Windows won't load! Please help!

[stuartedwards5]

Hi guys, mini update - I've managed to get Lucid Puppy onto a USB drive and salvage my files on the broken OS machine.

Downloading the large .iso file today, but the wi-fi cafes here are crap! Do you guys know some good Download Manager software that allows for pauses in downloads/ download over multiple sessions etc?

I'll let you know when I've got it.

Cheers! Stu

 

[stuartedwards5]

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/offici...digital-river/

Windows USB Installer - see Step 1:
Microsoft Store Online

Regards,
Golden

Hi guys! Finally managed to download the above .iso file, and have successfully loaded it onto my 4gb bootable drive.

What's the next move from here? Shall I try and boot from it from start up?

Thanks a bunch guys.
Stu

 

[seavixen32]

Yes, just insert the drive, restart your computer and boot into the USB drive.

If you need help with the install, this tutorial should help you as the steps are the same whether you're booting from a DVD or a USB drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[stuartedwards5]

Right, I've booted off the USB drive at it works!

I select 'Repair Your Computer', then I select 'Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows'

Then the following pops up:
"This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible with this version of windows"

Then the only option I have is to do a fresh install of Windows. Have I got the wrong .iso file or something? Agh!

Thanks for the patience guys!
Stu

 

[seavixen32]

I thought it was a clean install you were after?

Did you download the ISO for your version of Windows?

As you are using Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit you need the ISO for that version.

If you don't choose the correct ISO version, you'll not be able to activate using your COA product key.

 

[stuartedwards5]

Hi Seavixen,
Previously the forum member 'Golden' said he/she would be able to help me run CHKDSK from the USB drive. A clean install is the last option I want to go for really, as I'd rather try and repair Windows than wipe my machine and loose all my files and programs. And I'm not sure whether I actually have my product key. (I'm in India travelling)


I downloaded the .iso file that Golden recommended.

Is there a way of finding out exactly which version of Windows I'm running (just to make absolutely sure) from within setup/bios menus?

Thanks!
Stu

 

[Golden]

Hi Stuart,

According to your system specifications in your forum profile, you are using Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit. Thus, you should have downloaded the same version ISO.

If you boot from the ISO, and at the language screen that appears just before install, hold SHIFT+F10 - a cmd window will open with the following prompt X:\Sources.

Type the following:

diskpart <enter>
list disk <enter>

What is listed on the screen?

Regards,
Golden

 

[stuartedwards5]

Golden! Thank you very much for getting back to me!

I did what you said exactly and this is what comes up:

X:Sources>diskpart

Microsoft Diskpart version 6.1.7601
Copyright <C> 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MINWINPC

DISKPART> list disk
Disk ###  Status   Size    Free       Dyn       Gpt
--------- ------   -----  ------     ------   ------- 
Disk 0    Online   698GB  1024KB
Disk 1    Online   3852MB  0KB

DISKPART>

And that's it! I hope that makes sense and I haven't been sold Windows7 Starter or something!

Cheers,
Stu

 

[Dave76]

There is no free space on your HDD according to diskpart, you need at least 10% free space so your system can function.
I will assume that Disk 1 is your USB stick.
Use your Lucid Puppy USB stick to remove some of the files on your HDD to your external HDD, go for at least 10GB free space.

If you didn't fill the HDD or it fills up again after you remove files, then you may have a virus.

 

[Golden]

Agreed, and well spotted Dave. Free up some space as per Dave's suggestions.

Regards,
Golden

 

[stuartedwards5]

I can only assume the worst then, as the PC is less than 3 months old and there is no way that my 750gb HDD is full.

I shall look again via Lucid Puppy, but what can be done otherwise?
Cheers chaps.

Stu

 

[Golden]

Stuart,

The problem could also be too many backups or restore points, but we need to be able to boot into Windows in order to confirm this. Try make as much space as you can, then try and boot as normal.

Regards,
Golden

 

[stuartedwards5]

Thanks Golden, I'll crack on with that first thing in the morning.

I recall when the machine was functioning and starting acting strangely, trying to use system restore. There were no restore points available and couldn't go any further.

I'll check and clear a load of space tomorrow and fire it up and hope for the best!

You're a life saver!
Cheers guys,
Stu

 

[stuartedwards5]

Hi guys,
I fired up Lucid Puppy again and had a look at the files on the machine. There is no way the disk is full, but I deleted everything I thought was non essential.

A drive mounter program popped up and listed the available drives, including the USB drive:

Pmount Puppy Drive Mounter
---
sda1 ntfs 200m 171m free
sda2 ntfs 653.0G 592.8G free

I assume the sda2 ntfs is my main drive, and it looks pretty empty.
After I deleted a load of files, this is what the mount program showed

Pmount Puppy Drive Mounter
---
sda1 ntfs 200m 171m free
sda2 ntfs 653.0g 607.4g free

As you can see, the drive is quite empty now.

I tried to load Windows after this, which failed, with the same black screen after the Lenovo logo screen with blinking cursor for a second or two, then nothing.

I then booted from the other USB drive (Windows repair drive with the .iso installed), and followed the command prompt instructions by Golden. The same as before was displayed:

X:Sources>diskpart

Microsoft Diskpart version 6.1.7601
Copyright <C> 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MINWINPC

DISKPART> list disk
Disk ###  Status   Size    Free       Dyn       Gpt
--------- ------   -----  ------     ------   ------- 
Disk 0    Online   698GB  1024KB
Disk 1    Online   3852MB  0KB

DISKPART>

It still states that the drive has 1024KB of space left, which I don't believe to be the case now

Agh!
Thanks,
Stu

 

[F5ing]

I think diskpart is just trying to tell you that there's only 1024 KB of unallocated/unpartitioned space on the drive (not free allocated). You'd have to dig a little deeper to find actual free space within the volumes/partitions.

In diskpart type:

select disk 0 (where 0 represents the number of the disk you're interested in)
detail disk
select volume # (where # represents the number of the volume you're interested in)
detail volume

You'll see free space on the volume at the bottom of the output.

 

[Dave76]

You are right, diskpart won't show the actual free space with the 'list disk' command, the 'free' column is for un allocated space.
My bad, I don't use diskpart very much.

 

[stuartedwards5]

I went through what sibbil said and it worked fine, cheers! It states the volumes are healthy and things look OK, and...

Volume Capacity     :652GB
Volume Free Space   :607GB

This is good news right?!

Thanks,
Stu

 

[Dave76]

Very good news, your free space is fine.

 

[stuartedwards5]

I've made a huge blunder.

I checked the "license.rtf" file in C:\Windows\System32 via Lucid Puppy and found that I have Windows Home Basic, and not Premium like I stated originally. Not entirely my fault, as the shop said it had Premium installed.

Looking back through My Digital Life.info, where Golden thankfully found me a link to the Premium .iso, I cannot find a 'Home Basic' version of this .iso download.
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

I found another article about downloading the Professional .iso file, then being able able to install Home Basic afterward.
Legal Download from DigitalRiver: Windows 7 SP1, 13 languages

Any ideas?

Thank you for your patience guys. My bad!

Stu

 

[writhziden]

We have a tutorial on these forums for creating a universal disc. It may be helpful to you: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html