W7 hanging at splash screen

[cmh]

Hi guys, I have W7 x64 installed with all updates. I am running the OS from a SSD with about 10gig free, and also have a second drive with approx 500gig free.

My system has been trouble free until just recently it would not start, after some testing we worked out the problem was hardware with the PSU so we replaced the unit.

Now I find the system hangs when at the W7 splash screen (with the 4 coloured flag emblem and the words "starting Windows 7 Home Premium".

This was unexpected as it appears to be a software problem, and the system was not actually running when the PSU died, so windows should not have been affected.

My problem is now I cannot even get into the system using safe mode or booting from the W7 DVD.

- I initially could access the OS drive via safe mode, so I attempted to reinstall W7 using the DVD over the top of the existing W7 install, hoping this would fix the issue and avoid a more drastic complete format of the OS disk. But the install will not complete as it always also hangs at the now dreaded splash screen. And I can no longer access the drive using safe mode as I now get an error saying "the installation cannot be completed using safe mode, the instal will now reboot your system" which then ends up ganing at the splash screen.

- If I try booting from the W7 disk it jumps straight to the splash screen (after installing some unspecified files) and the system then just hangs.

I have tried using a bootable XP DVD to get to a level where I can just reformat the OS drive, but this failed as it could not detect a windows OS.

Basically I am at the stage now that I just want to reformat the OS drive, but how can I do that? Safe mode menu does not have an option to start with a DOS screen (like the good old days) and starting with command prompt option just goes to the dreaded splash screen and hangs.

So I guess my questionis, how can I bypass W7 and reformat my OS drive (drive C), or alternatively can I cancel the now hung incomplete reinstal so that I can use safe mode to access the OS drive again?

Thanks heaps in advance!

Cheers all

 

[Golden]

how can I bypass W7 and reformat my OS drive (drive C), or alternatively can I cancel the now hung incomplete reinstal so that I can use safe mode to access the OS drive again?

Hi,

You need to use the CLEAN and FORMAT commands available from DISKPART.

Do this:

   Note

Physically disconnect the HDD for now

1. Boot from the Windows 7 DVD as if you were going to install
2. At the Language Screen press SHIFT+F10 - this will open a command window:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html

3. Now follow this tutorial to run the CLEAN command -Steps 1,3,4,5,6 and 7 only

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

4. Now proceed to format the disk and create a new installation partition - OPTION 2 Step 1 to 8 only

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

I recommend using these:

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk 0
Clean
Create partition primary align=1024
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active
Exit

It ensures proper alignment of the SSD as described here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html

Now close the command window, and try to install as you normally would. If installation completes succesfully, reconnect the HDD again.

Regards,
Golden

 

[cmh]

Hi Golden thank you so much for taking the time to provide such a detailed and helpful response.

Re working with the W7 DVD - it always goes straight to the splash screen and hangs, I never get to the menu you mention. Do I just spam Ctrl +F10 after selecting "press any key to boot from CD" - I did try that and still ended up at the dreaded splash screen. Maybe I just didnt spam it enough (you know like hitting F8 etc).

With physically disconnecting the drive do you mean actually removing its connection to the MB? Yeah its prolly a dumb question but just want to be sure because I dont understand how you can complete the installation to a disk that is unplugged as per your last step?

EDIT: also another dumb question but there are two connection cables in the back of the SSD do I disconnect both? I dont understand how all the steps above can happen if the HDD/SSD is disconnected?

UPDATE:

This just is happening for me. Even with the problem SSD/HDD disconnected when I boot from DVD it loads files and then goes straight to the "starting windows" splash screen and hangs. I dont ever get to any dialogue box or any chance to select any options.

Any ideas what I may be doing wrong? Occam's razor tells me the most likely issue is me

All help will be appreciated as I have an online uni exam due and need the files on my main pc....

 

[Golden]

Physically disconnect one of the cables from the back of the HDD - leave the SSD alone, since that is where you wish to install Windows 7 to.

