Windows 7 won't boot. Nothing added to system.

[KT888]

Windows 7 Ultimate won't boot anymore. I shut it down normally last night and this morning Windows won't boot. I didn't add any new hardware or software.
The drive functions fine if connected to another machine as an extra drive but I can't boot from it. I know there are certain hidden files windows needs to boot and I'm thinking one of those has likely gotten corrupted.

I don't have the experience to know what those files are specifically and I was hoping someone out there would be willing to share their knowledge & expeience with me.

Chronologically what happens is
machine boots

says windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
Lists two options
Launch Staretup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally

Startup Repair fails says
"Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically
"If you have recently attached a device to this computer, such as a camera or portable music player, remove it and restart your computer blah blah blah and on it goes.
It says Click Finish to exit and shut down your computer.

System restore says there are "No restore points have been created on your computer's system drive."

i checked the memory and it's fine.

Launching Windows normally there is actually a BSOD but i can't read anything that displays because my system reboots immediately. When i comes up again it says
"reboot and Select proper Boot device
or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key"

So my machine is trying a different drive on reboot but if I force it to use the Windows drive it's a repeat of the above.

I do have an earier clone of this drive that does work (It's just an earlier version) so I have a copy of any files windows needs if someone could help me know what files windows needs.

BTW using the cloned drive of Windows works and all the same hardware is connected so I'm thinking I can eliminate any of the hardware connected to this system as the cause of this issue.

 

[axe0]

Hi KT888,

Please remove as much as possible hardware from the system.

In your system specs you mention 2 builds, could you specify which one it is you have this problem with?

 

[KT888]

Hi axe0 thanks for responding.
I added some additional information to my original post that should address the hardware question. But I do have the exact hardware setup the failed installation will not boot connected to an earlier cloned version of the now failed installation and everything is working perfectly. This actually happened a few days ago I've just been using the clone till I had some time to troubleshoot this issue. I would just keep using the installation that is working but It's pretty old and I'd have to make a ton of changes to get it to where the misbehavin copy is at. And honestly I have no idea what all those changes are they were made over a period of months to all kinds of software and hardware settings I'm constantly honing my systems I'm sure you can relate.

It's the 4770K system.
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU: 4770K
Motherboard: Asrock Z87 OC Formula/ac
Memory: 32GB G.Skill RipjawsX 2133MHz
Graphics Card(s): 2x Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 OC GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660
Monitor(s): 4x27" BenQ GW2750HM, 1x42" Samsung HDTV
Screen Resolution:5x 2560x1440
Hard Drives: Samsung 840 Pro 128GB SSD
20x 3 to 8 TB Internal & external SATA & USB 3.0 drives
PSU: EVGA Supernova 1000W 80+Platinum
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
Cooling: Corsair H80I Hydro Series
Keyboard: Microsoft Natural Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard 7000
Mouse: Logitech G700s
Antivirus: Norton Security Premium
Browser: FF v50.0.1
Other Info: Wireless Corsair Gaming Headset 2100 Wireless Earforce PX5 Headset

 

[axe0]

Download an ISO from Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums, mount the ISO and copy the files onto a USB.

Use the misbehaving copy, boot from the USB containing the files of the ISO. After the system is booted, go to Windows Explorer and find the partition of Windows. Go to Minidump folder in Windows folder and copy all dumps to the USB, take also the memory.dmp file in Windows folder itself.
Upload the files please.

While your in the Windows PE, try to run th 'fix boot issues' option in Macrium Reflect.
Use Macrium Reflect Rescue Media to Fix Windows Boot Issues Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

 

[KT888]

Hi axe0 thanks for the information. I noticed you said to get a Windows 10 recovery disc but My OS is W7 should I still download the w10 recovery disc.

What files do I need to copy from the iso exactly. That's what I'm not sure of.

I actually have access to the non bootable Windows drive which is functioning perfectly fine as a drive just not as a boot drive. So I was able to access the minidump folder without the W10 recovery tools.

I went to the minidump folder but there's no minidump for the day my system died. The latest one is from 2 months ago and the one before that is from 8 months ago. As I said I actually shut down Windows properly using Windows shut down so that wouldn't generate a minidump and when I tried to boot up it never went into Windows so that didn't generate a Windows minidump. I guess.

I'm thinking there's gotta be a way to just copy the missing/corrupted Windows files from the working cloned copy of the same installation. I just don't know what files I need exactly.

 

[axe0]

With a PE the OS doesn't matter.

