Windows isn't booting up anymore & CD won't work

[JohnnyScience]

Out of no where my computer apparently died. I haven't updated or downloaded anything for it to do this. And I'm pretty good on computers.

Anyways I tried inputting the cd because it was giving me this error:

The file is possibly corrupt. The file header checksum does not match the computed checksum.

But when I tried loading the cd, it kept going back to the boot manager and not even loading windows from the cd to fix it.

Windows boot manager:

Windows failed to load because the kernel is missing or corrupt.

Ideas or options?

 

[johnnya]

Hi Johnny. Not sure if the CD you mention is your original Windows 7 installation or a system recovery cd you made. Regardless, the BOOT ORDER must be set to boot from the CD Drive first to read/boot from the CD. Generally you can change the boot order by entering BIOS. Give that a try and report back.
Regards
JohnnyA

 

[JohnnyScience]

I was using original cd.

And I was booting from CD, it loads the windows loading bar at the bottom and then it goes to windows boot manager and gives kernel issue?

 

[gregrocker]

Try booting the Install DVD from one-time BIOS Boot menu key, or tap F8 key at bootup to access Advanced Boot tools to see if Repair console is located on it. If not, try Last Known Good Config and Safe Mode.

If Install DVD won't boot or there is no Repair console on F8 menu, download and burn a Repair CD, or write the Repair CD ISO to flash stick using Win2flash then boot under USB or HD's: YouTube - How to install Windows 7 from USB (WinToFlash)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

Accept any offered repair, if it fails to start at reboot, boot back into Repair console, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair repeatedly: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

Startup Repair should offer System Restore, but if not boot back in to run it from list.

You can copy out your files using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[Night Hawk]

Press F8 a few times upon reaching the first post screen. That will bring up the boot device menu where you select the optical drive. You won't need to make any change to the boot order in the bios setup.

If you have any led lights on the keyboard as soon as those flash tap the F8 key and then try booting from the 7 media to run the startup repair. See if that gets you up and going again. Look below the Install Now button once you reach that screen for the Repair tools link.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok now I started getting the blue screen of death.

I'm so pissed right now.

At one point the cd worked and it couldn't repair the comp.

I rebooted 10-15 times and I couldn't get the cd to run again as I was just going to reinstall.

I have a paragon backup, but it's at another house.

I'm fine with formatting drive to reinstall windows just to use the computer.

I can always run paragon to update computer from backup.

All media is on another HDD, so I'm not worried about wiping the drive.

Seems the only thing to do at this point.

And no 2nd computer to make repair cd from.

Options?

 

[gregrocker]

Don't get mad - this is the time to focus on what you are doing and not what it's doing to you.

Unplug all other HD's, Boot the Win7 DVD (not CD), at first boot screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Line, wipe the HD with Diskpart which will force the installer to autostart on a disk wiped clean of infected or corrupt code.

Type:
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (confirm this is your target HD)
CLEAN ALL
EXIT

Now close command box and select Install Now, use Custom>Drive options to create a New install partition, Format and install.

If this fails, enter BIOS setup to reset CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Next get some CD's to test your HD with maker's diagnostic/repair CD scan: HD Diagnostic and test your RAM with memtest86 for 5-6 passes: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Check all cables and connections.

If you get any error messages copy the exact text to google or post back.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Yes but I've taken every precaution for this not to happen.

And this wasnt just a nomal crash, it seems like this was a really hard crash, can't get my computer to boot the DVD, it's booted about 3 times out of 30-40 tries.

I keep getting either that windows boot loader or error recovery screen or BSD.

So you want me to hit F10 where/when exactly? because I hit it about 50 times, starting from the second I turn it back on.

Like I said, 96% of the time I can't even get the DVD to load.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate.



Have a look at this tutorial at the link below, after the "clean all" finishes use the outline in Step Two #2 to create a single 100GB partition to do the clean install to.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok nothing was working, not even setting bios to default inside of bios so I pulled the battery.

Btw, how long does this battery last before it needs replaced? It's probably almost 3 years old now.

I realized I have my paragon backup on my other HDD, so once I reinstall windows (which its finally doing now) what's the easiest way to reload this paragon backup?

Can I do it through windows or Paragon itself?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Did you create the Paragon WinPE boot disk, if so use that to boot the PC to lay-down the image?

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok wait, now it's STILL not reinstalling and I'm getting the BSD during install.

What could I possibly do now?

I even did custom so I could format disk and still BSD.

I just dont understand how it got this corrupt. It was perfectly fine a couple hours prior sitting idle.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at this tutorial at the link below, after the "clean all" finishes use the outline in Step Two #2 to create a single 100GB partition to do the clean install to.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Have you done the wipe (secure erase) that has been suggested twice or did you just do a format.

   Note

Contrary to popular belief, doing a format with Windows 7 does not remove any data at all, it just checks for sector errors and marks the space to be over-written as needed, all the data is still there including all the code from previous/failed installation attempts.

​

 

[JohnnyScience]

Diskpart has been running for almost 2 hours... Does that sound normal?

It's a 500g HDD

 

[JohnnyScience]

Man after over 2 hours of a successful diskpart, STILL won't install.

Now getting this error message:

I just can not understand how my HDD got this corrupt.

 

[theog]

Check your ram.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/715-memory-diagnostics-tool.html?ltr=M
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Check your HD.
1) Boot DVD, & Press Shift+F10 (for command prompt)
2) Boot DVD, & http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html (for command prompt)
Open an command prompt.
In the command prompt, type chkdsk C: f/x/r/v and press Enter.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html?ltr=D
Check Disk - chkdsk - Vista Forums
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96938-check-disk-chkdsk-read-event-viewer-log.html

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic

 

[JohnnyScience]

I tried chkdsk c: f/x/r/v

Came back invalid parameter - f

Ideas?

I tried running diskpart again & after a few minutes of running I got the BSD.

After a dozen or so attempts to get back to being able to run diskpart again, it's currently running again (only been a few minutes so who knows if it will even complete)

I hope I can save this HDD and reinstall windows. I need to get back to work today and can't really afford a new HDD, let alone the time.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you run the HD maker's diagnostic/repair extended CD scan downloaded from one of the links posted by theog?

This is the most important step as a failing HD can actually be saved by surface repairs. Follow this by using chkdsk C: /r as the file system may need repair.

Then make the Paragon Boot CD to boot and try reimage from your stored image.

Where did you get Win7? Did you burn the DVD yourself? If so try burning another using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Can you try install from a flash stick to see if it overcomes the problem: Install UltraISO trial version, on File tab Open ISO, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB or HD's.

Please revisit every post in thread to make sure you have tried all suggestions. Give us feedback on each so we can offer next steps with confidence previous ones are completed.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok it's still running through diskpart for the 3rd time. Hopefully it's successful this time. It was the 1st time but still was getting BSD)

Should I run chkdsk r after diskpart has completely & hopefully successfully finished?

Or just try to reinstall windows again at that point?

 

[gregrocker]

What were the HD diagnostics/repair extended CD scan results?

ISO source?

Please answer the questions in our posts so we can help you better.