TheTechGuide Forum

General Category => Tech Clinic => Topic started by: Power-I on September 24, 2009, 06:05:16 PM

Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on September 24, 2009, 06:05:16 PM: Dell Inspirion 1720
Windows Vista
Computer is just over a year old.

I don't recall doing anything different than I normally do, but when I restarted my computer the other day, It failed to complete the start up. Giving me a black screen with the message....

"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause."

...and the options to use startup repair and start windows normally. Both are ineffective.

Everything I've done as an attempt to fix this has not worked. Windows startup repair does absolutley nothing, and I've booted my computer through my Vista disc and attempted to repair through there with no luck.

I need help, thank you!
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on September 24, 2009, 10:03:43 PM: Did you do these exact steps?
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/r...-windows-vista/ (http://\"http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/repair-windows-vista/\")
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on September 25, 2009, 05:01:09 PM: yes, but my computer never gave me the "repair and restart" option. When I select "repair your computer" it sends me into the startup repair window and it says it can't fix it.
I don't know if its relevant, but the error screen doesn't look exactly like the one in that tutorial.
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on September 25, 2009, 06:18:02 PM: Can you supply the Exact make/model of computer
Also let me know if it's a desktop or laptop
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on September 27, 2009, 06:29:53 PM: Its a Dell Inspirion 1720 Laptop
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on September 27, 2009, 08:04:40 PM: Do you have the option to do a System Restore from booting from DVD
Here's instructions:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html (http://\"http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html\")
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on September 28, 2009, 02:22:43 PM: I have the option to do a system restore, but when i get into it,
It says that no restore points have been created on my computer's system disk.
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on September 28, 2009, 08:34:18 PM: Is there anything you have to save on the disk?
If so, can you boot up with a Linux distro, just as Knoppix or Ubuntu , Live CD
and save anything to external harddrive, or thumbdrive
and then clean install the system?
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 01, 2009, 04:19:46 PM: Yeah there are a few things I need to save on the disk.
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 01, 2009, 09:39:33 PM: So what have you tried?
Anything? Have you tried Knoppix?
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 17, 2009, 01:49:21 AM: I tried Ubuntu, but i had trouble with the live cd. Im going to try knoppix sometime today.
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 17, 2009, 04:56:09 PM: I was successful with Ubuntu, but I need a little guidance through the partitioning of the disk space. The ubuntu site says that I'll loose all of my information on the hard disk if I use the entire disk. So I've selected to do it manually and I'm at the "prepare partitions" screen and i'm not exactly sure what to do.

it has 4 different devices listed
/dev/sda1 - 98 MB
/dev/sda2 - 10737 MB
/dev/sda3 - 306550 MB
/dev/sda5 - 2683 MB
and there are check boxes asking about formatting them.
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 17, 2009, 05:07:24 PM: I didn't know you wanted to install Ubuntu?
I thought you were just going to run the Live CD to try and save files/folders so you can clean install Vista
If that is your intention, stop whatever process your doing right now

Are your intentions to Install Ubuntu and lose Vista?
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 17, 2009, 05:14:47 PM: No haha, i thought that was what I needed to do.
I quit the installation, so I just run the live CD?
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 17, 2009, 05:17:17 PM: Yes, just run the Live CD, use the selection something like
"Try Ubuntu without any change to your Computer"
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 17, 2009, 05:28:04 PM: ok, thanks. I'm trying to locate things now.
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 18, 2009, 04:17:27 PM: I reinstalled vista and all the utilities and drivers and it seems to be working fine. Thank you for all the help. Should I post a hijackthis log or anything?
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 18, 2009, 04:45:08 PM: Seeing that you just did a clean install, I'll assume everything is good
But if you would like to post a Hijackthis log, please do so
Run it with Admin privileges
Right click on Hijackthis and choose to "Run as Administrator"
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 18, 2009, 04:47:43 PM: Ok, here it is

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 5:46:51 PM, on 10/18/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Windows\System32\WLTRAY.EXE
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
C:\Windows\OEM02Mon.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAAnotif.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896\")
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.com/ (http://\"http://google.com/\")
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157\")
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896\")
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896\")
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157\")
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\Windows\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OEM02Mon.exe] C:\Windows\OEM02Mon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IAAnotif] C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaanotif.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O23 - Service: Andrea ST Filters Service (AESTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\aestsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® Matrix Storage Event Monitor (IAANTMON) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAANTMon.exe
O23 - Service: Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Net (rpcnet) - Absolute Software Corp. - C:\Windows\system32\rpcnet.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - IDT, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\STacSV.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: XAudioService - Conexant Systems, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\xaudio.exe

