Windows starting but then hanging after BIOS update

[EJS]

I decided to update the Bios and it went through OK until I accidentally hit BIOS default setting. This caused me to lose my Raid boot. I went and copied the old SAM, software and system files and this provided me with a boot into windows. The windows then hangs up while starting. It stays in the black screen until I either force a boot or it reboots by itself. I have put in the install disc and run repair several times and it says it went well, but still doesn't improve much. The HD's are crunching data longer everytime I repair it, but it still never completes the loading of windows. The error shows a corrupt registry. So any ideas on how to correct the registry without re-installing windows. As mirrored drives, I am not sure how to go about the reloading of windows without affecting the data.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[gregrocker]

It's amazing it will even start after it unRAIDED which hashes everything. I'd copy out my data now as there is no known way to stablilize it that I've seen.

Do you have an Image backup? What works best with Win7 is installing to one HD then storing a backup image on the secondary.

 

[EJS]

Thanks for the reply. The raid configuration shows everything correct in the bios and configurator. I have run SFC scannow twice and both times, it found no errors. I have also run repair and chkdsk and it hasn't shown any problems. But when I let it run to open windows, it brings up the windows logo, the mouse continues to move for a while, with no display and it ends up hanging after a while. If I reboot, it shows that windows was improperly closed. It almost seems as windows is open in the background, but their is no display and the mouse is locked up. With all the attempts at repair, it seems that it has gotten a bit farther towards opening, but hasn't. Do you really feel that the registry is too corrupt to correct, or is there anything else that I can try. Could it be that some drivers are just not loading? This is my only computer that doesn't have a image backup. There are no restore points either.
How would I copy my data onto a external drive. I have no problem booting in safe mode with a command prompt, so I can use DOS to copy my files, but I am a little rusty on the DOS commands. I know how to get to the directories that I want to copy. That's about it, without experimenting....
Thanks,

 

[gregrocker]

What happens if you try to F8 into Safe Mode? What makes you think you can enter Safe Mode with DOS? If Safe Mode is working then you have an intact installation which might be repaired. Try Startup Repair a few more times from the DVD/Repair CD, then SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt and Disk Check from DVD/CD command line.

If your files are intact you can copy them out using the DVD or Repair CD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

For a graphical interface use Paragon Rescue CD freeware. Paragon rescue disk; change drive letter; recover data I'd also try it's boot corrector and partition recovery wizard to see what it finds.

Once you have your data follow these steps to get a perfect reinstall, then backup an image so you never have to reinstall again but can reimage to the HD or replacement in 20 minutes: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[EJS]

windows not opening after bios update

Thanks for the reply. I am now able to enter the safe mode and get a command prompt now. I will continue to run the repair a few more times. I can see all of my directories in DOS. I just don't know what is hanging up windows from fully opening up. It almost seems that the video drivers are not working, but I don't know how to get the drivers to initialize, if that's the problem. I will let you know how my next tries work out.

thanks!