Computer Boots straight into "preload wizard"

[JacobCoy9]

Model: Asus K501
System: Win7 64bit
Problem: Upon pressing the power button, computer goes through the Asus screen, says "Windows is loading files..." with a grey bar that fills. Then it does the "starting windows" animation, and a grey background shows. There is a command prompt up for a short moment, and then the ASUS Preload Wizard appears.

Background: It seems to have happened overnight. If I can get to the desktop, I can run a virus check (i'm positive it's a virus), and it should fix the problem.

I've tried: Loading Asus driver disc (don't know why). I can into the BIOS edit screen with F1/F2(not sure which - I spam them both). I can get to another screen with F8. Safe Mode doesn't work. Reloading last working configuration doesn't work. I don't have a recovery disc.

I do believe that the preload wizard wipes files? It's an absolute must that these files be recovered... I really hope we can fix this...

[JacobCoy9]

Judging by step three in this article...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/468027-complete-walk-through-doing-clean-windows-7-install.html#recovery

...I'm under the impression that my computer believes that there's a system restore disc in there. Seeing as how my cd drive is empty (and open, for emphasis), I consider this highly unlikely.

[Allan]

Please follow the instructions in the following link and post your logs:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[JacobCoy9]

The thing is, I can't actually get far enough into my computer to run anything. Hence, no logs.

I am completely blocked out of everything except for this recovery console screen. There's no windows menu, or icons... just this grey screen.

[Allan]

Okay. Please wait for a malware specialist to respond.

[JacobCoy9]

Okay, will do.

[SuperDave]

Hello and welcome to Computer Hope Forum. My name is Dave. I will be helping you out with your particular problem on your computer.

1. I will be working on your Malware issues. This may or may not solve other issues you have with your machine.
2. The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine.
3. If you don't know or understand something, please don't hesitate to ask.
4. Please DO NOT run any other tools or scans while I am helping you.
5. It is important that you reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
6. Your security programs may give warnings for some of the tools I will ask you to use. Be assured, any links I give are safe.
7. Absence of symptoms does not mean that everything is clear.

If you can't access the internet with your infected computer you will have to download and transfer any programs to the computer you're using now and transfer them to the infected computer with a CD-RW or a USB storage device. I prefer a CD because a storage device can get infected. If you use a storage device hold the shift key down while inserting the USB storage device for about 10 secs. You will also have to transfer the logs you receive back to the good computer using the same method until we can get the computer back on-line.
*************************************************************************
Go to this link to create a Rescue CD or to this site to create a Rescue USB. Carefully follow all the instructions for whichever method you choose.

[JacobCoy9]

Hello Dave,

I do appreciate the help, and will let you know that you are on the right track. I talked with my cousin, and he set me up with a system repair disc. Honestly, I'm embarrassed that I hadn't tried it myself, but it did fix it. A simple start-up repair did the trick.

Do take care,
-Jacob

[SuperDave]

Your computer could be still infected but if you're happy that's all that matters.

[danwat1234]

I had the problem on an Asus U47a that was simply improperly shutdown (power cut by holding power button for 4 seconds while in Windows 7).
Turned it back on and no matter what, if I pressed F8 as the bootloader for Windows 7 started, I tried 'last known good config', 'safe mode with networking', 'repair computer', 'boot normally' and it all went back to the Asus recovery wizard or whatever it's called.

I couldn't boot into Windows to look at the registry to see why that wizard was starting up. I tried a couple of my Windows 7 64-bit bootable DVDs but none would open the Windows Startup Repair utility, said it was incompatible with the installed version of Windows for some reason.
So after some trial and error I found out about the Lazesoft Recovery Suite home edition bootable CD. I downloaded it, installed it, had it create a bootable WinPE CD for me and then after booting I tried 'fixmbr' but that didn't fix the problem.
Next I clicked on the 'registry recovery' option, it took only a second or two and then it was done. Restarted and now the laptop works fine, boots into Windows fine and also Safe Mode fine if I tell it to. However, if I choose the 'repair computer' option after pressing F8, it will still go to the Asus recovery wizard, instead of the Windows Startup Repair program.

I'm not sure where it got the previous version of the Registry from, maybe from a System Restore point.

Note this is not a plug for that software, it was simply the solution for me and that software is freeware.