--
End of file - 3262 bytes
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 18, 2009, 04:52:06 PM: Looks good, which AntiVirus software are you planning on installing?
Can I also see the following
supply an uninstall list from Hijackthis
Open Hijackthis>>Open MISC TOOLS SECTION>>Open UNINSTALL MANAGER
Click the SAVE LIST... button
Save the list to your desktop then copy>>Paste back here the Whole contents
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 18, 2009, 05:49:32 PM: I'm not sure, I've had Norton and Mcafee and I dislike both. Do you have any recommendations?

and heres the uninstall list

Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
Cisco EAP-FAST Module
Cisco LEAP Module
Cisco PEAP Module
Conexant HDA D330 MDC V.92 Modem
Dell Resource CD
Dell Wireless WLAN Card
HijackThis 2.0.2
Hotfix for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB953595)
Hotfix for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB958484)
Intel Matrix Storage Manager
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver
Laptop Integrated Webcam Driver (1.04.01.1011)
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
Mozilla Firefox (3.5.3)
SigmaTel Audio
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 18, 2009, 06:52:22 PM: I'm using on one of my systems Avast 5 beta, which I'm starting to really like
But because it's beta, I don't suggest that you use it as of yet, the final version may not come out till mid November or later

I also was testing Microsoft Securtiy Essential
It proved to be good at removing some malware I had purposely installed
Do you want to give it a try?
You can check out it's options after installation
I don't have it installed now, but I liked it, and would like some more feedback
I'm not positive of your exact computer specs.
But this is the minimum requirements

Quote
Operating System: Genuine Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3); Windows Vista (Gold, Service Pack 1, or Service Pack 2); Windows 7

* For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 500 MHz or higher, and 256 MB RAM or higher.
* For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 1.0 GHz or higher, and 1 GB RAM or higher.
* VGA display of 800 Ã— 600 or higher.
* 140 MB of available hard disk space.
* An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials.
* Internet Browser:
o Windows Internet Explorer 6.0 or later.
o Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later.
* Microsoft Security Essentials also supports Windows XP Mode in Windows 7. For more information see the system requirements for Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

Here is a download link if you would like to try it
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ (http://\"http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/\")

Take note: This AV has the following protection
Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
So during installation, the installer should disable Windows Defender realtime protection so there won't be a conflict
Let me know if you are going to give it a try
If so, I would like to see a fresh Hijackthis log afterwards, just to ensure what is and isn't running
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 18, 2009, 07:39:46 PM: I downloaded the windows essentials program, and heres the hijack this log

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 8:38:52 PM, on 10/18/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18319)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\System32\WLTRAY.EXE
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
C:\Windows\OEM02Mon.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAAnotif.exe
C:\Windows\System32\igfxtray.exe
C:\Windows\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\Windows\System32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Webcam Manager\DellWMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy\Volume Panel\VolPanlu.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\msseces.exe
C:\Windows\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource5\Go\CTCMSGoU.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896\")
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.com/ (http://\"http://google.com/\")
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157\")
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896\")
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896\")
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 (http://\"http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157\")
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\Windows\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OEM02Mon.exe] C:\Windows\OEM02Mon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IAAnotif] C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaanotif.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\Windows\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\Windows\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\Windows\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DELL Webcam Manager] "C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Webcam Manager\DellWMgr.exe" /s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VolPanel] "C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy\Volume Panel\VolPanlu.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\Windows\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSSE] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\msseces.exe" -hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Creative MediaSource Go] "C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource5\Go\CTCMSGoU.exe" /SCB
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O23 - Service: Andrea ST Filters Service (AESTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\aestsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Labs Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CreativeLicensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\Windows\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® Matrix Storage Event Monitor (IAANTMON) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\IAANTMon.exe
O23 - Service: Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Net (rpcnet) - Absolute Software Corp. - C:\Windows\system32\rpcnet.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - IDT, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\STacSV.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: XAudioService - Conexant Systems, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\xaudio.exe

--
End of file - 4926 bytes
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: guestolo on October 18, 2009, 08:06:32 PM: Thanks for the new log
Try using MSE for a few days and let me know what you think about it please

From memory, because I don't have it installed anymore
Updating, I believe it will update with Microsoft Automatic Updates
but you can manually update
If you check out it's options, I believe it is set to Quick Scan daily and check for updates before scanning
I changed that option, but you do what you prefer
Quick Scan, I think took about 20 minutes, not sure
A full scan, I recommend at least once month took about 1 and half hours

One note: If you are installing any big programs and don't want no interference from MSE's realtime protections during install
Eg.. Updating Video Drivers, Service Pack 2 for Windows, etc...
Right click it's icon by the clock and select OPEN
Under Settings I think you will find Realtime protection, Uncheck the Realtime protection and click SAVE
NOTE: It's always a good idea to Right click on a file and scan with MSE before running the file if your going to disable protection before installation, does that make sense /blink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':blink:\' />
Title: Windows failed to start.
Post by: Power-I on October 18, 2009, 08:12:26 PM: Thanks for the tip, I'll let you know how it goes and get back to you.
Thank you for all the help, its greatly appreciated.