Windows 7 don't start on my Acer Aspire X1300

[bobr]

A friend asked me to help him with this problem: He's got a Acer Aspire X1300 with a Win 7 Professional installed which hangs up at start up.
What can you see is the Windows Logo and "Starting Windows" coming up and then a dark screen and nothing happens.
I've tryied to re-install Win 7 booting from a DVD but it just won't start (never seen something like that before). System Recovery and all other trics from Acer do not work either.
The only solution I can see is to format the partition C somehow...any ideas?

Thanks
Bob R

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello bobr, welcome to Seven Forums!



For a partition specific wipe (secure erase) of just the C: partition use Option Three of this tutorial at the link below.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD


If there's nothing on the entire Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that needs saved, you can use the Windows 7 installer using diskpart to wipe the whole HDD, see this tutorial.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation



If you need to copy out the data first have a look at this third tutorial.

Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

 

[gregrocker]

Boot the DVD, select Repair on 2nd screen, accept any offered Repair. If it fails to start, boot back in, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S

If this fails, make sure the 100mb System Rserved or Win7 partition itself are marked Active: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Next test the RAM with memtest86 CD for 5-6 passes.

Then test the HD using maker's diag/repair full CD scan: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

You can copy out files with DVD using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

Then wipe the HD to clean reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[bobr]

Hello bobr, welcome to Seven Forums!



For a partition specific wipe (secure erase) of just the C: partition use Option Three of this tutorial at the link below.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

The utility starts then when asks for the screen resolution, at the end of the countdown it restarts the PC and start again...I cannot get past the point when it countdown for the screen resolution.

 

[bobr]

Boot the DVD, select Repair on 2nd screen, accept any offered Repair. If it fails to start, boot back in, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S

If this fails, make sure the 100mb System Rserved or Win7 partition itself are marked Active: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Next test the RAM with memtest86 CD for 5-6 passes.

Then test the HD using maker's diag/repair full CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

You can copy out files with DVD using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

Then wipe the HD to clean reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

I'm not getting to the screen when it asks for system recovery (or startup recovery). The computer just gets blackgreish screen and that's all...

 

[gregrocker]

Test the HD and RAM to see if you have failing/failed hardware. In addition to memtest86 and maker's diag/repair CD scans linked in my prior post, run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html from DVD Command Line by pressing Shift + F10 at first screen.

What happens when you try to boot the Win7 DVD? Can you get to the first screen to press Shift + F10 to open a Command Line to wipe the HD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Try also to Select 1 for screen resolution before PW CD times out. PW should autostart to avoid needing to boot it, then once it wipes the HD the Installation DVD should autostart.

What happens if you press Alt + F10 to try to boot Acer Factory Recovery?

 

[bobr]

I'm on this right now and I try to make it work.
I'm going to answer your questions as I go along the way

One more question: when you say "first screen" which screen do you mean?

 

[bobr]

When I press Alt+F10 the computer ask me to choose to boot Windows normally or Startup Repair (recommneded). I'm not getting anywhere from here...

 

[bobr]

this is the screen I'm getting and from there nowhere

 

[bobr]

If this is the Start Screen then I'm not getting there...

 

[gregrocker]

You're not yet booting the DVD, as the screen you posted shows it still trying to boot HD.
What happens when you choose either of the boot options given?

Make sure you've set DVD first to boot in BIOS setup, or use the one-time BIOS Boot menu key to trigger the DVD boot.

Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

 

[mjf]

I wouldn't format anything at this stage. Don't damage the recovery partition.

Yes for ACER it's alt F10 not shift F10.
The trick is try either
(1) keep alt F10 continuously depressed
(2) repeated pressing of alt F10 but you must release both the alt and F10 keys between presses.

otherwise you get the screen you have shown.
What you should see is
- the Windows loading bar at the bottom of screen
- Starting Windows splash screen
- Acer eRecovery screen

 

[bobr]

It just don't get there. Alt+F10 doesn't work as it should do.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you able to boot the Win7 DVD yet? Once you can boot the DVD, you can copy out your files, wipe the HD using the tutorials I posted earlier.

Once you wipe the HD the Installer will autostart to reinstall Win7.

You can also try wiping the HD by the PW CD which should autostart. Did you try pressing 1 for Screen Resolution? Try burning another PW CD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

If you cannot get the DVD or CD to boot using the tutorial I posted on how to boot from disk, then try writing the Win7 DVD ISO to flash stick using UltraISO trial version: Open ISO on File tab, Write Disk Image on Bootable tab, Format, then Write. Boot USB under HD's or USB in BIOS setup or one-time BIOS Boot menu.

Please post back your progress on each of the steps given.

 

[mjf]

Reading through this thread it isn't clear what sort of operating system you have.
(1) Did the computer come preinstalled with Windows and you made factory recovery DVDs or
(2) Do you have Windows installation disks. If so what sort of disk are these.

The last post refers to the "Win 7 DVD". What specific DVD are we talking about??

 

[gregrocker]

I was referring to the Win7 Installation DVD. What other Win7 DVD is there?

He stated in OP he tried reinstalling Win7 Professional with DVD.

I believe he is not booting the DVD correctly. His screenshot shows Windows Error Recovery which means the DVD was skipped and it's attempting to boot HD again.

This is why I posted the tutorial on how to boot DVD. If DVD drive is set as first to boot in BIOS setup, is there a prompt given to "Press any key to boot from DVD?" If not, burn another DVD at 4x speed.

Is this a DVD you have used successfully before?

 

[mjf]

I was referring to the Win7 Installation DVD. What other Win7 DVD is there?

For me it's a rhetorical question
Given it's an Acer computer, I'm seeking clarification from the OP as per my questions.

The Aspire X1300 came with Vista Home Premium (OEM:SLP) as far as I'm, aware. So I would guess a Win 7 Pro upgrade may have been used.

 

[bobr]

@mjf

That's correct, a Win 7 Pro DVD has been used and it worked before...same DVD

 

[bobr]

The only option I've got is to tell my friend to take the compute to the Tech Guys at PC World

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try the steps given to attempt to recover or reinstall Win7? We don't know what you have tried if you don't report back on each step, so we can give you others.

It didn't appear you were even booting the DVD, so most of the fixes couldn't be tried.

It isn't necessary to take the machine to the shop if you have someone there who can interact with us on the troubleshooting steps which have been given, asking the necessary questions to get each step completed.