Solved Windows 7 Freezing on Welcome Screen

[rogermoses1969]

About a month ago my desktop PC running Windows 7 Home Premium started freezing on the welcome screen. Since then I have been running it in Safe Mode with Network with no problems. I do not have any recent backups and was unable to correct the freeze with available restore points. I have run Malwarebytes scan and memtest86 with no problems. Last week I formatted another hard drive, unplugged the current hard drive and started a clean install. During the clean install the machine locked on "setup is checking video performance." I rebooted, finished the clean install and during the subsequent restart the PC froze on the welcome screen. While I assume it is the same problem causing both freezes, I'm not sure. I am now back to the original hard drive in safe mode, with the clean install drive unplugged. Suggestions to solve either freeze would be appreciated. I have limited computer knowledge. Thanks.

 

[Boozad]

It's more than likely a driver issue, and maybe the lock point in the clean install provides a clue. Do you have onboard graphics you can switch to? If so, remove the GeForce 6600 after uninstalling it via Device Manager in Safe Mode and try booting using the onboard graphics.

 

[rogermoses1969]

I do not have onboard graphics.

 

[Boozad]

That rules that out then. Could you borrow a graphics card from a friend or relative for testing purposes?

 

[rogermoses1969]

I probably can but it may take a few days as the person most likely is out of town.

 

[Boozad]

I think we need to rule out that graphics card first and foremost. Are you able to wait that long?

 

[rogermoses1969]

I've waited for more than a month; a few more days won't hurt. When I get the card, what will be the next steps?

 

[rogermoses1969]

I put the new graphics card in and everything seems to be running fine. I am now in normal mode, doing some deferred maintenance built up over 2 weeks in safe mode and have had no problems. If you think there is anything else I should look at, please let me know. Otherwise I think my problem is solved and I very much appreciated your help.

 

[jamis]

I had a similar issue a few months ago. The monitor would not come out of sleep mode properly when the PC powered up. If I forced a power on the monitor power switch repeatedly, I could get Windows beyond the welcome screen. I replaced the monitor and the problem went away. Just a thought

 

[Boozad]

I put the new graphics card in and everything seems to be running fine. I am now in normal mode, doing some deferred maintenance built up over 2 weeks in safe mode and have had no problems. If you think there is anything else I should look at, please let me know. Otherwise I think my problem is solved and I very much appreciated your help.

Good to hear you seem to have pinpointed the problem. I guess the next step would be replacing your faulty GPU, if you need any advice or assistance with that just give us a shout. I'm pretty sure that's the long and short of it to be honest, the GPU was causing issues with crashes and was also preventing a clean install. I'd get up and running with a new GPU and monitor performance, if you have any subsequent issues make sure you let us know.

Thanks for letting us know how the issue went.