Windows won't load! Please help!

[stuartedwards5]

Hi guys. I hope I’ve posted in the right section!

I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium and now it doesn't seem to want to load on start up. After the manufacturer logo, the screen just stays blank. A blinking cursor is viable for a few moments, then the screen goes blank. All the lights on the machine stay operational.

But SOMETIMES, usually after an hour or more, Windows loads and seems to be functioning, if a bit slowly. I've only seen this happen a couple of times. After a random amount of time, blue screen of death pops up and the system reboots. I haven’t managed to make a note of that the BSOD error is as it's happens so fast. (Let me know if the error issue is important to a accurate diagnoses)

Before this error occurred the day before, I started getting some heavy slow down during a couple of movies I was watching. Then next day, kaboom.

As you can probably tell, I'm not a mega computer whiz! I cannot run safe mode (by bashing F8 when the 'windows loading' page is visible) so can't run chkdsk to hopefully fix the problem, or access msconfig to selectively turn things off (if this would even help at all).

I can enter set up at start up (F2/F12?), but I’m not 100% sure what I’m doing in these menus.

Unfortunately I don't have the back up Windows disk, so I would probably need to buy a new copy And no system restore points have been saved so I can't rely on that either.

Is there a way of running chkdsk by command prompt? Or somehow booting into safemode from the set-up screen?

Currently I'm in India, and I've already been to an IT repair place and priced up a new copy+labour and it's not a bank-braker. But I’d rather NOT go down this avenue, as I have several gb of invaluable data I need for my business. (I know I'm an idiot for now backing up more regularly)

If all else fails and I need to install and new OS, can I selectivity keep certain folders/files in DOS somehow?

Thank you very much guys. I hope you can help me out and what I'm saying makes sense!

All the best,
Stuart Edwards

 

[JaidynM]

Run a startup repair.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Run an sfc/scannow command in command prompt at boot. If errors are found, run it twice more with each scan followed by a reboot.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

Can you please post the dump files from the BSOD's?
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[stuartedwards5]

Hi JaidynM thanks for getting back to me so quickly!

I'll run through your suggestions later on and let you know if it fixes anything.

If I get the opportunity to take a shot of the BSOD, I will! But since Windows has only loaded a couple of times, I've not been prepared for it!

Thanks again man.
Stu

 

[stuartedwards5]

Just looking through those suggestions:

• 
  I can't run a startup repair as it relys on a windows 7 installation disk

• I can't Run an sfc/scannow command in command prompt at boot for the same reason

There was another link mentions "How to Boot to the Advanced Boot Options in Windows 7", and I can't use that either as I can't access safe mode.

Any other ideas?

Thanks again.
Stu

 

[JaidynM]

If you can manage to borrow someone else's computer or even an office one, you should be able to create a repair disc.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html?ltr=S

 

[stuartedwards5]

Thanks I'll go to the service centre and see if they can help me with that.

Does that pretty much exhaust all options? If so, is there a way to save my data on the HD?

Thanks man.
Stu

 

[JaidynM]

Nope, it doesn't exhaust all of your options but it doesn't leave you with much. Try and get your hands on a repair disc or find a way to make one; it will help you a lot.

You can save the data if you hook it up to another computer. Do you have the facilities for that?

 

[stuartedwards5]

No luck at the service centre, they basically want me to buy a over priced copy of Windows, and said they'd never heard of 'creating a repair disk'! Very annoying. As I mentioned before, I'm currently in India travelling long term, so don't have the facilities to remove my HDD and hook it up to another machine. The dudes at the shop said they'd be able to keep my files when they installed a new OS.

So my options are looking a bit low now..any last minute ideas? Should I just pay these dudes to do it?!
Cheers,
Stu

 

[JaidynM]

Before you do that, I'll see if I can get someone else to give you a hand.

 

[Golden]

Hi Stuart,

Do you have download facilities where you are? If you do, please download Windows 7 Home Premium x86 from this location, and then install it to a bootable 4GB drive using the tool linked below.

Post back here once you've done that, and I'll talk you through doing a chkdsk from that USB, or perhaps even a Repair Install., depending on what we find. There is definately no need to visit a repair shop - we'll sort you out for free.

