Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit-running start up repair won't work. Can it run off of installation dvd?

SoloWingPixy · Aug 28, 2016

I'm getting a message saying: "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might have caused the issue after you install Windows Updates."

-Starting Windows normally either causes it to restart and show me the above message again or just stop at Starting windows.

-Startup recovery just gets me a black screen after it finishes loading Windows Files.

-I can't start my computer in safe mode at all, as I'm not even given the option and F8 doesn't do anything.

-Putting my Windows 7 64-bit installation DVD only asks me to install Windows 7 on my computer!

Please help. Is all my data on my hard drive as good as gone??

RealBeast · Aug 28, 2016

Before proceeding with a Windows repair, back up the data using a Linux Live Mint USB stick -- do not install Linux to your computer just boot from a Live Linux boot stick, then you can mount the drive with the data and back it up to an external drive.

To make a Linux Live boot USB stick just use another computer and download Unetbootin for Windows from HERE and then run it and select Mint Live. It will download the needed image and create the boot stick that you can then use to get access to your files.

Then after backing up your files do a repair installation like THIS. If all goes well you will still have all programs and data and will only have to do the Windows updates again.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 28, 2016

RealBeast :

While I went ahead and got Unetbootin (the usb isn't ready yet), this guide requires me to be able to get into the desktop, and my computer doesn't boot up to that point. It doesn't go any farther than "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might have caused the issue after you install Windows Updates."

Unless I'm misunderstanding you?

RealBeast · Aug 28, 2016

No, my bad -- I misread and thought that you could start in safe mode. So skip that plan.

The next step is to scan and repair your OS system files. Boot from your installer disk, then when you get the installation window click next. On the next window, don't select Install Now, rather select repair your computer in the lower left. Of the choices, select the last one -- command prompt.

In the command prompt window type:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=n:\ /offwindir=n:\windows

replacing the drive letter of your DVD that has the install disk for n

Then just hit enter and let it run. I would run it a few times until you get no errors, then try booting from the HDD without the DVD.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 28, 2016

RealBeast :

Alright, I booted from the installation DVD, hit next on the installation window, but when I hit repair your computer, I wasn't given any choices at all.

The window just vanished until a window saying "System Recovery Options" popped up and now its searching for Windows installations even though I didn't hit enter or anything. Is that normal??

EDIT: The window has a list where under operating system, it says "Windows 7", 0 MB under "Partition Size", and
(D: ) Local Disk under "Location". The search stopped and seems to be waiting for an action from me. Do I hit Next > or restart my computer?

RealBeast · Aug 28, 2016

It seems that your install disk is not finding your Windows installation -- I expect that the Windows D: that you see is your install disk.

I would use the Linux Live USB stick to boot and troubleshoot access to the primary drive. If you can mount the drive in Linux and copy your data you may need to do a clean installation, although if you can access the drive you still may be able to repair it.

Can you access the drive using the Linux Live stick?

SoloWingPixy · Aug 28, 2016

RealBeast :

Hang on, now I'm able to bring up the command prompt but I'm not sure what the drive letter is. I ran the function you gave me with "c" ,"d", and "e" a couple of times instead of n but I'm not sure whether or not any errors were detected...

Would my BIOS settings tell me exactly what the drive letter my dvd drive is under?

SoloWingPixy · Aug 28, 2016

RealBeast :

I don't think I was making any progress with the command prompt or startup recovery, so I gave the Linux Stick a try.

It looks like I can access the drive, as I opened an image file and was able to play a video (no sound, though). I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but how exactly do I make a backup of all my data? I've never done this before and am considerably nervous about doing it without messing it all up >< . I'm assuming what's left to do is just drag and drop/ copy and paste the essentials to the external hard drive? What do I do about the "file system does not support symbolic links" messages?

Thanks in advance.

RealBeast · Aug 29, 2016

Yes, with both the old OS drive and the external drive mounted in Linux (basically in Mint by just clicking on them and getting a little symbol next to them to unmount when ready) just drag and drop files.

You must drag and drop the actual file though, not shortcuts. A symbolic link is a shortcut in Windows, which does not contain data but simply points to an actual data file.

Then unmount the external drive when done and move the data to another computer, or at least check that it is all there before doing a clean installation of Windows on the old drive. And remember to *always* unmount in Linus or safely eject in Windows when using an external drive so it does not get corrupted by detaching when a write is in progress.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 29, 2016

RealBeast :

Okay, I dragged and dropped my user and public folder from documents and settings, steamapps, GOG games, Program Data and various Program Files (for all my game saves not under Steam or GOG) onto my brother's external hard drive. I still got a few "file system does not support symbolic links" messages, but the size of what I pasted matches what I copied, so hopefully I got it all down.

Just out of curiosity, after copying what I hope was all the necessary data from my hard drive onto the external and then onto a laptop, I tried to boot my computer one more time after turning off the auto-restart in case of system crash and got a blue screen that said, "UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME." The re-install will take of care of that, or does this mean something else will go awry down the road?

RealBeast · Aug 30, 2016

No, it means that you dragged some files off that are needed to mount Windows, which is no problem since you will do a clean install.

