Author Topic: Windows failed to start.  (Read 2059 times)

Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« 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!

Offline guestolo

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 10:03:43 PM »

Do you want to post your own logs from FRST?

Follow the instructions posted http://www.thetechguide.com/forum/index.php/topic/22942-please-read-how-to-post-logs-from-frst/\'>Click Here


Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #2 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.

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #3 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

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Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2009, 06:29:53 PM »
Its a Dell Inspirion 1720 Laptop

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #5 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

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Follow the instructions posted http://www.thetechguide.com/forum/index.php/topic/22942-please-read-how-to-post-logs-from-frst/\'>Click Here


Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #6 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.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2009, 02:23:48 PM by Power-I »

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #7 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?

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Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2009, 04:19:46 PM »
Yeah there are a few things I need to save on the disk.

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2009, 09:39:33 PM »
So what have you tried?
Anything? Have you tried Knoppix?

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Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #10 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.

Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #11 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.

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #12 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?

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Follow the instructions posted http://www.thetechguide.com/forum/index.php/topic/22942-please-read-how-to-post-logs-from-frst/\'>Click Here


Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #13 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?

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #14 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"

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Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #15 on: October 17, 2009, 05:28:04 PM »
ok, thanks. I'm trying to locate things now.

Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #16 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?

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #17 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"

Do you want to post your own logs from FRST?

Follow the instructions posted http://www.thetechguide.com/forum/index.php/topic/22942-please-read-how-to-post-logs-from-frst/\'>Click Here


Offline Power-I

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #18 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
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = 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

Offline guestolo

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Windows failed to start.
« Reply #19 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

Do you want to post your own logs from FRST?

Follow the instructions posted http://www.thetechguide.com/forum/index.php/topic/22942-please-read-how-to-post-logs-from-frst/\'>Click Here