial.

 

[ParadoXeX]

can i use my computer's 'reinstall windows option' ? Apparently I have a recovery D: partition.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes you can try running HP Factory Recovery from its partition: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01895783&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=enHP Factory Recovery

Late model HP's offer a Minimal Recovery which is almost as good as a Clean Reinstall.

If possible make your Recovery disks first to have as a backup in case Recovery fails when run from its partition.

I'd also copy out my files first using the Win7 DVD or Paragon Rescue Disk as shown in Troubleshooting tutorial.

You'll need the Win7 installer for this as well as if necessary doing a superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 if Recovery methods fail.

 

[ParadoXeX]

Just wanted to say again that the problems started after I cancelled the first system restore when it took so long, then I tried a restore from boot which didn't work, after that I chose to start normally, that's when device manager is blank. Also would reinstall windows from the computer options or repair work better, since I feel unsure about doing something as a repair install as I don't really do these kind of things and just follow the steps the computer gives me. (If repair install is the only method I will have to do it anyway) Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

If you want the best possible install I would choose a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 .

HP has the worst load of factory bloatware in the industry, so having only the OS perfectly installed gives much better performance.

Read over the steps to ask back any questions as there will always be someone here to help you along.

You might want to try the minimal Factory Recovery first after reading over the steps I gave you for that.

If you have files you need then copy them out now.

 

[ParadoXeX]

I think I'll try using the HP Factory recovery first to see if it works, but are you saying that if the recovery crashes, I will definitely need a windows 7 install cd for the hp factory recovery? And the link you sent 'HP Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English) ' doesn't work.

I really appreciate your help,

Thanks

 

[kegobeer]

Try this link for the HP recovery.

Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using Microsoft Windows Backup and Restore HP Pavilion Notebook PCs - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

 

[gregrocker]

Sorry, I corrected my HP link which has gone bad after posting it for several year's: HP Factory Recovery

I would make the disks as also shown in the link first so you have a backup method to running Recovery. I would also run the Minimal Recovery if available on your model so it isn't necessary to Clean Up Factory Bloatware afterwards.

If these methods fail you can try the Clean Reinstall which as stated is a much superior install with HP.

 

[ParadoXeX]

Hi,

I have created my repair disk, but for the recovery disk can I use an external harddrive? And if I can, would I still be able to back up files and documents on the hardrive?

Thanks

 

[ParadoXeX]

I hope this will be the last (annoying) series of questions, The hp recovery manager says that the recovery file is 18.5 GB, i saw in the tutorial on seven forums, using the same dvd type only 2 were needed, I know there must be differences (Different computers) but I googled and everyone else needed 8 GB USB's. What's up with my massive file? My D: recovery is 3 GB's anyway. Thanks