Windows will not start

[IsntChrisL]

I successfully installed Windows 7 last night. I shut it down and this morning when I booted up my computer it would not move past the "Please Wait" screen. I thought maybe it was installing something new but I came back 2 hours later and it was still on the screen.

I'm typing all of this from Safe Mode. I tried to do a System Restore but since I just got a new OS it says that there is no restore points. I'd really appreciate some help on this. It has been a big headache.

 

[torrentg]

You could go through various troubleshooting steps with perhaps no possible resolution. Wasted time, wasted energy.

What you want to do is a repair install. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[kegobeer]

You should also update your system specs. The link is in my signature. Kind of hard for us to suggest a possible fix when we don't know what hardware you use.

 

[IsntChrisL]

I cannot do a repair install. I downloaded Windows 7 from their student site. I do not have a CD. I am stuck in safe mode. I am not happy.

 

[MarcG]

I cannot do a repair install. I downloaded Windows 7 from their student site. I do not have a CD. I am stuck in safe mode. I am not happy.

I wondered what other student downloaders would do when they ran into the need for repair. What was Digital River thinking?

I did get a student copy but fortunately burned the bootable disk which has a repair option on the second screen.

Can you find someone who's got a disc and borrow it? Or, re-download (via some borrowed / rented computer) and burn the boot DVD?

 

[kegobeer]

There is a way to create a DVD from the downloaded files from Digital River. There's a sticky thread in the installation board about it. Digital River also now provides the full ISO for download. There's a thread about it on the installation board, with a link to the Gizmodo article (which has a direct link to the ISO).

 

[Saltgrass]

If you are in safe mode, check the device manager to see if any devices show problems. You can do many things in safe mode.

You can also set it to write a bootlog file that might help you understand what driver is messing up.

Can you remove any devices?

 

[Saltgrass]

When you are booting into safe mode with the F8 key, check the Advanced booting options. There should be a way to do a repair or diagnostic, such as Startup Repair or System Restore.

You could also run a memory diagnostic from there.

 

[Brink]

I cannot do a repair install. I downloaded Windows 7 from their student site. I do not have a CD. I am stuck in safe mode. I am not happy.

Hello Chris,

You may be able to use the tutorial below to create a ISO from your student download, then use it to create a installation DVD with. Afterwards, you can use it to do a repair install with.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[IsntChrisL]

Shawn,

Thanks for posting the link. Sadly, it did not work though. I successfully created the installation DVD but Windows will not allow it to install itself outside of Normal Mode (I even tried making it boot from startup). I'm stuck in my original problem which is simply getting the computer to start in Normal mode. It sticks at "Please Wait" every time.

If there is more that can be done with this DVD I made or something else I can do, I'd be happy to hear from anyone. I've done Windows' own tests and it keeps telling me nothing is wrong when something clearly is.

I hate that you can't do much important things with Safe Mode.

 

[torrentg]

What problem did you run into when trying to install by booting to DVD?

 

[IsntChrisL]

Well, the DVD start just fine. However when it is checking to make sure everything is ready to begin it tells me I cannot install Windows outside of normal mode and that I should take out the disc and reinsert it in normal mode. I cannot get into Normal mode. This is making me crazy.

 

[kegobeer]

Well, I think your only option is to boot from the DVD and do a custom install. The old OS will be moved to windows.old, and your data should be recoverable.

 

[IsntChrisL]

I'm not super-savy on all of these things. How would I recover my files? I do not want to lose everything.

 

[torrentg]

Just make sure you don't ever tell it to format anything. NO FORMATTING.

Boot to DVD. It will ask you where to install. Choose where Windows is now. It will put everything Windows related (Program Files, Windows, Users etc...)
into a folder at root called Windows.old.

Nothing will be deleted and gone at all.

When you get to desktop, you can have a look in Windows.old for anything you want to keep.

Then you can run disk cleanup (I believe - been a long time I done this way) to get rid of the folder. If not, then just delete Windows.old

 

[IsntChrisL]

Ok, thanks for all of this help. One important question before I proceed: I started doing this and when it asked where I wanted to install, I was a little unsure of what to click. It was automatically on "Recovery" which was only using around 5 gigs. Below it was "OS" which was using around 90 gigs. Which do I select if I want to keep everything?

 

[Brink]

Chris,

You would select one that Windows 7 is installed on. If that is the "OS" drive/partition, then that would be what you select.

 

[IsntChrisL]

Ok, first I want to thank everyone who has helped me so far. You've made a huge difference.

Doing a custom install worked. I can now run normal mode. However I am having issues with figuring out how to get my old programs back. I tried dragging specific programs and files from windows.OLD into the new Windows, but they don't show up, not even on a restart. What exactly is it that I need to do to get my old programs/files back?

 

[torrentg]

Generally, you don't want to take programs from old and place them to new install. You can get away with some apps doing that but you really have to know which by having decent understanding of how the software works.

Rule of thumb: Simpler the software, higher chance you can

To get your programs back, you must reinstall them as normal.

You're welcome.

 

[IsntChrisL]

Ok, that makes sense but I have a dilemma: Microsoft Office Programs and iTunes. If I reinstall iTunes will it populate with my old songs (I did move them from windows.OLD to the new Windows). And what should I do about my Microsoft Office programs? I don't think I was given a backup CD for them. Is there no way to re-install them without paying for them?