Windows 7 resists repair by all means

[franz47]

A few months my new Acer Laptop worked well with windows 7 enterprise 64bit. One evening I had to shut it down by force, since it did not react any more to any input. Next morning windows started, but no application would be allowed to start, explanation was that the security rules would not allow that. Nothing helped, so I went back to a system restore point some days earlier and everything worked fine again. Some days later it started, but Firefox would not start. No other browser would either. When rebooting, windows would not start, windows own repair could not restore a working system. The problem details were:

=======================================
Problemereignisname: StartupRepairOffline
Problemsignatur 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problemsignatur 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problemsignatur 03: Unknown
Problemsignatur 04: -1
Problemsignatur 05: AutoFailover
Problemsignatur 06: -1
Problemsignatur 07: CorruptVolume
Betriebssystemversion: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Gebietsschema-ID: 1031
=========================================

I still could and can get into the command line interface.

From this message I thought it might be some kind of harddisk problem. I ran chkdsk with /F and /R and I observed it finding some corrupted files. I was stupid enough not to save the names of them. Otherwise the hdd was ok. I interpreted the files as corrupted files through forced shutdown earlier. Nothing changed after that.

I thought about a hardware problem with the hdd. Using a Windows7PE CD I started the system, all partitions seemed to be okay and I was able to shift data back and forth. Unfortunately I could not get the Hitachi HDD-utility to check the drive but decided that being able to write and read large amounts of data should be convincing enough that the HDD was ok.

When trying to start in protected mode with CLI - the system hangs at CLASSPNP.SYS and reboots.

When trying to run sfc /scannow or /verifyonly I always am informed that there is still some system repair pending which would be closed at next boot. Needless to say the message always comes again after a new boot.

Is there still any more means to get the system working except a clean reinstallation which would wipe off everything I have done since the first installation? There are no important data on the machine but I am reluctant to invest time into tailoring it again. My latest backup is about 2,5 months old and I am not sure whether the restore process will work without problems.

In Windows XP there is the possibility to make a reinstall from the Windows-CD without ruining everything, but in Windows 7 this seems not to be possible any more from outside Windows.


Franz47

 

[richc46]

If you create a recovery DVD, you may be able to boot to recovery options
Create Recovery DVD

The Windows 7 recovery disk is used to boot Seven when it won't boot - to run Startup Repair, System Restore, access a Command Line, Recover using a Seven Backup Image, etc.
System Recovery Options

Below is a bulletin distributed by MS to explain the start up procedure when Windows will not boot. Startup Repair

Problems starting up a PC can be tricky to fix, since Windows hasn’t had a chance to load its arsenal of troubleshooting tools. Some people simply give up and reinstall Windows.
Startup Repair is designed to prevent a time-consuming reinstallation by diagnosing and repairing problems that prevent Windows from booting. Introduced in Windows Vista, Startup Repair is even easier to use because Windows 7 now installs it on your hard drive for you.

Click this bar to view the full image.

Click this bar to view the full image.

The Startup Repair tool in Windows 7 can help fix problems that prevent Windows from booting up.

 

[franz47]

Thank You for the tip! I actually have done that already, too. I downloaded the 64bit repair disk ISO-image via torrent, burnt it, booted. What surprises me: I never saw that last line "Reinstall Windows" in the window on my computer. The last line is the command prompt choice. ???? That means that I actually do not have any other choices than via the on hard disk repair method.

Is there anything I could have done wrong?? I actually cannot see anything where I could have erred?

Franz47

 

[richc46]

If you have done everything and you cant get the computer to work, I can show you how to save your stuff and then do a return to factory specs.
INterested?

 

[franz47]

Thanks again for the quick response.

Why does the choice to reinstall Windows from HDD files not appear in my case? I could get hold of system files of the system partitions from a previous complete backup made with Acronis True Image Home.

