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Laptop gets stuck at Starting Windows sign (Win7)
Boggin:
At one time you could download a Win 7 SP1 ISO and create a bootable install disk/USB from Digital River, but MS has had those pulled.
As far as I know, the only way you can now download the ISO is from MS but you need a valid retail product key - the COA sticker key on an OEM machine is not valid.
As an alternative to the system repair disk which as far as I know can only be created on a Win 7 machine, is an Emergency Repair Disk ISO that can be downloaded, but you need to be a member of a particular club to download the package that contains it.
http://calmit.org/download-erd-commander-vista-windows-7/
However, a Paragon Rescue Disk may do it for you which can repair the boot sector. - https://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-free/
From the menu, use the Safe Mode Boot option as I've found that I can only get the repair menu on one of my Win 7 laptops while in that mode, whereas it works fine when I leave it to boot in the default normal mode on the other machine.
Before opting for using an USB, ensure your machine can boot from an USB first as some older Win 7 machines only have the option to boot from CD/DVD before the HDD.
You can check that by tapping F12 as you switch on to see if USB is an option.
If you hadn't been traveling, I could have sent you a couple of Win 7 SP1 bootable disks which you could have booted up with to access the WRE.
Jadax:
--- Quote from: Boggin on March 03, 2016, 01:52:15 am ---However, a Paragon Rescue Disk may do it for you which can repair the boot sector. - https://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-free/
From the menu, use the Safe Mode Boot option as I've found that I can only get the repair menu on one of my Win 7 laptops while in that mode, whereas it works fine when I leave it to boot in the default normal mode on the other machine.
--- End quote ---
Did this, loaded fine into the Paragon Rescue kit on the laptop, carried out the boot correction function. Checked around, can see my old hdd (Recovery C:, DATAPART1 D:, OS E:, CD Drive F: and the usb I plugged in PARAGON G:) - this means the hdd is still working correct?
Then shutdown, took out the usb and rebooted.
Still takes me to Windows Error Recovery (clicking on Startup Repair option loads some files and then takes me back to WER screen). So I clicked Normal Start, and once again it hangs on the Starting Windows logo (by hang I don't mean it gets stuck stuck, I mean the logo still moves/vibrates but it doesn't get past this phase).
Boggin:
There would appear to still be something wrong on the HDD.
Did you run the first 4 options in the Boot Corrector section ?
Boggin:
If running those stills fail to resolve, there is another utility you can download and that is Hiren's Boot Disk.
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/
http://www.techfleece.com/2013/07/10/how-to-boot-to-hirens-boot-cd-from-usb/
This has a lot more tools on it and as well as repairing the MBR, it also has Test Disk which should be able to give you more info on your HDD but I have no experience of using this boot disk.
Jadax:
--- Quote from: Boggin on March 03, 2016, 03:27:24 am ---Did you run the first 4 options in the Boot Corrector section ?
--- End quote ---
Actually only Windows install to correct, Correct MBR and Correct boot parameters. I'm not sure how to run the fix sectors part.
Btw I just ran the System Assessment tests (seems like I was being too optimistic), and I got fails for the following:
- PRIMARY_BATTERY_BAY (3600:0852)
- DISK - HDD error (0F00:133E)
- DISK - HDD error (0F00:063E)
- DISK - HDD error (0F00:123E)
- DISK - No suitable disk media present (0F00:133C)
--- Quote from: Boggin on March 03, 2016, 03:47:07 am ---If running those stills fail to resolve, there is another utility you can download and that is Hiren's Boot Disk.
--- End quote ---
If you think I should still give this a try after the diagnostic test results above, then I will.
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