Enter the BIOS when the PC boots by continuosly hitting the DEL key on the keyboard. Once in the BIOS, Find the option that shows the boot order of the SSD/HDD/DVD - make sure the DVD is 1st in this order. Press F10 to save and exit the BIOS setting you just changed.

Insert the installation DVD and boot the PC, It will now boot from the DVD, and you should now be able to install.

 

[cmh]

Ok thanks. Will try that right now.

ps: there are two cables connecting the secondary HDD which does not have the OS on it ie not the SSD) .... I guess I remove both ......

update: the boot order was already correct ie DVD drive first then the SSD. The result is the same - the DVD goes straight to the splash screen and hangs (after about 15 secs of loading files)

Is there any way at all I can reformat this SSD drive without W7 ????

 

[Golden]

Yes, There are but they are more complicated. We arent beat yet though.........

Perhaps the DVD is damaged, So lets make a new one......a USB version more precisely.

Download the correct version of Windows 7 ISO here:
Microsoft

Install it to a 4GB USB flash drive using this tool:
Microsoft US Online Store

When done, Boot from this USB flash drive and try install as normal. Make sure all other devices are unplugged from the PC.

 

[cmh]

thanks for hanging in there withme ... can I use a blank dvd as I dont have a 4 gig usb stick?

update is this the correct iso:


(I have windows 7 64 bit home premium)

Oh dear just realised its a 3 gig file, i am on a 5 gig cap (impoverished uni student) so its not going to be an option for me
Is there no way I can just get to like a dos command that lets me format c: (like the good old days)

Or anyway i can cancel the half completed reinstal so that i can get into the drive via safe mode?

Also I cant understand why booting from both the DVD and the SDD give the same result of hanging at the splash screen it just doesnt make sense ?? Is there a way to shorcut the splash screen on the dvd and get to the menus?

Thx

 

[Golden]

Yep

 

[jimbo45]

Hi guys, I have W7 x64 installed with all updates. I am running the OS from a SSD with about 10gig free, and also have a second drive with approx 500gig free.

My system has been trouble free until just recently it would not start, after some testing we worked out the problem was hardware with the PSU so we replaced the unit.

Now I find the system hangs when at the W7 splash screen (with the 4 coloured flag emblem and the words "starting Windows 7 Home Premium".

This was unexpected as it appears to be a software problem, and the system was not actually running when the PSU died, so windows should not have been affected.

My problem is now I cannot even get into the system using safe mode or booting from the W7 DVD.

- I initially could access the OS drive via safe mode, so I attempted to reinstall W7 using the DVD over the top of the existing W7 install, hoping this would fix the issue and avoid a more drastic complete format of the OS disk. But the install will not complete as it always also hangs at the now dreaded splash screen. And I can no longer access the drive using safe mode as I now get an error saying "the installation cannot be completed using safe mode, the instal will now reboot your system" which then ends up ganing at the splash screen.

- If I try booting from the W7 disk it jumps straight to the splash screen (after installing some unspecified files) and the system then just hangs.

I have tried using a bootable XP DVD to get to a level where I can just reformat the OS drive, but this failed as it could not detect a windows OS.

Basically I am at the stage now that I just want to reformat the OS drive, but how can I do that? Safe mode menu does not have an option to start with a DOS screen (like the good old days) and starting with command prompt option just goes to the dreaded splash screen and hangs.

So I guess my questionis, how can I bypass W7 and reformat my OS drive (drive C), or alternatively can I cancel the now hung incomplete reinstal so that I can use safe mode to access the OS drive again?

Thanks heaps in advance!

Cheers all

Hi there.

First see if you can boot directly from the install DVD -- get into the BIOS and change the boot order so it boots first from the DVD. If that fails Then :

Download a copy of Partition Wizard and create the bootable media. Then boot from CD/DVD and re-format your HDD. (The one you want to install the OS on).

Now you should be able to re-install windows again.

Note - you need to get into the Bios to change the boot order -- ensure the DVD device is ist in the boot order.

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.

(You'll have to do download the program and create the bootable media from another computer if the problem machine is your only one -- a colleague should be able to help with this though).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Golden]

Ouch! Use PW as suggested and format that way.