All files, missing a file could prevent booting.

when I tried to boot up it never went into Windows so that didn't generate a Windows minidump

Depends on if it a BSOD was, if it was then a dump would've been generated.

The files you're talking about are inaccessible for copy/paste, easiest you could try is the Fix Boot option in Macrium, see post #4, last link linked.

 

[KT888]

I tried Macrium Reflect System Recovery
I accepted all 4 options it suggested

Reset the boot disk ID
This is the unique identifier of your hard disk and is a common cause of boot problems.

Replace the master boot record
Your computer will not be able to start if the Master Boot Record is missing or corrupt.

Replace partition sector boot code.
The partition sector boot code is called from the Master Boot Record. If this is corrupt then your computer cannot start.

Rebuild the Boot Configuration Database (BCD) and BOOT.INI files
The BCDd anBOOT.INI files are essential for the active partition to locate any operating systems of your disk. The Boot.ini file is only required if you have a Windows version earlier than Vista on your PC.

The first two seemed to work effectively but there's a giant red X next to Updating Partition Boot Sector and Creating BCD Store so I'm guessing they didn't work.

When I selected to reboot my system it does not reboot. Everything from the Macrium screen disappears and the screen shows the background from Macrium but the system does not shut down or reboot. I had to manually shut down and reboot.

When it came back up Windows Boot Manager shows TWO Windows 7 options which it shouldn't I only have 1 drive connected and I even removed the USB drive with the Macrium boot drive.

If I select the first one it just reboots in an endless loop

When I select the second one it shows

Windows failed to start ...
Shows File: \Windows\system32\winload.efi
Status: 0xc000000e
Info: The application or operating system couldn't be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors.

Something I forgot to mention in my initial post that I think will be useful in troubleshooting exactly what happened and what to do about it.

I had shut down my PC properly from within Windows as I mentioned but then my cat moved the mouse on my desk which causes my PC to wake up and since I had just closed it because I was turning in for the night and I did not want it to boot up again I unplugged it. It hadn't reached windows and I'm pretty sure post hadn't even run yet or finished at least but...

Now it won't boot and I'm thinking boot record or C\boot directory has been corrupted or something. BCD corrupted or some problem with the partition record or some file that was being used when the power was cut didn't close properly and became corrupted. Anyway some file Windows needs to boot. The Windows drive that won't boot works fine if I connect it to another Windows installation so it's not the drive itself and I can run all the hardware in my system from another Windows Installation so it's not an issue with any of the hardware connected to the system.

I've seen posts elsewhere that suggest using diskpart to make the drive active again and others suggesting using easybcd to replace the BCD on the windows drive. This last makes the most sense to me considering what actually happened and what's happening now and also the fact that Macrium failed to create the BCD store which likely means an issue with the BCD. Also the Partition Boot Sector failed to update but I know not what this means.

What do you think?

 

[axe0]

See if this tutorial fixes MBR issues.
Bootmgr is missing - Fix - Windows 7 Help Forums

Please note, it may not fix all issues but it will fix any MBR issues.

 

[KT888]

Thanks for the suggestion axe0

I've been very busy so I haven't been able to work on this til now.
I tried the process at the page you listed above

When I tried the 3rd part

Bootrec /RebuildBcd
I get this response

Successfully scanned Wndows installations
Total Identified Windows installations: 0
The operation completed successfully

Now rebooting just has me in a loop. The PC just keeps rebooting without entering the windows environment, giving me an error or anything.

So I followed this
Bootrec.exe Tool in Windows Recovery Environment

[FONT=&quot]Make sure your computer is configured to start from the DVD drive[/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Insert your Windows installation DVD or Windows repair DVD[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Press any key when prompted[/FONT]
3. [FONT=&quot]Choose your language, time, currency, keyboard language and click Next[/FONT]
4. [FONT=&quot]Click Repair your computer[/FONT]
5. [FONT=&quot]Select the operating system you want to repair and click Next[/FONT]
6. [FONT=&quot]Click Command Prompt in the Systems Recovery Options dialog box[/FONT]
7. [FONT=&quot]Type the following commands in the Windows RE command prompt window and press Enter to execute each command (paying particular attention to insert a space where shown below):[/FONT]
8. [FONT=&quot]bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup[/FONT]
9. [FONT=&quot]c:[/FONT]
10. [FONT=&quot]cd boot[/FONT]
11. [FONT=&quot]attrib bcd -s -h -r[/FONT]
12. [FONT=&quot]ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old[/FONT]
13. [FONT=&quot]bootrec /RebuildBcd[/FONT]

It seems like something happened. Now at least when my pc boots it actually TRIES to go into windows. I have detailed boot showing so I can see windows loading drivers when it's starting but then at the end of that instead of going into Windows it gets to CLASSPNP.sys and then BSOD and reboot. It happens far to fast for me to see what it says it's instantly gone.

