Windows won't boot, not sure why.

[MattyJam]

Hey guys, I've ran into a bit of a problem with my 10 month old Windows 7 Home Premium x64 PC, basically, it won't boot.

I know that's not much help, and I've had a few unbootable computers before, but never one like this. Here's what happens:

When I switch it on, it goes Starting windows, but then it goes off and says Windows failed to start. With my only two options being to repair it or start normally. If I start it normally, the same thing happens, and if I repair it says startup repair can't repair this computer automatically. The problem details are:

Problem event name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem signature 01: 6.2.7600.16385
Problem signature 02: 6.2.7600.16385
Problem signature 03: unknown
Problem signature 04: 21200006
Problem signature 05: AutoFailover
Problem signature 06: 10
Problem signature 07: NoRootCause
OS version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

Now, I've already said startup repair doen't work, I've tried system restore but that hasn't helped, I read somewhere the Windows Memory diagnostic would help, but it obviously didn't. I've tried repairing the master boot record and running chkdsk (no problems / failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with the status 50) , I've tried last known good configuration and I can't even boot from safe mode.

There IS one thing I have noticed though, usually my Windows drive is C:, but that no longer exists. It looks like it has moved to D: instead. And I have no idea how. I'm not sure if this is relevent.

Before it messed up I was trying to find my external Ubuntu drive in disk management (another problem all together just ignore that part). I burned a linux live cd and booted from it (had to change boot priority), I switched it off then on and this started. Again, I'm not sure if this is relevent.

I can't create a startup repair disc because my spare laptop's dvd drive is a bit broken.

I can make backups and reinstall windows, but I'd like to think of that as the last resort, meaning i really don't want to.

So what I'm here for is to find out how to fix this problem, and I've included everything I can think of because I don't know if my harddrive is failing, if I have some kind of virus, if it's looking for my harddrive in the wrong place or if I've messed it up somehow.

While I was typing this I went to fetch the ntbtlog, but when I opened notepad and went to search for the file, and I noticed that my old harddrive (which isn't connected) is there. Now I am even more confused. Because usually it is Windows 7 in C:, but now there is System in C: (my caddie harddrive which is disconnected) And Windows 7 in D:. Sorry for the long post, and seemingly unrelated ramblings, but any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: I don't think it is my caddie actually, but I don't recognise it.

 

[marsmimar]

Hello Matty and welcome to Seven Forums.

Try working through these troubleshooting steps in the order given. It's also important not to skip something just because you tried it before and it didn't work.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

 

[gregrocker]

When you get to the Partition Wizard steps in above tutorial please post back a camera snap of the full drive map and listings so we can look over that your flags are set correctly. Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

The System Active flags should be on 100mb System Reserved partition or C. Check now.

Drive letters can be different in WinRE than Windows. Make sure the HD is detected in BIOS setup by tapping its key given on first screen at boot. If not check the cable and test the HD with Partition Wizard Partition surface test and Partition Wizard Check File System.

Please fill in your system specs as its not easy to advise you when you give arcane detail but don't even bother to mention the PC or mobo make/model.

 

[starchase]

Probably won't help you but when something similar happened to me a while back (I have several HDDs on my PC) somehow the disc that boots got out of order (gremlins, I think!) and the PC was trying to boot from a non system disc. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why the thing wasn't booting and was about to reinstall Windows ruining a lot of work on my installation when it suddenly occurred to me to check the BIOS and see what disc is being booted from and play around with the disc order. And sure enough after changing the disc order the PC found the right disc to boot from and problem was solved!