Windows 7 not starting up- Tried everything

[Majestic]

I have a machine with Windows 7 that will start to load windows for about 2 seconds then just reboots the machine. I've performed several chkdsks on the machine and it had corrected errors but no go. I've tried: Last known configuration, System Restore (it crashes on system restore), I've copied the system config and regback files - no go! I've also cloned this hard drive successfully. I've performed memory and hard drive tests and they both passed. All that said I'm working from the cloned drive just in case. Startup Repair crashes after a while. I can't get into safe mode as it behaves the exact same way (2 seconds of booting then reboot.)

I've also tried sfc /scannow from the system recovery console and it tells me that it can't perform it until I reboot because a repair is pending.

I've also changed the boot up from IDE to AHCI just in case somebody had played with it, but again-- no joy.

This is a DELL Xps machine a 1 TB HD (the new one). Not sure where to go now it's driving me crazy!

I've thought that perhaps I can look in the logs to see where it's crashing; Maybe an update did it? Can't get into safe mode though to uninstall it I'd have to do it manually I guess. I don't actually know where to check in this particular case.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Majestic

 

[Bizybone]

Disable reboot on system failure and maybe you can catch a blue screen?

Do you have a MsDart disk you can boot to? From there you can check logs, uninstall hotfix's, etc.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Sounds like it is BSOD on boot. Turn it off and read the BSOD. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/disable-auto-restart-windows-7.htm

 

[Majestic]

Sounds like it is BSOD on boot. Turn it off and read the BSOD. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/disable-auto-restart-windows-7.htm

Interesting you said that-- it was the only thing I hadn't done. So I did disable the automatic restart on error and I got a BSOD as you suspected-- of 0X0000007B which I know from experience is a hard drive issue. That said-- This is a new hard drive (and it HAS been chkdsked btw). I put back the old hard drive just to see and yes they get the same error.

I then went into the bios and tried again with IDE mode then with AHCI mode. Same result. Any other suggestions? Very very strange.

Oh yes I also performed a Bcdrec /fixmbr and /rebuildbcd

Majestic

 

[Majestic]

Disable reboot on system failure and maybe you can catch a blue screen?

Do you have a MsDart disk you can boot to? From there you can check logs, uninstall hotfix's, etc.

Hmm that's an idea. I don't but I'll grab one and put it on my usb to see. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[wavey]

Have you booted up to a live disk to see if the system is stable?

 

[Majestic]

Have you booted up to a live disk to see if the system is stable?

Yes I've been using Hiren's boot cd (on usb). Memory tests and hard drive tests have passed and I can view the hard drive no problem.

 

[NYJimbo]

Interesting you said that-- it was the only thing I hadn't done. So I did disable the automatic restart on error and I got a BSOD as you suspected-- of 0X0000007B which I know from experience is a hard drive issue. That said-- This is a new hard drive (and it HAS been chkdsked btw). I put back the old hard drive just to see and yes they get the same error.
I then went into the bios and tried again with IDE mode then with AHCI mode. Same result. Any other suggestions? Very very strange.
Oh yes I also performed a Bcdrec /fixmbr and /rebuildbcd
Majestic

A 0x7b can be so many things. Bad drive, bad BIOS settings, bad driver for the controller, viruses, bad ram, motherboard problems (controller,I/O,etc) and so on.

I would try a windows 7 boot disc and see if you can do a system repair, restore from there.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Corrupted boot sector or incorrect driver loading. Macruim Reflect and Paragon both have boot sector repair tools that can also inject base windows drivers into the system. Basicly the first step in getting a system bootable on a bare metal restore to new hardware. That might get you going or you are looking at an in place upgrade of windows to get it bootable or just N&P. You'll have a better running system anyway doing the N&P. I don't waste time messing with fubar'd systems much unless I don't have any choice. You end up losing to much money in time wasted.

 

[kisk]

I agree with NYJimbo. 0x7b is a huge pain and a super generic stop code. Normally a system restore (if possible) is the best bet to get away from the BSOD. If system restore won't work, I'll try to manually restore old registry hives. If that doesn't work I nuke and reimage the drive. Backup all the data of course to transfer back later. With a 0x7b stop code its just not worth spending 2+hrs trying to recover if you've tried all the usual stuff.

 

[Majestic]

hmmmm I guess I will have to install fresh. What a pain! I'll check to see if the recovery partition still exists and see if I can factory install it. I have already backed up all the data but this computer has several pieces of specialized software on it. ahhh... I'll have to explain it to them!

Thanks all! (And yes definitely spent WAYY too much time on this already...)

 

[NYJimbo]

hmmmm I guess I will have to install fresh.

No Windows 7 boot disc to try ?

 

[Majestic]

No Windows 7 boot disc to try ?

I have a retail disk and I've already tried that, The repair option... I need to install fresh it seems.. There's no recovery partition on this machine.