Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: chucwar on November 12, 2009, 12:42:48 PM
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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 ;-)
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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.
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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) (http://www.memtest.org/download/2.11/memtest86+-2.11.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:
(http://209.85.48.8/228/109/upload/p4393897.gif)
8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:
(http://209.85.48.8/228/109/upload/p4393911.gif)
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:
(http://icrontic.com/draco/images/articles/diagnose_with_memtest86/main_menu.jpg)
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.
(http://icrontic.com/draco/images/articles/diagnose_with_memtest86/testarea_cu.jpg)
The following image is the test results area:
(http://209.85.48.8/228/109/upload/p4393925.gif)
The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.
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thanks for the input Broni. I'll get right on it and get back with you. C ;-)
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:)
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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]
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Very good :)
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Mem tst after 6 passes 0 errors.
C ;-)
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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:
(http://img.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/vista-repair-options/setup-option.jpg)
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:
(http://img.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/vista-repair-options/system-recovery-options.jpg)
After this, it will present you with a list of options including startup repair, system restore and command prompt:
(http://www.istartedsomething.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/systemrecovery.jpg)
Try System Restore, first.
If that doesn't work, try Startup Repair.
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Please re-read my first post in this thread. I called it a restore disc but it is actually a OEM recovery disc.
C ;-)
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Sorry for that :)
Did you try to test RAM manually, by starting the laptop with one RAM stick at a time?
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Only has one stick 512MB
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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.
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I'll get on it and get back with you. Thanks Broni. C :-)
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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? :-(
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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? :-(
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It's interesting. You didn't have any problems running Vista restoration, using recovery DVDs, correct?
What was the original reason for running recovery process?
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From what I have been told it simply, and suddenly, started doing this thing with going through the above mentioned cycle of booting through the screens and ending on the Start up Repair. I've got the various "Signature" numbers generated by the Start up Repair as follows;
Sig. 3 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
and I've been combing MS website following different threads that have had the same problem (And they are VERY numerous! ;-)) As I mentioned above "this seems to be a common problem." Now if I can just find the person that has figured it out! LOL I have a tendency to lean toward thinking that it is a software problem. Possibly a corrupted, or missing file in the startup sequence. Corrupted boot sector file or? I also think the the "Format" done by the "Restore" disc is probably a very low level format. Therefore the 0 sector is not being wiped and rewritten. That is the one thing I haven't done yet. Trying to avoid it for obvious reasons. (i.e. the rigorous and mind bending installation of the above mentioned files after the Format and Fdisk commands. Getting my hands on a "Valid" command.com Autoexec.bat and Config.sys for Vista!) I'm way passed the point of worrying about saving any user made files. They were long gone after the first format from the restore disc. Just want to get the system installed to the point that I can go and start installing the SPs 1&2. Which I hear are giving their OWN share of problems after install. Anyway.....those are just my thoughts base on my own inexperience. ;-) That is why I'm on this site talking people like you. In hopes that someone (with more experience than me) could help shed some light on this issue. Thanks Broni Chuck <><
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I also think the the "Format" done by the "Restore" disc is probably a very low level format.
Low level format's haven't been used in a very long time, they have a tendency to destroy Hard Disks now.
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Hi Quantos,
You're right. Then again, it seems MS has been systematically destroying things all along! LOL My point is, that I don't think the zero sector is being rewritten by the OEM Restore disc. Got any ideas? C ;-)
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Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_formatting) is a good article on LLF for you.
Have you attempted to repartition the disk?
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I was afraid you were going to say that. If you read the post 3-4 before this one (the long one) you will see that I was trying to avoid a full wipe, partition, and tracking down the Vista standard boot files (unless you have them.) But I don't think there are any utilities to check for corrupted boot files. I tried to run MS SFC.exe from the DOS prompt but it didn't work. I've got a copy of Ultimate Boot CD but most of the stuff on that is antique! So if I totally wipe the HDD I'm not sure I have everything I need to get it going again to attempt using the OEM Restore DVD. How about a little guidance?
C <><