For the installation, boot from your installer, install now, select custom install and as a first step delete all partitions. The select for Windows to install to the single remaining unpartitioned space. Then install your drivers and Win updates. After you activate, copy all your files back where you want them. And best to do routine backup, as someday your drive will mechanically fail and this type of recover won't work.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 30, 2016

RealBeast :

Again, I much appreciate you being patient enough to walk me through all of this.

It's been stuck on "Setup is Starting" for a good long while now. I know it didn't do this when I first built my pc, and normally I'd just push restart, but will doing so mess anything up?

RealBeast · Aug 31, 2016

It could be several things. First I would check the integrity of the drive and format it in NTFS using the Linux Live stick. Also, check that your Windows installer disk is fully functional -- they occasionally have issues. Scratches for disks and file corruption for USB sticks.

edit: and you can push anything or just turn it off, as the install usually won't work if it is stuck.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 31, 2016

RealBeast :

When you say integrity check, do you mean the option from the list from the unetbootin menu? That asks you to boot linux mint, compatibility mode, etc? Does it work like a command line, cause I'm lost when it comes to those.

Formatting the hard drive I'm more clear on, the only thing I'm stuck on is the two options I get when I open "Disks" and select "Format":

Erase: 1. Don't overwrite existing data (Quick)
2. Overwrite existing data with zeroes (Slow)

Partitioning: 1. Compatible with all systems and devices (MBR/DOS)
2. Compatible with modern systems and hard disks > 2TB (GPT)
3. No partitioning (Empty)

I pick #2 for both Erase and Partitioning, right? I don't see any options for formatting it in NTFS though...

RealBeast · Aug 31, 2016

I usually use SeaTools for DOS to test drive integrity, although the other drive makers also have bootable test tools. My concern is that there is an issue with the drive, and would like to rule that out.

You can erase and then not partition, as Windows 7 needs an NTFS partition to install but will install to an unpartitioned space.

Sometimes when the install gets stuck, I've found that using a USB installer stick made using Rufus can work.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 31, 2016

RealBeast :

I burned SeaTools for DOS onto a CD and booted it, and the program is telling me "No Hard Drives Found". I unplugged both the Sata and power cables, plugged them back in and was told again "No Hard Drives Found".

EDIT: Wait, I got it working. I changed the Sata controller settings in my BIOS from ACHI to IDE and now it detects it. I have it running the long test now.

SoloWingPixy · Aug 31, 2016

RealBeast :

Okay, the test finished and after giving me a SeaTools test code, the message is telling me my "Seagate Hard Drive failed an important diagnostic test, possibly caused by problem sectors which are difficult to read," recommends I make a backup and to consider repairing the problem sectors as well as looking up the help topic 'Bad Sector Found'.

EDIT: I selected repair for all errors and now its telling me Short DST and Long Test PASSED in the Test Information and Results. I can run the SeaTools Test again if I can reinstall Windows 7 can't I?

RealBeast · Sep 1, 2016

If you have repaired or mapped out the sectors, you can install Windows 7 now.

But I would consider replacing the drive if it is old since.

If you do use it, be sure to back up all data regularly and run SeaTools for Windows regularly to see if the bad sector count or reallocated sector count is increasing, as that is a sure sign of impending failure. Once a drive mechanically fails, Linux will not access it to obtain your files.

SoloWingPixy · Sep 1, 2016

RealBeast :

Now, whenever I try to format the hard drive, it keeps unmounting while saying, "Error formatting disk "Error synchronizing after initial wipe: Timed out waiting for object (udisks-error-quark, 0)" .

Also, the formatting program on Linux Mint Live gives me an overall assessment of, "Disk is OK, 49 bad sectors."

EDIT: Wait, I see SeaTools lets me format disks, so I'll try that.

RealBeast · Sep 1, 2016

If you have 49 bad sectors, the drive is dying. Even if you can get it to work, I would have no trust in any data remaining available. If you were my neighbor, I would just give you a 1TB WD Black from my pile of spares to end the pain.

SoloWingPixy · Sep 1, 2016

RealBeast :

Yeah...I was afraid of that. Well I've already backed up the files I was able to get off of the drive onto both my brother's external hard drive and onto the laptop I'm using to keep updating this thread.

Even though the drive is dying, I would have never known about SeaTools let alone all the other info you took the time to give me so thanks for that.

Before I go, I take it that 1 TB WD Black are your recommended choice of hard drives? I'm always told I should get an SSD for my OS and a HD for my storage, but money is bit tight right now for that.

RealBeast · Sep 1, 2016

A WD Black 1TB is a *great* low cost option, my favorite small drive (I use the 8TB HGST helium drives in storage arrays but those are more $$ than a TB SSD).

Sure, when the cash is flowing an SSD is nice, but certainly not essential.

The good news is that you got your data off the drive, that often doesn't happen.

SoloWingPixy · Sep 1, 2016

RealBeast :

Thanks for walking me through all of this. I'll grab that WD Black then.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit-running start up repair won't work. Can it run off of installation dvd?

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