Windows 7 Startup Repair

[CDAWG]

Hey guys,

A year or so ago my Dell Inspiron Mini net book (1012?) had some sort of failure for one reason or another. When I restart my mini it goes to the windows error recovery screen and gives me the option to either do startup repair or start Windows normally. When I choose to start normally it boots normally until it gets to the Windows 7 blues screen where I would type in my password and log on. However, for some reason the text box where I would type my password doesn't appear and after a few seconds or so it restarts itself and goes back to the windows error recovery screen again. Just recently I decided to try and repair it by using the disk that came with my mini via an external DVD-ROM. So far it worked well enough to my knowledge and it brings me through the startup repair process and when it is finished it tells me to restart my computer to finish the repairs. Also it says that if my computer wasn't successfully repaired it will go into startup repair again to complete them (or words to that effect). When it does restart though it brings me back into startup repair. This time though the box that normally listed my operating system(Windows 7), partition size(which was 0 MB?) and location(local disk) is just blank. I didn't really know what to do so I exited out and did the whole process over again. This time I looked at the diagnosis and repair details. At the very top it said this...

Number of repair attempts: 1

Session details
--------------------------------
System Disk = /Device/Harddisk0
Windows directory = D: /Windows
AutoChk Run = 0
Number of root causes = 1

At the very bottom of the list it said this...

Root cause found:
-------------------------
Repair action: File system repair (chkdsk)
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 346852 ms
-------------------------
-------------------------

I really hope this means something to someone because I don't understand it in the slightest. If it says that the file system repair was completed successfully shouldn't my mini be working? Or do I have to do something extra on top of running the system repair to get it to work fully? Again I have too many questions and I cant answer any of them myself! I need help and I know you guys will be able to help. If you need any more information or anything just let me know. Thanks so much in advance for any and all help.

-Colin

 

[theog]

Can you startup in safe mode?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html?ltr=S

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[CDAWG]

I heard that it takes 3 to 4 times for startup repair to finish repairing completely but since my operating system wasn't listed I was in a bit of a snag. I tried loading the drivers for my hard disks like it said to do if my OS wasn't listed by using the disk titled "drivers and utilities" that came with my mini as well. There were too many files and other stuff that I didn't know how to use so I figured I wouldn't risk it and screw up my mini any further. Also I haven't really tried safe mode because it wasn't listed when restarting. The only two options are boot options(F12) and then setup I think(F2). I read that when booting you should tap F8 continuously until you get into safe mode but since it wasn't listed I didn't try it.

 

[karlsnooks]

​

BOOT TO SAFE MODE


Power down your computer.

Power up your computer.

IMMEDIATELY—Start tapping the SPACEBAR

When the Windows Boot Manager screen appears,
Press the F8 key

The Advanced Boot Options screen will appear.

Using the down arrow key, highlight Safe Mode

Press the ENTER key.

In shorthand,
PowerUp | Spacebar until Windows Boot Manager | F8 | Safe Mode | ENTER

​

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 Won't Boot checklist

Try booting into Safe Mode to install and run full Malwarebytes scan, then these troubleshooting steps.

If no Safe Mode try repairing your installation using Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD which doesn't rely on possibly corrupt System files. System Repair Disc - Create

Boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD, run Startup Repair repeatedly after first checking to make sure the Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) are marked Active: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

At this point to survey your partitions and confirm/mark Active you can switch to a GUI (picture) using free Partition Wizard bootable CD, then click on HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR which may preclude the need to run Startup Repairs. Post back a camera snap of disk map if possible

If initial Repairs fail, burn to CD or write to flash stick Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper, boot to update and run a full scan of your HD.

If Win7 still won't start even after cleaning up infection, run Startup Repair again repeatedly. If this fails access System Recovery Options Command Prompt to run SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot, then from same Command Line run Disk Check with /r switch on all partitions.

