Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: johnkoumaris on July 03, 2011, 11:59:15 AM

Title: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: johnkoumaris on July 03, 2011, 11:59:15 AM
Hi,
My computer froze the other day. I happened periodically whenever I am on Yahoo! fantasy sports web page. I don't know what it is about that site but my computer for whatever reason does not like it.

So after freezing on that site, computer was unresponsive to anything I did. I shut it off, restarted, put in my password and then it froze while loading on the "welcome" screen for windows. I cannot get past this screen in normal mode anymore and I am working on my old desktop right now as I try to figure out what is wrong.

Last time I was having problems, not as bad as this mind you, I had to download a BIOS update from the manufacturer.

What other info do you need from me? Any thoughts as to how I can fix it?

I think my drivers are up to date, I checked the device manager and nothing says it needs to be updated.

Thanks

John
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: Allan on July 03, 2011, 12:07:20 PM
Can you boot to safe mode?
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: johnkoumaris on July 03, 2011, 12:09:38 PM
yes, i have it next to me in safe mode with networking, i am doing this stuff from my desktop
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: Allan on July 03, 2011, 12:11:52 PM
Let's start with checkdisk.

To run checkdisk, right-click on a command prompt icon and open as administrator. In the command prompt window type: chkdsk /r  (then press ENTER). You'll be told the disk is in use and asked if you want to run checkdisk on the next boot. Say yes, exit the command prompt window, and reboot.
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: johnkoumaris on July 03, 2011, 12:18:13 PM
its in the process now. what should i expect? and do i need to record any of these numbers for you?
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: Allan on July 03, 2011, 12:21:22 PM
You should expect 5 passes, each checking and, if necessary, repairing different areas after which it will try to reboot. Let's see what happens. It may take a while (especially the final pass). Let it finish.
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: johnkoumaris on July 03, 2011, 01:54:33 PM
finally finished and it still froze on the start up.

Whats the next step?

Thanks for your help
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: Allan on July 03, 2011, 02:17:47 PM
1) Look in device manager - any errors?

2) Let's try a clean boot. Open msconfig and on the General tab choose "selective startup" (uncheck all items) and reboot. Does the problem still occur? If not, start adding items back to msconfig one or two at a time, rebooting after each change, until the problem reappears and you'll have identified the offending process. This is clearly a time consuming procedure, but it is the best way to determine if some process loading with the system is the cause of your problem.

After you've isolated the cause, do not use msconfig to permanently disable the process. Instead, if it is a service go to START - RUN and type: services.msc (then press enter) and disable the service OR, if it a program, you can download & run a simple app such as Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml)) to enable, disable, or otherwise manage startup programs.

3) Please do not send any more PM's.
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: johnkoumaris on July 03, 2011, 05:56:04 PM
Hi,

Sorry about the pm. My bad, I thought that was a chat function as it said you were online.

I got it to boot in normal mode by going into msconfig, under the general tab, selecting selective start up (which was already selected?) and unchecking two items (load system services/load startup items). It would not let me uncheck load system services, however I did uncheck the load start up items feature. What does this mean?

ok, I looked under the services tab, and all the services with the exception of a few are in fact disabled. I have gone through them and isolated the service that was causing the problem. It was in fact a problem with my AVG antivirus.

Any suggestions for an alternative freeware antivirus program?

Cheers!
Title: Re: Cannot boot windows 7 in normal mode. Only able to use safe mode.
Post by: Allan on July 04, 2011, 04:49:45 AM
If you are going to stay with a free AV the two best are Avira and Avast