Windows 7 Download - you want the file shown as English x86: X17-58996.iso
http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

Windows USB Installer - see Step 1:
Microsoft Store Online

Regards,
Golden

 

[Dave76]

Since you are traveling we can assume you have a laptop, can you give us all the system specs you can?
You should have a partition with a re-install capabilities, but won't do much good until we get it running again.

There are several ways to go with this, follow Golden's steps, that's the best one to start with.

If you get to a point where you need to save your data, consider buying an external hard drive.
There are stand alone programs, run from CD or USB stick, that can backup your HDD before you risk loosing anything.

Macrium Reflect free version
The Windows PE 3 Rescue Media function is excellent for this.

 

[jumanji]

Golden's suggesstion is golden but involves a fairly large download.

If you are not well placed to do such a large download you may consider this alternate option of creating a Lucid Puppy Linux disk and try to access the hard disk where you will only be downloading a ~980KB Universal USB installer and a ~120KB Puppy Linux.
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/198909-lucid-puppy-way-recover-files-non-bootable-computer.html

You will need a pendrive and an external drive to store the retreived data.

EDIT: You need not even lock a pendrive for Puppy Linux. You can straight away burn the ISO to a CD which may be easily available in any nearby stationery shop for less than Rs.20. Even some petty shops/grocery shops around sell them.

 

[stuartedwards5]

Hi Dave thanks for the help.

Here are some quick specs from the top of my head...

Lenovo IdeaPad Z Series
i3 dual core
750gb HDD
Windows Home Premium
8gb DDR3 Ram


Yeah luckily I still have access to a machine, my girlfriends notebook. My laptop is the machine with the faulty OS!

I honestly think the HDD doesn't have a partition on it, as I thought it was a bit odd when I purchashed the machine.

There are several ways to go with this, follow Golden's steps, that's the best one to start with

.
I'm not sure what this means, does you mean the other kind guy trying to help me?

I think I might be at the 'save my data' stage now! Luckily I have an external HDD, but can I move files onto it without access to Windows?!

Thanks very much Dave!

 

[Dave76]

Golden posted a method to get a install disc.
jumanji has a good point, your download speed is probably pretty slow, D/L'ing a full install version may take several hours.

Yes, you can save your files without Windows running.
Good that you have an external HDD.
You can make an image backup with Macrium Reflect - Windows PE 3 Rescue Media or D/L Lucid Puppy Linux and copy your files.
Both will be running from a CD or USB stick, Windows OS not needed.

 

[stuartedwards5]

Golden!

Sorry I didn't see your previous response! That looks really good, I'll give it a look asap. Loads of free wi-fi cafes around here so I'll get on that tomorrow morning!

Do I need a specific bootable 4gb USB drive, as I have a couple of 'standard' ones, and I'm sure I could pick up another should I need one.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

 

[Golden]

I completely agree - 1st port of call is to back your data up using the Linux distribution suggested

Stuart, Yes - it must be a 4GB USB for the Windows install. Just a standard 4GB USB will do. The USB will be completely formatted during the ISO installation, so do not use the one you are going to backup data too - use a completely seperate USB flash drive for the ISO install.

 

[Dave76]

The advantage of using Macrium Reflect - Windows PE 3 Rescue Media or D/L Lucid Puppy Linux is they will fit on a smaller USB stick.

Macrium Reflect is 30MB and Lucid Puppy Linux is 1.1MB.

Macrium will need to be installed on a computer then the Win PE can be loaded to the USB stick and it is pretty small, don't have the exact size.

 

[stuartedwards5]

OK so if I download Lucid Puppy Linux, stick that on a USB stick and load it up, I should be able to save some of my files over to my external USB HDD (hopefully!)

But will I still need to d/l the 2.4GB .iso file that Golden recommended to get Windows back up and running again?

Windows 7 Download - you want the file shown as English x86: X17-58996.iso
http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

Can't help you guys enough, I hope you have enough patenice to see through my lack of knowledge!
Cheers.

 

[Golden]

Hi Stuart,

Yes, and yes to both questions.

No worries, just post back here with anything at all and we'll guide you through things

Regards,
Golden

 

[Golden]

Stuart,

By the way, after you have downloaded Puppy Linux, you need to use this tool to transfer it to, and make, that USB bootable:

Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

Post back if you need more help.

Regards,
Golden