I am not sure what you mean by factory specs? Setting up Windows is not so much of a hassle. What takes much time after installing Windows is to separate data and system+software onto 2 separate partitions, what I always do. I want to have data and software clearly separated. It takes a lot of work to move e.g. Outlook Mail data position from deep in C:\......\....\... to D:\Applicationdata\Outlook for every single email adress. Or Thunderbird Mail data..Changing all the default paths for other programs from C:\.. to D:\... also consumes a lot of time. I always wonder why still so many programs automatically create data directories deep in the directory tree of the system partition instead of asking during installation where one wants them to have.

So could you please explain a bit more in detail what factory specs would mean?
Thank You
Franz47

 

[Klets]

HI Franz ... I have the same problem you had and was wondering whether you could help ...i have only registered here today and am not too familiar with

 

[richc46]

Franz
Every computer that comes preinstalled with Windows has a method to go back to the way the computer was the day your bought it. No updates, no documents etc. The method involves using the disc that they provided you or hitting a comination of keys on boot.

 

[franz47]

..was wondering whether you could help ...

Sorry I am clueless myself.
Franz47

 

[Klets]

My laptop came with no Recovery Disk. I had to make one as soon as I received the machine. I actually made 2 sets, one on 2 DVD's and another on an external hard drive.... I have tried everything possible. Repair and Restore..no joy. I get no error messages but I get no prompts to use the recovery disk. It goes through the whole repair/restore process using I presume the recovery files on the hard disk which I think is corrupted itself. I do not have a windows 7 disk....laptop is only 3 months old......never foresaw this problem. Spoke to DELL who want me to pay for a Windows recovery disk which I think is day light robbery..... but I may not have another option. It is my sons laptop and he is losing patience.....thanks for your help anyway.

 

[franz47]

..has a method to go back to the way the computer was the day your bought it...

Yes I know. That is what I wanted to avoid at any rate. Since I have never had a lethal problem like that on any XP computer I am considering an XP installation with a license on an old unused laptop.
Thank You anyway for your efforts to help.
Franz47

 

[franz47]

I do not have a windows 7 disk....

Maybe the recovery disk ISO-image mentioned above would be a solution for you?
Franz47

 

[franz47]

Before I really give up....
I have access to the files on all HDD partitions on the failing Win7 system via the WindowsPE DVD explorer
I have access to the files of that system in my backup, about 2 months old, when it was still working.
Could it be possible to find out which files are corrupted and could it be possible to reinstall only these files from the backup?

BTW I do not remember, which extensions or filenames CHKDSK gives to files it restores?

Regards Franz47

 

[franz47]

I have found a lot of *.chk files. I conclude that I probably have ruined my system by using chkdsk. So when I find the time I will reinstall the 2 months old backup. If that fails, I will try good old XP.
Franz47

 

[Dellius]

You can't ruin your system by using chkdsk.

Sounds like you may be having malware. I've had such crap, too and I've seen it do similar things to laptops.

While I've been able to remove it manually, I doubt I can give you step-by-step instructions on how to do that just like that.

What you can do is try some different antivirus program like Avast and keep trying and changing AV's until the infection is removed.

 

[franz47]

I have an always updated GDATA Antivirus running on that computer. But to look for malware I can start it from a Knoppix-CD and have the system tested, though I am softened enough now to be ready to install the 2 months old backup or XP.
Regards
Franz47

 

[Dellius]

Yes, a Knoppix CD will do perfectly. Pack the CD with as many AV programs as you can and run them consequently. Also, Dr.Web provide a free bootable USB solution you can use to test your system.

 

[franz47]

Ok, I´m up again....

I first had the 2010 CT´s Desinfec´t CD (what was earlier Knoppicillin) scan the system. No malware found. Then I restored the 50 GB drive C: (the second partition with the Windows Programs and other software) from the backup abour 2 months old and Windows started again. Maybe it will cough a little bit once a while but still it was a matter of a few minutes to start the process and wait an hour or so until it was done. Much less work than a complete reinstallation.

What I learn from this, is an old advice: make backups more frequently, harddisk space is cheaper than ever, so lack of space should be no excuse.

Thank You for all the input.

Have a nice holiday!

Franz47