Windows 7 won't boot

[Gcd89]

Won't boot at all. when i try to start in safe mode, it gets hung up on "classpnp" or something.

Upon researching, I've found i need to boot from the "system repair" disc, which I don't have (pc didn't come with one).

1. Where can i get this disc?
2. if i can't get one, is there any alternative??
3. if i use it (the disc or alternative), will I lose everything?

 

[gregrocker]

Everything you need is here including the disk to try everything possible to get it started or copy out your files and recover/reinstall: Fix Unbootable Win7

 

[Gcd89]

startup Repair (how long, and other questions)

So, my computer would not boot w7. No safe mode, no repair, no nothing. so, upon advice i found here, i got ahold of a System Repair disc, booted from it, and ran "startup repair"

it has been going for 3 hours now. The blue bar is moving, the HD light is solid blue (no flashing). The window says may take over an hour to complete.

Now, i've read that this process takes anywhere from 45mins, to 3 DAYS, depending on size of HD, etc. So, is 3hrs too long or should I keep waiting?

 

[gregrocker]

It could be stalled in a Disk Check failure. I'd power down, reboot into BIOS setup to see if the HD is even detected. If not reseat or replace the cables to see if you can get it to register in BIOS.

If so run HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, followed by Disk Check from the booted Win7 DVD or Repair CD System Recovery Options Command line so you can monitor it's progress.

 

[Gcd89]

I tried doing the bios boot thing first (before even getting the disk at all) and it didn't tell whether the Hd is detected or not. i'm assuming it's toast though, right? since that would be the only thing causing it to hang up?

Also, the windows 7 disc i'm using has no "check disk" option....

I'm thinking there is no fix....in which case, how do i get my data (documents, music, etc.) off of the now ruined HD?

 

[gregrocker]

I did not say that HD failure is the only thing that could stall Startup Repair. Did you reboot into BIOS setup to see if HD is detected?

The blue links show you how to diagnose the HD, run Disk Check from the installer's Command Line.

If you don't have the patience to try these and the other tests and fixes in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start then you can copy out your files externally or to another HD from booted DVD or Repair CD using Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console .

Then follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 making sure you delete all partitions and create new one(s) to format using the Drive Options shown in Steps 6/7 of Clean Install Windows 7 .

 

[Gcd89]

Yes, i booted to the BIOs menu. Says the Hd is there. the hd light is on as well.

will any of the above options you showed (gonna try chkdsk) actually fix anything? i mean, if the repair disc won't fix anything, how can something else fix it?

how can i copy things to an external Hd if I can't even get past startup?

 

[gregrocker]

What do you not understand about copying out your files using the booted Win7 Repair CD? Is there something about that which says you need to start Win7?

Certain makes of HD have their own diagnostics/repair CD's which can be booted to determine exactly what if anything is wrong with the physical HD condition, which coupled with Disk Check can help you decide if the HD is safe to operate.

 

[Gcd89]

Anyway, i did the disk check, but i don't understand any of it. i doesnt say if it's there or missing, or what. I just get a lot of numbers and language that don't make any sense.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you read what Disk Check was reporting? Did it repair anything? Read it over now. It will say in plain English if it repaired anything or not.

You said here you can have a Repair CD and can boot it:

So, my computer would not boot w7. No safe mode, no repair, no nothing. so, upon advice i found here, i got ahold of a System Repair disc, booted from it, and ran "startup repair"

If you'd click on Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console you can see how to copy out your files using that same disk.

 

[Gcd89]

Did you read what Disk Check was reporting? Did it repair anything? Read it over now. It will say in plain English if it repaired anything or not.

If you'd click on Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console you can see how to copy out your files using that same disk.

ok, didn't realize the recovery console was could boot from the repair disc, as there's no direct option for that.

Anyway, my disk check brough up many lines

ChKDSK verifying files (stage 1/3)
256 files processed
File Ver. completed
0 large file records processed
0 bad file records processed
0 EA records processed
0 reparse records processed
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2/3)
328 index entries completed
index verification completed
0 unindexed files scanned
0 unindexed files recovered
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3/3)
256 file Sds/SIDs processed
Security descriptor ver. completed
36 data files processed
Checked file system and found no problems

Then a breakdown of disk space

failed to transfer logged messages to event log with status 50

 

[gregrocker]

It says it found no problems.

Unless you want to continue attempting repairs using tutorial, copy out your files to an external HD, USB flash stick or secondary HD, then Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 while deleting all partitions during the install.

 

[Gcd89]

Ok, the thing is though, when i go to "Load Drivers" to attempt the copy/Paste, i'm presented with various drives like c, D, E, etc.

But when i try to go into C: (or any of them for that matter) it's empty??? The screen says i have 71 gigs left on C (of 100), but when I try to open it, it's empty

 

[gregrocker]

Try Paragon rescue disk; change drive letter; recover data or Hiren’s BootCD 15.1 XP explorer. There are also tools on Hirens to test your HD including maker's diagnostics and Partition Wizard Surface Scan.

