Solved Windows 7 boot loop?

[boswell3782]

Hi. I am trying to use Windows after installing Ubuntu and it is not working. When I select Windows 7 from GRUB it comes up with "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause" and with two options "Launch startup repair (recommended)" and "Start windows normally".

When I click "Start windows normally" it shows Starting Windows for about a second then comes up with "Loading windows files" and then comes up with the Startup Repair but startup repair doesn't find anything wrong?

So, I'm stuck in this loop and cant figure anything out. I did notice something on the Startup repair though it says my OS is located at drive letter D: which I know for a fact it is at C:. I have tried changing the drive letters back to normal but it just changes them back again after a reboot.

Thanks

 

[windude99]

Hi. I am trying to use Windows after installing Ubuntu and it is not working. When I select Windows 7 from GRUB it comes up with "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause" and with two options "Launch startup repair (recommended)" and "Start windows normally".

When I click "Start windows normally" it shows Starting Windows for about a second then comes up with "Loading windows files" and then comes up with the Startup Repair but startup repair doesn't find anything wrong?

So, I'm stuck in this loop and cant figure anything out. I did notice something on the Startup repair though it says my OS is located at drive letter D: which I know for a fact it is at C:. I have tried changing the drive letters back to normal but it just changes them back again after a reboot.

Thanks

Try this (note: this will make your Ubuntu unbootable, but you can use Easy BCD to get it back): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[boswell3782]

Hi. I am trying to use Windows after installing Ubuntu and it is not working. When I select Windows 7 from GRUB it comes up with "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause" and with two options "Launch startup repair (recommended)" and "Start windows normally".

When I click "Start windows normally" it shows Starting Windows for about a second then comes up with "Loading windows files" and then comes up with the Startup Repair but startup repair doesn't find anything wrong?

So, I'm stuck in this loop and cant figure anything out. I did notice something on the Startup repair though it says my OS is located at drive letter D: which I know for a fact it is at C:. I have tried changing the drive letters back to normal but it just changes them back again after a reboot.

Thanks

Try this (note: this will make your Ubuntu unbootable, but you can use Easy BCD to get it back): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

Thanks for the quick reply but this doesn't seem to work

 

[windude99]

Hi. I am trying to use Windows after installing Ubuntu and it is not working. When I select Windows 7 from GRUB it comes up with "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause" and with two options "Launch startup repair (recommended)" and "Start windows normally".

When I click "Start windows normally" it shows Starting Windows for about a second then comes up with "Loading windows files" and then comes up with the Startup Repair but startup repair doesn't find anything wrong?

So, I'm stuck in this loop and cant figure anything out. I did notice something on the Startup repair though it says my OS is located at drive letter D: which I know for a fact it is at C:. I have tried changing the drive letters back to normal but it just changes them back again after a reboot.

Thanks

Try this (note: this will make your Ubuntu unbootable, but you can use Easy BCD to get it back): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

Thanks for the quick reply but this doesn't seem to work

Have you tried running startup repair from a Windows cd? Also, hav you tried going to the command prompt in the Windows recovery options screen and typing: bootrec /rebuild bcd
If that doesn't work, type in bootrec /fixmbr

 

[boswell3782]

Try this (note: this will make your Ubuntu unbootable, but you can use Easy BCD to get it back): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

Thanks for the quick reply but this doesn't seem to work

Have you tried running startup repair from a Windows cd? Also, hav you tried going to the command prompt in the Windows recovery options screen and typing: bootrec /rebuild bcd
If that doesn't work, type in bootrec /fixmbr

I have no clue where my disk has gone
bootrec comes up with "found windows installations: 0" but when I DIR my drive it comes up with all my windows files?. After I have put in them commands all I get now is a flashing "-" and nothing is happening

 

[windude99]

Thanks for the quick reply but this doesn't seem to work

Have you tried running startup repair from a Windows cd? Also, hav you tried going to the command prompt in the Windows recovery options screen and typing: bootrec /rebuild bcd
If that doesn't work, type in bootrec /fixmbr

I have no clue where my disk has gone
bootrec comes up with "found windows installations: 0" but when I DIR my drive it comes up with all my windows files?. After I have put in them commands all I get now is a flashing "-" and nothing is happening

Make sure that no hard drives are connected except for your Windows 7 drive and try the commands, as well as startup repair, again.

