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Author Topic: Vista only boots to Start up Repair  (Read 9644 times)

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chucwar

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    Vista only boots to Start up Repair
    « on: November 12, 2009, 12:42:48 PM »
    Vista only boots to Start up Repair. I have a Gateway laptop GL6230 and the restore disc that came with it. I am trying to help a friend that is just a user, no tech expertise at all. I have used the restore disc to format the drive and restore image 3 times to no avail. It still starts its boot sequence with the "Loading Windows Files" screen then moves to black screen with "Microsoft" and the animated scrolling progress bar, then it goes to the Gateway splash screen and "Please wait". Then it hags for a while and then the Start up Repair screen comes on STILL looking for a problem that it ends up saying can't be fixed automatically. Upon using F8 it will no access ANY of the choices given. It simply cycles back to that darn Start up Repair screen! I have searched the posts for the last three days. I do remember coming across one that mentioned that this is a common problem with Vista and 7. But I had already tried the suggestions were given. Help anyone?
    C ;-)

    Broni


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    Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
    « Reply #1 on: November 12, 2009, 04:04:49 PM »
    Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
    Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
    Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
    If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

    NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

    ==============================================================================

    A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

    NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

    B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
    ...run memtest...

    1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
    2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
    3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
    4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
    5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
    6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
    7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



    8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
    9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



    10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

    The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




    It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

    This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



    The following image is the test results area:



    The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.


    chucwar

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      Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
      « Reply #2 on: November 12, 2009, 06:55:04 PM »
      thanks for the input Broni. I'll get right on it and get back with you. C ;-)

      Broni


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      Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
      « Reply #3 on: November 12, 2009, 08:25:42 PM »
      :)

      chucwar

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        Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
        « Reply #4 on: November 12, 2009, 08:30:34 PM »
        Hey Broni! The hard drive passed. Doing the mem test now. Here are the results of the HDD test.

        [Saving space, attachment deleted by admin]

        Broni


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        Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
        « Reply #5 on: November 12, 2009, 09:18:55 PM »
        Very good :)

        chucwar

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          Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
          « Reply #6 on: November 12, 2009, 09:25:05 PM »
          Mem tst after 6 passes 0 errors.
          C ;-)

          Broni


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          Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
          « Reply #7 on: November 12, 2009, 09:27:08 PM »
          Do you have Vista DVD?


          If you have Vista DVD...

          http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

          If you don't have Vista DVD...

          1. Create Vista Recovery Disc.

          Option 1:
          http://www.c4consulting.com.au/soluctions/vista/VISTA%20SOLUCTIONS.htm

          Option 2:
          Download Vista Recovery Disc iso image: http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/
          Burn it to CD, or DVD: http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/G/Burning+ISO+Images+to+a+CD+or+DVD

          2. Boot from created disk.
          At first screen click on Repair your computer:

          This will bring you to a new screen where the repair process will look for all Windows Vista installations on your computer. When done you will be presented with the System Recovery Options dialog box:

          After this, it will present you with a list of options including startup repair, system restore and command prompt:

          Try System Restore, first.
          If that doesn't work, try Startup Repair.

          chucwar

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            Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
            « Reply #8 on: November 12, 2009, 09:29:11 PM »
            Please re-read my first post in this thread. I called it a restore disc but it is actually a OEM recovery disc.
            C ;-)

            Broni


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            Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
            « Reply #9 on: November 12, 2009, 09:32:40 PM »
            Sorry for that :)
            Did you try to test RAM manually, by starting the laptop with one RAM stick at a time?

            chucwar

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              Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
              « Reply #10 on: November 12, 2009, 09:33:46 PM »
              Only has one stick 512MB

              Broni


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              Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
              « Reply #11 on: November 12, 2009, 10:06:14 PM »
              Did you try to reseat RAM?
              It still looks to me like some hardware problem.
              I can also see, you ran only short test on hard drive.
              Try extended test.

              chucwar

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                Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
                « Reply #12 on: November 13, 2009, 06:23:07 AM »
                I'll get on it and get back with you. Thanks Broni. C :-)

                chucwar

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                  Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
                  « Reply #13 on: November 13, 2009, 08:11:47 AM »
                  Removed mem stick cleaned and blew out stick and slot and replaced. Start up+ No change. Did Long Test on HDD tested OK. ??? Got any more ideas? :-(

                  chucwar

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                    Re: Vista only boots to Start up Repair
                    « Reply #14 on: November 13, 2009, 08:12:42 AM »
                    Removed mem stick cleaned and blew out stick and slot and replaced. Start up+ No change. Did Long Test on HDD tested OK. ??? Got any more ideas? :-(