Download, rightclick to burn to CD with WIndows Image Burner, boot to rescue the files.

For flash stick solution, use Hiren's ISO written to stick with Universal USB Installer with Hiren's selected in dropdown menu.

You can also pull out your HD and plug it into another PC to copy the files out. I would run a good AV boot scan from Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot first however.

Please fill in your System specs or at least let us know the PC model.

 

[Gcd89]

Try Paragon rescue disk; change drive letter; recover data or Hiren’s BootCD 15.1 XP explorer. There are also tools on Hirens to test your HD including maker's diagnostics and Partition Wizard Surface Scan.

Download, rightclick to burn to CD with WIndows Image Burner, boot to rescue the files.

For flash stick solution, use Hiren's ISO written to stick with Universal USB Installer with Hiren's selected in dropdown menu.

You can also pull out your HD and plug it into another PC to copy the files out. I would run a good AV boot scan from Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot first however.

Please fill in your System specs or at least let us know the PC model.

but should i try to find out why it's saying C is empty in the first place?

Before i download the above stuff, what do those even do? I mean, i can access the recovery console like you mentioned, it's just that when i open C, instead of seeing folders titled "users" and such, it just says it's empty...

What will the above things do to rectify that, exactly?

 

[gregrocker]

It will give you a second or third chance at finding your files. Something may be awry with the Repair disk or WinRe. I don't want to say your files are gone without a second opinion.

I don't think it could c be a virus that hides files since they should show up in Boot Mode anyway, but I'd also like a second opinion on that from our Security Experts. In advance I'd also run one of the bootable AV scans you find when you start at the top of the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

 

[Gcd89]

It will give you a second or third chance at finding your files. Something may be awry with the Repair disk or WinRe. I don't want to say your files are gone without a second opinion.

Well, i haven't got a blank cd or a stick with enough space on it for the either of those option, nor do i have a hard drive to put my files on anyway. i was merely looking to see how much space my files took up.

i don't think my files are gone, after all, when I right click>properties, it says there's stuff on it.

So if i manage to burn a copy of the Paragon thing (or the linux Usb installer thing), do i just boot with that instead of the System Repair disc? and then, hopefully, be able to see my files in C?

I don't think it could c be a virus that hides files since they should show up in Boot Mode anyway, but I'd also like a second opinion on that from our Security Experts. In advance I'd also run one of the bootable AV scans you find when you start at the top of the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot

again, no CDs or anything at the moment. I'm mostly confident I don't have a virus anyway, as i had mcAfee and Kaspersky AV running

 

[gregrocker]

MucAfee is one of the worst problems we see. To have it running with another AV is not recommended and may be causing your problems. Replace it with MSE, which is one of the tools recommended in the Clean Reinstall tutorial.

Have you considered trying to run Samsung Recovery from its partition on the HD? It may have a choice to save your files first.

If not then try the other methods mentioned to rescue your files. If they fail do the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 following the steps closely to get a perfect reinstall. When you boot into the installer to install as shown in Clean Install Windows 7 I would delete all partitions at Steps 6/7, create new as you desire, then format before install.

 

[Gcd89]

MucAfee is one of the worst problems we see. To have it running with another AV is not recommended and may be causing your problems. Replace it with MSE, which is one of the tools recommended in the Clean Reinstall tutorial.

Will keep this in mind in the future

Have you considered trying to run Samsung Recovery from its partition on the HD? It may have a choice to save your files first.

yes. That was the first thing I tried when this first happened. i got the splash screen with a "please wait..." and then nothing. it was just stuck on that screen.

EDIT: Tried it again, and it actually went through the menus but when i got to basic restore (the item that allows you to restore while leaving files intact) it says Windows Drive/Partition could not be found.

If not then try the other methods mentioned to rescue your files. If they fail do the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 following the steps closely to get a perfect reinstall. When you boot into the installer to install as shown in Clean Install Windows 7 I would delete all partitions at Steps 6/7, create new as you desire, then format before install.

i will try the Paragon, I just wanted to know how to use it or what it's like so I'm a little ahead of the curve when i get it. Try to figure it how to use it so i don't have to come back and ask about it.....can we even be sure that it will work?

I'm assuming I boot it and it will let me see my files, which i can then drag/drop (or copy or similar) to an external storage?

Regardless, i will do a clean reinstall no matter what, and then just put my files on it if i can hopefully save them

 

[Gcd89]

So does anyone have any ideas on why it's telling me C is empty (while at the same time telling me it's about 20% full?), and if/how it's possible to get my files off of it?

I ran chkdsk, and it says there's no problems. So why am i being told C is empty, and that samsung recovery cannot find the drive or partition? How do i get my computer to show the files that i have on C?

Can someone help?

EDIT: Did some searching on Google and found that maybe my files on C: are set to "hidden" which is why they aren't showing up. unfortunately there is no way to change this from the recovery console....so what can I do?