 

[Sbrideau]

Just as a curiosity, when you installed Ubuntu, did you resize your C partition to make space for a partition for Ubuntu, or you just formatted another partition?

 

[boswell3782]

Have you tried running startup repair from a Windows cd? Also, hav you tried going to the command prompt in the Windows recovery options screen and typing: bootrec /rebuild bcd
If that doesn't work, type in bootrec /fixmbr

I have no clue where my disk has gone
bootrec comes up with "found windows installations: 0" but when I DIR my drive it comes up with all my windows files?. After I have put in them commands all I get now is a flashing "-" and nothing is happening

Make sure that no hard drives are connected except for your Windows 7 drive and try the commands, as well as startup repair, again.

I have no other drives in my computer and I cannot get to the start up repair becuase it is not doing anything when I boot it just a black screen and a little flashing hyphen in the top left corner.

Just as a curiosity, when you installed Ubuntu, did you resize your C partition to make space for a partition for Ubuntu, or you just formatted another partition?

I resized my C partition and made a new partition for my Ubuntu installation.

 

[windude99]

I have no clue where my disk has gone
bootrec comes up with "found windows installations: 0" but when I DIR my drive it comes up with all my windows files?. After I have put in them commands all I get now is a flashing "-" and nothing is happening

Make sure that no hard drives are connected except for your Windows 7 drive and try the commands, as well as startup repair, again.

I have no other drives in my computer and I cannot get to the start up repair becuase it is not doing anything when I boot it just a black screen and a little flashing hyphen in the top left corner.

Just as a curiosity, when you installed Ubuntu, did you resize your C partition to make space for a partition for Ubuntu, or you just formatted another partition?

I resized my C partition and made a new partition for my Ubuntu installation.

Boot off of a Windows disc or a startup repair disc. That is the only way you can do anything I have suggested above successfully.

 

[boswell3782]

Make sure that no hard drives are connected except for your Windows 7 drive and try the commands, as well as startup repair, again.

I have no other drives in my computer and I cannot get to the start up repair becuase it is not doing anything when I boot it just a black screen and a little flashing hyphen in the top left corner.

Just as a curiosity, when you installed Ubuntu, did you resize your C partition to make space for a partition for Ubuntu, or you just formatted another partition?

I resized my C partition and made a new partition for my Ubuntu installation.

Boot off of a Windows disc or a startup repair disc. That is the only way you can do anything I have suggested above successfully.

Alright, I will have a go and get back to you (might take a while )

 

[Sbrideau]

When you resized your C partition to create a partition for Ubuntu, did you make sure Windows still worked by booting into it before you made the Ubuntu installation?

I would keep following windude's advice, he's good.

 

[gregrocker]

When you have Separate HD's you should boot them independently via the BIOS, setting preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, the triggering the other one when needed by tapping the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key at boot.

Unplug Ubuntu HD, set Win7 HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

You must mark the Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition Active to show Startup Repair where to repair or rewrite the System boot files. Run Repairs 3 separate times until Win7 starts.

 

[boswell3782]

When you resized your C partition to create a partition for Ubuntu, did you make sure Windows still worked by booting into it before you made the Ubuntu installation?

I would keep following windude's advice, he's good.

Yes, as far as I can remember it was working fine.

When you have Separate HD's you should boot them independently via the BIOS, setting preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, the triggering the other one when needed by tapping the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key at boot.

Unplug Ubuntu HD, set Win7 HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

You must mark the Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition Active to show Startup Repair where to repair or rewrite the System boot files. Run Repairs 3 separate times until Win7 starts.

It is all on the same HD but in different partitions. System reserved is active.

I have tried everything. The disk does not work for some reason saying it has an error communication with my DVD Drive but I don't see why..

It says in the diagnosis that Root cause found: Boot critical file D:\Windows\System32\Drivers\partmgr.sys is corrupt.

File repair and System files integrity check and repair failed

 

[boswell3782]

Got the install disk working, one try on the start up repair and fixed the whole problem! Windows now starts up perfectly thanks for all the help, greatly appreciated