Windows 7 won't boot

Dogboy73 · 4 Jul 2013 at 01:06

Problem with the in-laws PC (not the system in my signature). It was working okay just last night when I was using it myself. No changes to the set-up have been made but this morning it won't boot. The machine posts okay sounding a single bleep. Then the set-up screen appears (with the usual options to enter set-up etc). 'Starting Windows' then appears breifly, disapears & the machine restarts, posts again & then goes to the 'Windows Error Recovery' screen. Attempting to 'Start Windows Normally' just causes the machine to restart again. Selecting 'Launch Startup Repair (recommended)' loads up Startup Repair, but this fails to resolve the problem with the message, 'Windows cannot repair this computer automatically'.

I have tried going into the bios and loading failsafe defaults. Same thing. I have been trying to boot in safe mode but I can't seem to get this. Is it still F8 for safe mode in Windows 7? Maybe I'm pressing the wrong key! Not sure what else to try. I'm new to Windows 7 & we don't have a Windows 7 disc here. Might have to give the computer guy a call if i can't fix myself. He built the machine. Very nice job actualy. Great machine, very fast, all good .... until this morning! :confused:

Any advice from the brilliant & clever people on Overclockers before I go to the phone? Cheers

On Holiday · 4 Jul 2013 at 01:11

Can't remember if you can get command line up without the Windows 7 disc, but if you can, fixmbr / fixboot.

Not too much you can do without a win7 disc though.

Dogboy73 · 4 Jul 2013 at 06:01

YarwoodUK said:
Can't remember if you can get command line up without the Windows 7 disc, but if you can, fixmbr / fixboot.

Not too much you can do without a win7 disc though.

Yep, I think the lack of Win 7 disc is going to be a problem!

I'm not sure you can get the command line up without it. I've searched for a solution but turned up blank.

Also tried booting in Safe Mode (it was F8 to do this) but it wouldn't even boot this way. Just loads the files & then the machine resets.

Dogboy73 · 4 Jul 2013 at 06:43

..... hold the phone, found the Windows 7 disc

Tried booting from it but it just tries to install Windows. I can't seem to get to the recovery console area. On the install screen there is an option to repair. I thought that was what I needed. But clicking on this I get an error telling me the version of the software is not compatible with the installed OS (or words to that effect). Erm

Dogboy73 · 4 Jul 2013 at 06:58

..... I tried to open a command prompt using the Windows 7 disc using this method;

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html

Doesn't seem to work though. Pressing shift+f10 from either screen does nothing.

BigBoy · 4 Jul 2013 at 08:12

boot from the CD select install windows then click the repair option in the bottom left of the screen.

As a side note I have been experiencing the same issue with a friends PC and have just ended up formatting it and starting again, turns out to be a duff download from Windows update has sent it all screwy!

blastman · 4 Jul 2013 at 08:31

Dogboy73 said:
..... hold the phone, found the Windows 7 disc

Tried booting from it but it just tries to install Windows. I can't seem to get to the recovery console area. On the install screen there is an option to repair. I thought that was what I needed. But clicking on this I get an error telling me the version of the software is not compatible with the installed OS (or words to that effect). Erm

That error (imho) is when you have windows 7 home installed on the PC but your using a win 7 Pro disc. Or, a x86 version has been installed and your trying to use a x64 disc. Either way, it's NOT the disc that installed the software.

do you know what version of windows it is actually running (or not as the case may be)??

I take it you've tried 'last known good configuration' from the boot menu? same place you select safe mode from...

failing that, and with no access to a command line, its a reinstall job.

Dogboy73 · 4 Jul 2013 at 11:20

BigBoy said:
boot from the CD select install windows then click the repair option in the bottom left of the screen.

As a side note I have been experiencing the same issue with a friends PC and have just ended up formatting it and starting again, turns out to be a duff download from Windows update has sent it all screwy!

Yep, tried that. The repair option doesn't work (I get the error saying OS / disc are not the same! It's looking like a fresh install

blastman said:
That error (imho) is when you have windows 7 home installed on the PC but your using a win 7 Pro disc. Or, a x86 version has been installed and your trying to use a x64 disc. Either way, it's NOT the disc that installed the software.

do you know what version of windows it is actually running (or not as the case may be)??

I take it you've tried 'last known good configuration' from the boot menu? same place you select safe mode from...

failing that, and with no access to a command line, its a reinstall job.

I accessed the command line in the end. Tried commands to fix boot and fixmbr. These completed but same problem on reboot.

The disc I have is the same OS that was is on the machine - Windows 7, home premium, 64-bit. But wether its the actual disc that was used to instal the OS I've no idea.

I'm taking the PC back to the guy who built it tomorrow so he can check it out. I'm thinking now it might be a faulty HD. From F8 everything I try fails - safe mode loads files then just reboots. Last known good configuration the same. It's not looking good.