Windows 7 has failed

[checkitout]

My main computer running Win 7 64 bit failed today .... what a a pain... it will not boot up ... it cycles through "start up failure"

I should have known ... I had some warnings with probs on startup a number of times over the last month or two.

System Restore failed ... corrupted files or virus issues I suspect

I am resigned to doing a full clean install but before I do so I wanted to ask if there is anything else I should do ???

[SystemRat]

[checkitout]

Thanks Buddy - I have already tried this a number of times and it has not helped

If only I had done an image .. it is always a pain you feel when it is too late

[SystemRat]

So when you attempt a repair where does it fail ? Might be worth booting on the Win7 install disk and select the command prompt.





From here you can re write the boot sector and boot files via fixboot plus do a chkdsk to try and fix hard disk corruptions.

Re writing the boot sector will most lightly stuff any activation crack software your running thou.

Failing that you can download a boot MiniPE CD which has lots of utilitys that may allow you to copy off file to a removable USB drive or second local drive.

[porkchops]

Are you positive its software/OS related - as hate for you to do a fresh install and find you still have the problem!

Suggestion to be sure, to be sure is a live install of any OS - of course I am going to say something like Ubuntu - but I am biased

[Mokilok]

Are you positive its software/OS related - as hate for you to do a fresh install and find you still have the problem!

Suggestion to be sure, to be sure is a live install of any OS - of course I am going to say something like Ubuntu - but I am biased

I would use the successor to WinPE. you can use it like a live cd and boot into an os. you can access your existing windows installations from it also, incase you need to make registry changes, virus scans or change your password or whatever you want really.

[checkitout]

Thanks Guys - I will check this out a little more before I bite the bullet and do a rebuild.

I must say I have gone into the recovery console with and without the Windows boot DVD.

From the command menu I have run the chkdsk command (results of which I
can not remember apart from it completing very quickly)
I may have a go at the boot command as well

I definitely know it is something to do with the OS and or boot system... honestly it is probably easier (as well as a fresh start) to do a clean install anyway.

I will keep you posted

[checkitout]

OK ...I have to give up and do a fresh install. Every thing I tried just would not work.

Hindsight is great ... if only I had done a backup image.

As I already have a spare HDD I have started an new install on that.

The bigger pain is going to be to put all my programs back on.

I think I will put a reminder in my calendar to do image backups say every 3 months.

BTW is there a setting in windows (other than system restore) that will schedule and perform a regular image backup ?

[joezep]

Start button, All programs, maintenance then select "Backup and restore. Many options to make a backup, image etc.

[Mokilok]

OK ...I have to give up and do a fresh install. Every thing I tried just would not work.

Hindsight is great ... if only I had done a backup image.

As I already have a spare HDD I have started an new install on that.

The bigger pain is going to be to put all my programs back on.

I think I will put a reminder in my calendar to do image backups say every 3 months.

BTW is there a setting in windows (other than system restore) that will schedule and perform a regular image backup ?

just letting you know it probably wont be that hard to get your programs back the way they were, as i mentioned above vistape can access your old registry, export the registry keys relating to the programs you want (regedit does have a search function) from your old C:\Program files(x86)\ directory, copy those folders you want from that directory to the new hard drive, run registry keys, make sure all prerequisites are there obviously, .net, dx 10, should run okay, ive had to do that a few times almost always works. saves re cracking everything :P also keep in mind that sometimes applications will save data in C:\documents and settings\usernamegoeshere\application data which i think is a hidden system directory by default. games will also place saved game files in the my documents folder.

[checkitout]

I did a rebuild last night using an old 80G HDD.

Noticed this HDD is a bit noisy ... cant win can I...
It is annoying (semms slow too) and it will probably die soon

It is probably better to just go out and buy a new 500G HDD (they are cheap enough) and set it up with that.

[jfg9836]

After reading your posts, I have a few suggestions.
1. Get an external USB HDD. 500GB or 1TB if you can afford it.
2. Do a backup once a week. 3 months is much too long to wait.
3. Use a good Backup program for the backup get one here, free: "hxxp://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp". Make sure you burn the Recovery CD for the product.
4. Use CHKDSK often, once a month maybe, more info here: "hxxp://www.w7forums.com/use-chkdsk-check-disk-t448.html"
If CHKDSK finds flaws in your HDD/file system try using "SFC" from a command window it will at least restore the OS files that were corrupted. More info here: "hxxp://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833"
5. Use a good Defrag program, I defrag daily and use this one, it's free too: "hxxp://www.mydefrag.com/"

I realize that this is after the fact... but

[Drift]

After reading your posts, I have a few suggestions.
1. Get an external USB HDD. 500GB or 1TB if you can afford it.
2. Do a backup once a week. 3 months is much too long to wait.
3. Use a good Backup program for the backup get one here, free: "hxxp://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp". Make sure you burn the Recovery CD for the product.
4. Use CHKDSK often, once a month maybe, more info here: "hxxp://www.w7forums.com/use-chkdsk-check-disk-t448.html"
If CHKDSK finds flaws in your HDD/file system try using "SFC" from a command window it will at least restore the OS files that were corrupted. More info here: "hxxp://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833"
5. Use a good Defrag program, I defrag daily and use this one, it's free too: "hxxp://www.mydefrag.com/"

I realize that this is after the fact... but

You defrag daily?

[jfg9836]

Well..... as often as possible. At 75 I'm a bit forgetful

[Mokilok]

A defrag once every couple months should be sufficient. Luckily it takes quiet a while for a drive to fragment that much that its significantly reducing performance but your absolutely right about the chkdsk being run reguarly.

[checkitout]

Picked up a new 500G HDD today - the difference is chalk and cheese.

I have doen a fresh install and now going through reinstalling proggies

Thanks to all