W7 Safe Mode and Boot failure!

[Glanton]

I'm brand new to this forum and PC knowledge fairly basic so apologies if info is vague !

PC i980 CPU: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 Motherboard: OS Windows 7.

New desktop ran fine for first few hours. Possibly as the result of HP8500 Printer installation, PC will not boot beyond "Starting Windows" screen - black background and MS flag logo. (Re-starts offering Auto-repair which it cannot complete)

Blue screen briefly appears citing "Memory Dump to Hard disk" etc

Auto-repair function cannot cure problem nor can PC boot in Safe Mode.
PC will not boot from W7 installation disc.

Startup Repair delivers following message:-

Problem Signature
Problem event name Startup Repir Offline
Problem Signature 01 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 02 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 03 unknown
Problem Signature 04 21215624
Problem Signature 05 AutoFailure
Problem Signature 06 16
Problem Signature 07 Cf4

OS Version 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Local I.D. 1033

Also received was this message:-
Root cause found
Unknown bug check: Bugcheck F4
Parameters = 0x3, 0xfffffa80095e9b30,
0xfffffa80095e9e10,
0xfffff80003391540.

Can anyone offer advice and is a full re-installation of W7 the only solution?

Many thanks,

Glanton

 

[Tews]

I think you will probably need to do a re-install ... also, you need to start getting into the habit of imaging your drive in case something like this happens again in the future ... restoring an image is a lot easier and quicker than reinstalling your entire OS...

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?ltr=B

 

[usasma]

Can you boot from any other disk (other than the Win7 installation disk)?
Is the disk one that you made?

To select booting from the CD/DVD drive on a Gateway, press F12 (F10 on older models) as the first boot screen appears.

 

[Glanton]

usasma,

The only disc I have is an OEM supplied with the PC I had custom built.
Unfortunately when the builder installed the software, the System Restore function and Imaging were not activated and I forgot to check for this.

I can access the option to upgrade or re-install W7 from the CD provided I change the BIOS boot order

 

[usasma]

Without the ability to get into Windows, and without some advanced Windows knowledge (to remove the HP drivers and edit the registry outside of Windows - and we're not even sure that that is the problem) - there's not much that can be done to help here.

I'd follow Tews' advice. If you've got stuff to backup - slave your hard drive to another system and copy it over there. Then wipe the hard drive clean and install Win7 fresh.

 

[Glanton]

usasma and Tews,

Thank you both very much for the advice which is greatly appreciated.

How do I re-format the hard drive with only the W7 OEM disc and would it knock out any motherboard drivers or settings set up my the PC builder?

Thanks again.

 

[jcgriff2]

usasma and Tews,

Thank you both very much for the advice which is greatly appreciated.

How do I re-format the hard drive with only the W7 OEM disc and would it knock out any motherboard drivers or settings set up my the PC builder?

Thanks again.

Windows System Restore in Windows 7 systems is enabled by default. Did you try system restore after entering recovery (booting with the Windows 7 OEM DVD into recovery; look for "Windows System Restore" option)?

If no-go on Windows System Restore, you will have to reinstall the OS, which will most likely result in the loss of all files. After reinstall, check for a folder named windows.old - if present it will contain [most of] your current installation.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

 

[Glanton]

jcGriff2

I can access System Restore which does offer various restoration points, however a "Confirm disks to restore" window reminds me to "enable system protection on this drive" (Drive C).

Unfortunately I forgot to confirm that this option was set when starting factory installed OS two days ago and cannot click or enable this function from that window.

Thanks for tip regarding 'windows old'. (There weren't any personal files installed - only Norton, Office, Acrobat and an HP printer. I'm just concerned that I might upset motherboard and chipset drivers installed by the PC builderif I find a way to re-format the hard drive.

Thanks for your help..

 

[jcgriff2]

You will need to reinstall mobo, chipset, etc... drivers if Windows 7 doesn't install them itself. Windows 7 has many legacy drivers on hand to get you through an OS reinstall. The OEM version Windows 7 DVD may even contain them - put there by the manufacturer. The system certainly is of no real value to you as it is now, so I would follow the advice of the others - wipe the drive and reinstall Windows 7.

For a complete format, use KillDisk --> Active@ Kill Disk. Hard Drives Eraser. Free Download.

Use ImgBurn to burn KillDisk ISO to CD --> The Official ImgBurn Website

See what happens during the installation, which should take < 1 hour of SYSTEM time. The worst that can happen is that you have to do it again should you find that drivers are needed during the installation. I myself have never had to install drivers during a Vista or Windows 7 installation. I certainly cannot say that no one does. I do go to Intel for chipset and wifi updates, NVIDIA for video, Realtek for Ethernet, etc... but usually they come in via Windows Updates, but not all.

When you reach Desktop, allow Windows Updates to come in immediately.

www.update.microsoft.com

Validate your OS and Office at the Microsoft WGA site --> www.microsoft.com/genuine

I would also caution against the use of NIS/ N360. Do a search of this or other forums and you will find them littered with BSOD/ other problem threads where a 3rd party firewall like the one found in NIS, N360, KIS, McAfee, etc... is the cause of the system trouble.

I would suggest Microsoft Security Essentials --> http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

That is your call to make, of course.

Any ? - please post back.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

 

[theog]

I have used NIS/N360 for years with no problem, I would suggest you stay Norton.

The NIS 2011 beta is looking nice.

 

[CarlTR6]

Did the builder give you the disc that came with the motherboard? If not you should get that disk.

 

[Glanton]

jcgriff2

Thanks very much for all the detailed advice and links which I'll put to use tomorrow. (Back late from work this evening after a very long day!) That's very comprehensive and a great help.

theog
Yes, I haven't had any real NIS or 360 problems as such other than possibly slow initial booting up on the current Dell PC running XP. Once boot up finished all has generally been fine. The new PC is my first use of Windows 7.......

CarlTR6
Yes disc is from PC custom builder in U.K. - thanks.

Much obliged Folks - will report back!

 

[Glanton]

jcgriff

Your advice proved to be spot on and a re-format and re-install were completed earlier this week. So far all is very pleasing with rapid booting and no problems whatsoever following numerous software installations and data entry - excellent!

Incidentally I have tried NIS 2010 and Utilities 14 which also seem to work well and haven't caused any problems thus far. having started to become very sceptical about Symantec's products, these latest versions do seem much improved on those previously used.

Thanks again for all the help folks!

Glanton.

 

[CarlTR6]

Thank you for reporting back and letting us know your problem was resolved. JCGriff is good people.

 

[Glanton]

Carl, theog and jcgriff
All the help appreciated Folks!

Thanks again.

 

[blackorb1999]

Hey Glanton i would like to know how u did a re format and reinstall excatly??? I have a simalar problem - unable to boot to safe mode and restarts at windows loading screen... If i boot from dvd it says windows loading files and after awhile restarts again

 

[Glanton]

blackorb1999

The PC was built by a private manufacture who supplied an OEM disc which contained W7.

I altered the BIOS (F8) - Boot Order to make the CD first and placed the CD into the drive. PC was shut down and re-started with the Windows loading screen followed eventually by the option to either upgrade or install W7. I selected the complete install which as part of the process re-formatted the hard drive.

After W7 installed the only drivers I needed to install were for my monitor. I'm not completely sure but perhaps by actually altering the BIOS to boot only from CD prevented this 'going around in circles' that both you and I have experienced at the start up phase!

Hope this helps!

 

[blackorb1999]

ok thanks for the tip will try and post back