Windows 7 does not boot (at all)

[kittenSandwich]

hello, i'm new here.

this is my problem:
i cannot boot into windows 7 or reinstall it.

Every time I boot my computer up, it goes straight to windows recovery. It displays:
Startup Repair
start Windows Normally.

this computer originally had windows vista OEM installed, and has had a bunch of problems (various BSODs, i can list them later since i don't have them on hand), especially startup problems. i've gotten different BSODs from time to time. This has been going on for a year.

So I decided to upgrade Vista to Windows 7. Windows 7 worked fine at first, but then it started to display problems again (blue screens, random shutdowns and reboots).

I decided to do a clean install on my main partition (i have a separate partition for misc. files) and then my computer seemed to be okay. After a while, I started to experience random reboots and maybe a BSOD or two (that i wasn't able to record). I was still able to use system recovery from the Windows 7 disc, but recently it stopped working altogether.


in summary, i've tried...

- booting into safe mode (it loads drivers, but it hangs)
- booting with the official windows 7 install disc (it used to work-- now it doesn't)
- booting with windows 7 installed on a usb drive
- booting with the repair cd that i made when my OS was still functioning.

booting from the discs and usb drive gets me as far as the "loading windows" screen, but the four colored lights that make up the windows logo don't show up. the screen just hangs.

NOTHING WORKS.

my last resort is to wipe the entire hard drive clean and reformat it using Knoppix (live linux OS). i've backed up all my files, and all i have to do is wipe it clean. but before i do that, i'd appreciate any sort of help. i've gone thru pages and forums, and almost all of them always list "use the windows install dvd!" of course, it's not one of my options right now. i know reinstalling windows could probably solve this, but i just can't right now...


i've also tried installing ubuntu, but couldn't due to a "kernel panic." i'm not too familiar with linux systems, so i just let it go.

some questions:

- is it possible that my MBR is corrupted? i haven't received any error codes about it, though, and i don't know too much about it.
- is my hard drive failing? it's not making any sort of disturbing noise that i can discern (yet).

thanks in advance. any help is appreciated!
---


also, relevant specs (according to the bottom of my computer) because i forgot. this computer was purchased in 2007.

HP pavilion m9200t cto

windows 7 64 bit
intel core 2 quad q9300
6gb DDR RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8500GT
750 GB 7200 RPM SATA 3GB/S HDD (SeaGate ATA ST3750640AS)

 

[Ztruker]

This sounds like a hardware problem, memory or hard drive. Before you do anything else, test them and see.

Run manufacturers hard drive diagnostic tool

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostics

Test memory:

Download Memtest86+ (you want the 2nd one Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)). Unzip it then create a CD from the iso file using your CD burning software. There is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do this easily.

Boot the CD and run for at least 3 complete passes unless it shows errors sooner than that.

 

[kittenSandwich]

Thanks. I'll try these out and post my results.

 

[kittenSandwich]

ok, here's what I got so far:

I used the hard drive diagnostic tool and it came up with no errors (did it twice to make sure). I attached a screenshot of my result.




Currently I am running the memtest. I honestly don't know how to decipher this (still need to read up on it) and the fact that it shows all errors has me a little worried. Screenshot is also attached. Any help is appreciated.

 

[F5ing]

That Memtest screenshot doesn't look good. Check the following to see if you can isolate the bad memory stick/slot:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

 

[Ztruker]

The part you want to pay attention too in the link F5ing gave you is: Part 3: If You Have Errors

Tells you how to go about isolating which memory module is causing the problem.

 

[F5ing]

Thanks for mentioning that Ztruker. Sometimes I assume a little too much!

 

[acostaworld]

Have you tried eating a turkey sandwich and hitting the computer with a baseball bat?

 

[kittenSandwich]

ok, an update: i hate to resurrect this thread two months later, but i've done the memtest 86+ tests with all my sticks, in all the available slots (4). no errors for any of them.

today i reinserted all the sticks and started my pc up. it would load the "windows loading" screen, and then it would go to the black windows startup recovery screen. i was able to use startup repair, but then it would just restart during loading a recovery point. don't know what to do now... any there any other things that i can test? i'm considering bringing the pc into a shop on monday.

 

[kittenSandwich]

Have you tried eating a turkey sandwich and hitting the computer with a baseball bat?

shut up, mike. LOL

 

[gregrocker]

I'm not sure why you got no RAM errors when you retested since you had a lot of them at first. I'd do it over following the steps carefully in Jonathan's tutorial.

Do the problems go away if you use a tested-good RAM stick in a known-good slot? If so replace the bad stick or avoid the bad slot, whichever is indicated by testing.

If this again prove fruitless then try wiping the HD of all code with Diskpart Clean Command since bad boot code could cause these problems in both OS's. DISKPART At PC Startup

Then use the latest official installer and follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[Ztruker]

What I would do.

Remove all but one memory module and boot.
If okay, add the next module and try it. If no good remove it and try another.
If you can't get it to boot with any single memory module then it is "probably" not a memory problem.

 

[kittenSandwich]

gregrocker: i did test them individually in all the slots (one by one).

my desktop seems to be ok now...
so here's what i did:

i wiped the entire hard drive, including the previous vista factory restore partition. i did a clean install of windows 7 (via DVD). everything seemed to go ok, until it rebooted without warning. it didn't have any problems loading up windows again, though. so far i haven't had any problems loading windows during startup.

HERE'S THE FUNNY THING!
the outlet my computer was connected to has a tendency to flicker on and off. has some faulty wiring or something. i deduced that this flickering caused the pc to reboot, so i got an extension cord and plugged the pc into another outlet.

so far, no sudden reboots.

i've checked my event viewer and there's all sorts of errors that i still have to sort through (none of them too critical that would affect system performance, i hope). i still need to reinstall drivers, so i'll see how things will end up.

this is just ridiculous. but at least i have my OS startup problems solved. thanks for all the help, ztruker, greg.

 

[gregrocker]

If it was the bad wall a/c outlet then you're lucky it didn't damage the mobo with it's power fluctuations. I'd also have it looked at as it could be a fire hazard.

 

[F5ing]

If it was the bad wall a/c outlet then you're lucky it didn't damage the mobo with it's power fluctuations. I'd also have it looked at as it could be a fire hazard.

Yes, it's not something I would ignore. Not using it because of the problem doesn't cut it either; it can be a hazard even if you're not using it.