If you cannot locate a Win7 DVD or Repair CD, until you can find or make one try using the Repair console on F8 Advanced Boot Options accessed by tapping the F8 key at boot. Do not rely solely on automatic failover Startup Repair which starts on its own.

If Repairs fail with 100mb System Reserved or other partition marked Active, change the Active flag to Win7 partition itself and try Repairs again.

You can copy out your files using DVD/Repair CD by this method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

If all fails, report back for more steps or run Factory Recovery from partition or disks if you've got them: Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings
Dell Recovery Partition - restoring F8 link

or use a Win7 installation DVD to clean reinstall with Product Key on COA sticker: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[karlsnooks]

Greg,
I really like the list.

You have touched all bases.

Anyone who follows that list should end up with a running system.

The only suggestion I have is to change the /f to /r on the chkdsk. This will definitely increase the time to check disk but also will check the entire surface, not just where files are presently located, and mark the bad sectors so that the disk doesn't try to use them in the future.

 

[gregrocker]

Karl, Thanks for noticing. I had a bit of disk-lexia using /f where I should have /r.

Also added using PW CD for GUI picture of partitioning, since Rebuild MBR function can also preclude the need to run Startup Repairs in about half of recent cases.

It's grown long but I think I'll maintain and link to it. Feel free to bookmark.

 

[CDAWG]

Alright so I tried booting to safe mode with Karl's instructions but no luck. I selected safe mode and it loaded some list and then it said "please wait" but then it just restarted itself again like before. The instructions worked like a charm but my computer just decided to stop working. I am going to try Greg's check list and get back to you guys. Thanks.

 

[Ztruker]

Greg, I also added a link to your post in my Tips database. It's about as comprehensive as you can get. Many thanks.

 

[CDAWG]

The only problem I have with with Greg's list is that I can not access the start button as it does not let me get that far. Also I can not access safe mode because for some reason it restarts and brings me back to the windows error recovery screen. The only option I think I have to fix my computer is by using the external DVD-ROM and the disk that came with my computer which leaves me basically nowhere.

 

[gregrocker]

What Start button are you referring to here? If you can't get into Safe Mode, then there will be no Start button.

When it refers to Win7 starting or not after repair procedures, it means to click Restart button to see if it will start.

 

[CDAWG]

Sorry for being unclear. What I am trying to say is that I can not enter safe mode at all for some reason and have tried many times without success. So essentially I can't get any farther than the windows error recovery screen. When I go through the process of startup repair it tells me that it if the repairs were not complete it will automatically re-enter startup repair. Unfortunately it always re-enters startup repair. However, when it does my operating system and such isn't listed. It tells me to load the drivers for my hard disks which I haven't the slightest idea how to do. I have tried running startup repair without my operating system being listed but each time it says that it couldn't automatically repair my computer. That is basically where I am stuck.

 

[gregrocker]

So you've only done the first step of the many I wrote out. All of the others require using the DVD Repair console or a System Repair Disk, not automatic Startup Repair as stated.

See if you can find a Win7 computer to make a System Repair CD: System Repair Disc - Create or borrow or find a Win7 installation ISO to burn a DVD as you may need to reinstall if Repairs don't work.

Then work through the steps.

 

[CDAWG]

Hey thanks a lot for the message. I'm sorry about basically doing the one thing you told me not to do but I just misunderstood. The computer I am messaging from is one I built myself and is using Windows 7 64-Bit so I shouldn't have any problem creating a system repair CD. Also would it be possible to completely wipe my computer and just re-install Windows 7 to my computer rather than trying to repair it? I don't have anything really worth saving besides a few very old high school assignments that I could care less about.

 

[gregrocker]

As a clean reinstall specialist, I am always up for that!

Here are tips for getting a perfect reinstall of factory OEM, so use the ones which apply: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[CDAWG]

So by following these steps I should be able to get my computer to work? Regardless of the damage that was done to the software or whatever the problem is?

 

[karlsnooks]

Absolutely impossible to guarantee success in any endeavor in life.

One can say that the procedure has been used by many, including myself, with 100% success.