When I run startup repair it says Windows cannot repair this computer automatically
The problem details are

Problem Signature 03: Unknown
Problem Signature 04: 21199126
Problem Signature 05: AutoFailover
Problem Signature 06: 12
Problem Signature 07: NoRootCause

It's not at all helpful to me but maybe that means something to one of you gurus

When the pc reboots I get the "Windows Error Recovery" screen
I tried

Safe Mode
runs through loading the drivers loading It gets to CLASSPNP.sys and then BSOD and reboot

Safe Mode with Command Prompt
runs through loading the drivers and then BSOD and reboot

Last Known Good Configuration
Goes right to the Starting Windows screen with the spinning animation then BSOD and reboot

Start Windows Normally
Goes right to the Starting Windows screen then BSOD and reboot

And just for good measure I ran Safe Mode with Networking which ran through loading drivers and then BSOD and reboot

I wish I could see what's on the BSOD because I know for a fact it's not hardware related because I'm using every single piece of hardware that's connected to the system with a cloned copy of THIS installation so obviously none of my hardware is faulty. Even the windows drive that won't boot itself works fine as a slave connected to another Windows installation so the drive itself isn't broken.

It says above the recovery options
If power was interrupted during startup, choose Start Windows Normally
This is exactly what happened in this case. As it's happened countless times in my life with computers. It's never caused a problem before I just start normally and it starts. Don't know why this time it's different.

Anyone have any suggestions based on the sequence described here. Hopefully it triggers a recollection in someone's experience that can help here.


Thanks

 

[axe0]

You'll want to run startup repair 3 times with a reboot between each.

 

[KT888]

Hi axe0
I tried running startup repair from a Macrium Reflect boot flash drive. It shows the option to fix boot options.
I accepted all 4 options it suggested

Reset the boot disk ID
This is the unique identifier of your hard disk and is a common cause of boot problems.

Replace the master boot record
Your computer will not be able to start if the Master Boot Record is missing or corrupt.

Replace partition sector boot code.
The partition sector boot code is called from the Master Boot Record. If this is corrupt then your computer cannot start.

Rebuild the Boot Configuration Database (BCD) and BOOT.INI files
The BCDd anBOOT.INI files are essential for the active partition to locate any operating systems of your disk. The Boot.ini file is only required if you have a Windows version earlier than Vista on your PC.

The first two seemed to work effectively but there's a giant red X next to Updating Partition Boot Sector and Creating BCD Store so I'm guessing they didn't work.

When I selected to reboot my system it does not reboot. Everything from the Macrium screen disappears and the screen shows the background from Macrium but the system does not shut down or reboot. I had to manually shut down and reboot.

I had to force a reboot by hitting the reset button on the case all 4 times.
I don't have any of my other drives connected to the system while I'm trying to repair this installation.

When I try to actually boot off the SSD with windows on it
Windows Boot Manager comes up
It says
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation disc & restart your computer.
2. choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer"

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \EFI\Microft\Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

So I did that
The System Recovery Options starts to come up showing the Windows 7 OS
It says Windows found problems with your computer's startup options.
Do you want to apply repairs and restart you computer.
I clicked the view options hyperlink and the details are as follows

The following startup options will be addede:
Name: Windows Recovery Environment (Recovered)
Path: Recovery\1205aab2-c189-11e4-9c81-fa230f647939\Winre.wim
Windows Device: Partition=D: (122001 MB)

A copy of the current boot configuration data will be saved as: C:\Boot\BCD.Backup.0001

I don't know why it hasthe Windows device listed as drive D, shouldn't it be drive C?

Especially since it's SAYING it's saving the current boot configuration data to C:\Boot\BCD.Backup.0001

So the 4th time I tried the above fix in MR each time it was listing both partitions on the drive even though one partition is only 100MB in size. It's literally just to mount backup drives since you can only have 26 drive letters and I have more than 26 drives between my 2 systems I have networked. So I set it up so all my backup drives are mounted to folders on the 100MB partition.