 

[cmh]

Hi again guys,

I downloaded Minitool Partition Wizard but unsure what to do next. It appears to be collating data about the laptop im currently using, which obviously isnt the PC with the problems! The only qizards/options I see are - copy partition wizard - copy disk wizard -partition recovery wizard and -free data recovery wizard none of which sound like what I need?

I see there is an option in the tabs to download another utility called Partition Wizard Bootable CD, is this the program you want me to use?

Sorry for being such a noob ...but hey Ima noob

 

[cmh]

Im starting to wonder if maybe i have offended the PC gods ...

I downloaded the partition wizard boot disk utility, created a boot disk using the file pwhe78.iso and tried booting the PC with the disk. The menu came up with 3 options:

1 - Boot from PW Boot Disk (default option)
2- Boot from PW Boot Disk (safe mode)
3- Boot from local drive.

I tried using both of the first and second options and the system hung/paused both times.

Using option 1 it paused/hung at --> write protecting the kernel read-only data:3256k
Using boot option 2 it paused/hung at --> write protectig the kernel read-only data : 3000k

There is a flashing line at bottom left of screen (similar to the old dos prompt) but it doesnt allow me to input anything or have any other options to proceed?

Any ideas at all?

 

[cmh]

Just adding to above, I am stuck now and no idea what to try next so any further info would be greatly appreciated

Just to summarise where Im at:

- I cant start my system as it always hangs at the starting windows splash screen (with the four coloured flag icon and words "Starting Windows 7 Home Premium")

- The exact same thing happens when I try booting from my original W7 DVD - it hangs at the splash screen;

- I can no longer start the system using safe mode. I could initially and tried reinstalling W7 over the existing files, but the installation keeps hanging at the splash screen after it auto reboots. And now when I try to start using safe mode it wont allow me, I get a message that the installation cannot be undertaken in safe mode after which it immediately reboots the system and then hangs when it gets to the splash screen;

- As suggested above I downloaded Partition Wizard and also downloaded the seperate Partition Wizard Bootable CD link which created a file called pwhe78.iso . I copied this to a CD and tried using it as a boot CD. The system started and made it to the Partition Wizard boot menu, but then hangs after selecting a boot option, as described in my last post above.

Please does anyone have any ideas what I can do short of an axe or bonfire? Am I setting up and using the Partition Wizard boot CD correctly, do you just copy the iso file on to a CD and use it as a boot disk?

I also cannot understand why the original and ofc genuine Windows 7 DVD would also hang at the splash screen when used to boot the system - exactly the same as the original problem booting the system normally from SSD, it just doesnt make any sense to me.

Thanks ....

 

[Golden]

Option 1 Of PW should have worked

Lets try something totally different.........but take the DVD drive out of the equation - Use a USB flash drive for this

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ate-live-cd-dvd-usb-use-emergency-backup.html

See if you can browse your Pc with this.

 

[cmh]

hi, is it possible I am not using PW iso boot disk correctly? There is a flashing icon similr to the old dos prompt but I couldnt type anything? Also am I supposed to use the PW program at all?

The Peppermint thingie is 32 bit does that matter at all?

 

[Golden]

32 bit is fine for this exercise.

 

[cmh]

Hi guys, just to update you I thought of something different I can try:

1. disconnect the recalcitrant SSD;
2: reconnect the HDD;
3: use W7 DVD to fresh install W7 on the HDD;
4: if install works, reconnect SSD and boot from HDD;
5: If it boots from HDD I will then reformat the SSD;
6: live happily ever after!

Will let you know how it goes

Thanks again for all the help I really appreciate it

 

[Golden]

That might work too....let us know how you get on.

 

[cmh]

Yes it worked! Happy dance!!

After a bit of mucking around I was able to reinstall W7 on the SSD and didnt need to reformat

So I have one last question - I now have windows 7 installed twice, one on each drive. Does this matter? Should I uninstall one and if so how do I actually do that and specify which one?

Thanks again so much for all the help

 

[Golden]

First follow these instructions - we need to look at the interactions between the SSD and HDD - this will determine if any more work is needed.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html