Win7 boots to blank screen (no login box), startup repair not working

[RedCairo]

We have a Windows 7 computer, fairly new Acer Inspire laptop. Recently, when it had turned itself off for power reasons, when we entered the login it first said 'not found' and then dropped to a screen that looks like the login background but without the login box. Ctrl+Alt+Delete doesn't work, you have to force hard boot. On rebooting, it recognizes that startup failed and offers an attempt to repair. I ran this about 40 times, I think it's clear that isn't fixing it. It boots to that plain screen, so it starts windows, but then just sits there.

I'm told the Windows 7 disk has a more detailed startup repair option that might allow us to solve this without losing a lot of critical data on the hard drive. However we cannot find the dang thing, we had a whole stack of info/disks/etc. I thought was in the box it came in, but when we got it down from the closet, box was empty, and we can't find any trace of any of the original materials. I don't know what to do. Is there some way just to get that repair-startup utility without having to purchase a whole new windows 7 disk? We are afraid to send it for warranty repair to Acer because the default 'repair' appears to be reverting back to default settings which would wipe out all our data.

Do you have any suggestions?

Many thanks,
PJ

 

[richc46]

Can you boot in safe mode?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

 

[RedCairo]

No, that doesn't seem to be an option. It was hard being quick enough to get into anything pre-windows but I am only able to get into the menu that lets you choose the boot order, for example. (Ctrl+Alt+Delete doesn't do anything anymore, I have to force power-off by holding power key down for several seconds.) The only option it gives me is to 'repair startup' which doesn't work or start normally.

Is there a certain key that would get me there, that I could try?

Thank you for your response. I'm sorry for the delay in responding, work ate my life briefly.

PJ

 

[richc46]

First do not worry about the time, you post when you are ready.

Question are you afraid of losing documents that are on your computer?

 

[RedCairo]

Yes. Otherwise, we did find a Acer 'system disk' which I was able to boot off and it offered 'repair' -- and then made clear that repair would wipe all data from drive C: and would reinstate factory settings. I definitely do not want to do that and lose everything on the drive, which is why I'm trying to figure out how to fix it instead. Thanks for asking.

Best, Pj

 

[richc46]

If we get the documents off the HD, do you have a DVD to reinstall?

 

[dmberry]

I'm sorry, but I seem to be having the same problem and I just posted a topic similar to this: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96319-not-able-login-startup.html

I, however, am willing to start over fresh without any files (as my computer is fairly new). Sorry to somewhat barge in on this topic, but I feel our problems are related.

 

[richc46]

I'm sorry, but I seem to be having the same problem and I just posted a topic similar to this: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96319-not-able-login-startup.html

I, however, am willing to start over fresh without any files (as my computer is fairly new). Sorry to somewhat barge in on this topic, but I feel our problems are related.

Give me computer mfg and model

 

[dmberry]

Give me computer mfg and model

It's a Dell Inspiron 1564. Not sure if you need more information than that.

 

[richc46]

Give me computer mfg and model

It's a Dell Inspiron 1564. Not sure if you need more information than that.

Your problem is easy
Hit F8 repeatedly at startup. Select Repair Computer, and then DELL Factory Recovery.

The computer will be like the day you brought it home. No personal documents, picutres,updates; but you have your computer back, again

 

[dmberry]

Give me computer mfg and model

It's a Dell Inspiron 1564. Not sure if you need more information than that.

Your problem is easy
Hit F8 repeatedly at startup. Select Repair Computer, and then DELL Factory Recovery.

The computer will be like the day you brought it home. No personal documents, picutres,updates; but you have your computer back, again

Alright, thanks. I'll give it a shot.

 

[richc46]

OK and hope it works

 

[dmberry]

OK and hope it works

Alright so I did what you suggested and I'm still stuck where I was. I hit F8 and chose the option 'Repair your computer' but then it just went to a 'Windows is loading files...' screen and onto the loading screen with the green bars running across it (no Windows logo present). Once that was over it went to the default Windows 7 background with just a cursor. This was the problem I had been having. :\

 

[richc46]

Seems that your problem is a bit more difficult than I thought. You can post in your own thread and I will help if I can. Seems to be a few good ideas there, already.
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96319-not-able-login-startup.html

 

[RedCairo]

If we get the documents off the HD, do you have a DVD to reinstall?

Thanks for your reply. We cannot find whatever Windows disk allegedly came with the laptop we got at walmart last Feb. I found online that "if" we had it, there might be some repair utility. Unfortunately we can find no trace of it (never opened) (yes. This is a good lesson, I know). So I guess I don't have a re-install disk. And if I could get one more cheaply than full price (single mom poverty here, not stingy-ness) I'd consider it but I don't know where/how. Was hoping for some alternative.

Best,
PJ

 

[zigzag3143]

If we get the documents off the HD, do you have a DVD to reinstall?

Thanks for your reply. We cannot find whatever Windows disk allegedly came with the laptop we got at walmart last Feb. I found online that "if" we had it, there might be some repair utility. Unfortunately we can find no trace of it (never opened) (yes. This is a good lesson, I know). So I guess I don't have a re-install disk. And if I could get one more cheaply than full price (single mom poverty here, not stingy-ness) I'd consider it but I don't know where/how. Was hoping for some alternative.

Best,
PJ

You can download win 7 from MS. If it came installed on your computer.


Ken

 

[RedCairo]

Yes it did. I'm sorry to be stupid, but Google has like a billion returns for any search on this topic. Do you happen to know where/how I could find the place where I could download it? Many many thanks. PJ

 

[theog]

You can order Acer Recovery DVD's from here:

https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

 

[RedCairo]

No -- this is not a Win 7 disk, this is an Acer disk, and the only recovery option on that disk -- which I have -- wipes out everything on C drive.

PJ

 

[theog]

Try this to Copy & Paste your data:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

Do you have a startup disk?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html