I thought I would try to fix the 100MB partition in case Windows for some reason had started the 100 MB partition at sector 1 which I though COULD explain why it's not booting. It didn't change anything in terms of booting effectively after trying this but I thought it was weird it was listing the D drive as the Windows device so before I ran startup recovery from the Windows Installation disc I ran Macrium 1 more time choosing the C partition to repair
It failed again of course and again did not reboot but just hanged in Macrium.
So I forced a reboot from the Windows CD and this time it says

The following startup options will be addede:
Name: Windows Recovery Environment (Recovered)
Path: Recovery\1205aab2-c189-11e4-9c81-fa230f647939\Winre.wim
Windows Device: Partition=C: (122001 MB)

A copy of the current boot configuration data will be saved as: C:\Boot\BCD.Backup.0001

This looks more correct to me but I don't know which do you think sounds correct?

When I try to actually boot off the SSD with windows on it
Windows Boot Manager comes up
It says
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation disc & restart your computer.
2. choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer"

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \EFI\Microft\Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

I hit enter to reboot and I get nothing. There's a flashing underscore at the top left of the screen and the system is hung. So I force a reboot, go back into bios and change the first boot option from Windows Boot Manager back to my DVD drive. I reboot off the Win Installation CD
This time it runs startup repair but it says Windows cannot repair this computer automatically

The problem details were again

Problem Signature 03: Unknown
Problem Signature 04: 21199126
Problem Signature 05: AutoFailover
but lists problem signature 06 as 13 this time instead of 12. If that's helpful to anyone.
Problem Signature 06: 13
Problem Signature 07: NoRootCause

But again no root cause.
That's just perfect

I think I see what the 13 represents.
The Diagnosis and repair details: says the nunber of repair attempts was 13
BUT it says Root Cause Found:
Unspecified changes to system configuration might have caused the problem.

Then
Unspecified changes to system configuration might have caused the problem.
Repair action: System files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x490

Next I selected View advanced options for system recovery and support
And I chose Startup Repair from the list

This time it says
Startup Repair could not detect a problem.

When I rebooted and re ran startup repair it again says
Startup Repair could not detect a problem the details this time Say Root cause found:
Boot status indicates that the OS booted successfuuly

So lets see.

Nope.
Don't know why startup repair thinks everything is fine because I'm now in an endless loop. My system keeps rebooting without even trying to go into windows. No drivers load at this point or anything.

That was the 3rd time I ran startup repair from the Windows CD btw. I also ran startup repair from the Macrium USB Flash drive 5 times. I don't think Macrium works for me because it won't reboot it just hangs when I select restart. and again I find that Macrium has rendered my SSD completely unbootable and I'm stuck in an endless loop. When that happened last time I tried this process you recommended Bootmgr is missing - Fix - Windows 7 Help Forums

It didn't fix the problem but I could at least see windows TRYING to load at least the windows drivers load before rebooting.

So I ran SU Repair again and again it says the number of root causes = 1
But all the tests Completed successfully with Error code 0x0 for all tests
and it says 3 times
Root cause found:
Boot status indicates that the OS booted successfully.
Don't know why it's saying that because the OS is DEFINITELY NOT booting successfully.

And again an endless loop.
I ran startup repair a bunch of times in a row (at least 5) but I'm still looping.

So I'll try the above link again to see what that gets me.

I guess this is caused by
Replace partition sector boot code
And Rebuild the Boot Configuration Database (BCD) and BOOT.INI files
both failing when I try to do them with Macrium

and again the first 2 completed successfully but
bootrec /RebuildBcd says
Successfully scanned Windows installations.
Total identified Windows installations: 0
The operation completed successfully

Windows obviously has a different idea of what it means for something to complete successfully than I do.

It seems that when my system is trying to boot using the windows boot manager in the bios I'm in the endless loop without trying to go into windows.
Oh well forcing the SSD with windows to be first boot device still results in an endless loop without attempting to go into windows.

So I ran this process again

1. Make sure your computer is configured to start from the DVD drive
2. Insert your Windows installation DVD or Windows repair DVD
3. Press any key when prompted
4. Choose your language, time, currency, keyboard language and click Next
5. Click Repair your computer
6. Select the operating system you want to repair and click Next
7. Click Command Prompt in the Systems Recovery Options dialog box
8. Type the following commands in the Windows RE command prompt window and press Enter to execute each command (paying particular attention to insert a space where shown below):
9. bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
10. c:
11. cd boot
12. attrib bcd -s -h -r
13. ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
14. bootrec /RebuildBcd

And now at least I'm back to Windows at least trying to load.
I get the Windows Error Recovery screen with safe mode, SM with networking, SM Command prompt, Last known good configuration, and start windows normally.


None of these work it's as described above.
Windows drivers load and then BSOD which reboots immediately.
So I'm still in a loop it's just a different one.


Sigh


Any suggestions?