Laptop Won't Boot In To Windows

[Robin]

I've got this laptop running Vista and I turned it off one day now when I turn it on it will get past the bios to the Windows loading screen with the green status bar thing then the screen will switch off and nothing happens.

I can still get to the desktop through safe mode. I tried the Vista recovery console from a disk and the repair your computer option, said nothing was wrong. Also did CHKDSK /f/r through the command prompt and it found some misplaced stuff but still didn't fix the problem.

Is there anything else I can try, maybe in safe mode to solve the issue?

Thanks.

 

[ell470]

Yes, using safe mode roll the system back to an earlier date. That should do the trick

Good luck!

 

[Robin]

System Restore is disabled and there are no restore points available unfortunately.

 

[ell470]

System Restore is disabled and there are no restore points available unfortunately.

Then some kind of recovery cd is your best bet. Make sure to search for viruses and malware in safe mode. But it sounds like something's gone wrong with the system start up files.

A Win Vista cd should work, borrow one if you don't have one & choose the repair windows option.

If everything else fails you'll have to reinstall your OS which I bet you want to avoid at all cost

 

[Submerged]

Even if the System Restore is disabled, there should still be one System Restore point when the laptop was first created.

Unless of course, someone deleted every single Restore point.

You could use the laptop manufacturer's backup disc, if you were provided with one.

 

[Grayfox]

Even if the System Restore is disabled, there should still be one System Restore point when the laptop was first created.

Unless of course, someone deleted every single Restore point.

You could use the laptop manufacturer's backup disc, if you were provided with one.

When you disable system restore it deletes all restore points.

What brand is the unit?

These are the restore keys for OEMs


Acer: Alt+F10
Asus: F6
Compaq/HP: F11
Samsung: F4
Sony: F10 or assist key*
Toshiba:0**

You press these keys during the post.

*=Press when unit is turned off.
**=Hold down 0 and then turn unit on and release when you hear the notebook start to beep.

 

[nick09]

If a recovery partition was included with the laptop. Look up how to use it and do it that way. It will put the laptop back into factory condition. Otherwise it seems that you are missing system files for some reason.

 

[ell470]

Even if the System Restore is disabled, there should still be one System Restore point when the laptop was first created.

Unless of course, someone deleted every single Restore point.

You could use the laptop manufacturer's backup disc, if you were provided with one.

Unfortunately not every manufacturer provides backup discs anymore. Compaq for example prompts you to make your own the first time you start the laptop (I followed the instructions but mine sure as hell didn't work, thank you sooooo much Compaq)

Anyway, get an external harddrive, back up everything you want to keep and reinstall the whole OS, easier than trying to pin-point what's gone wrong with the system.

You can try and repair but often you are better off making a clean new install instead, laptop will feel brand new again

 

[Robin]

Thanks for the replies, it's a Lenovo laptop I inherited years back and it didn't receive the best house of keeping from its previous owner! It has its own rescue and recovery software (bloatware) which is next to useless and has never worked.

I have a Vista CD and I've already booted the recovery console on that, for some reason its no where near as good as the XP one was where you could re-intall just the start up files.

I tried the 'Startup Repair' option which did nothing (said everything was fine). 'System Restore' has not even one restore point and using the 'Command Prompt' to check the disk took 2 hours and did nothing.

What's bizarre is that it boots like a champ into safe mode. Is there something in safe mode I can do to change what starts up in normal boot. I will try a virus scan in safe mode but I don't think its got one because MSE is up to date on it.

 

[Owen.C93]

When in safe mode open up run and type in "msconfig". From there you can go to the startup tab and start unselecting things, I'd imagine you can unselect everything from there and it will startup just fine. If that works then start re-enabling things which you think are essential (anti-virus) and make sure it's still stable.

It could also be a driver issue so go click start and type "device manager" and try disabling some drivers which may have been updated recently.

 

[ell470]

When in safe mode open up run and type in "msconfig". From there you can go to the startup tab and start unselecting things, I'd imagine you can unselect everything from there and it will startup just fine. If that works then start re-enabling things which you think are essential (anti-virus) and make sure it's still stable.

It could also be a driver issue so go click start and type "device manager" and try disabling some drivers which may have been updated recently.

Or the so ever much easier way to go:

Save everything you want to keep to external disk then re-install entire OS.

Updated anti-virus software is good, but never failsafe. I got a really nasty one even tho my anti-virus was up to date, so you can never be sure

 

[Sureboss]

The anti-virus program you have is more relevant than it being up to date. No point having Norton up to date and believing you're secure.

Throw in a Linux Live CD, back up what you want to an external hard-drive/many USB sticks and re-install Vista.

In scenarios like this where the OS has been severely compromised (for one reason or another) and you've tried what recovery disks you have and you can't use a system restore, you need a fresh install. How old is the current Vista install?

If you can in safe mode, run SuperAntiSpyware (you didn't used to be able to, but I believe that is now different). It's a resource hog, so don't leave it on there, but it'll probably find what others won't, if indeed there is a virus to find.

Though I wouldn't bother and just back-up and re-install Vista.

 

[Grayfox]

You can try the following command when at the CMD prompt.

"sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\windows\"

If it works you can get back into windows to back your files up.

 

[Robin]

The anti-virus program you have is more relevant than it being up to date. No point having Norton up to date and believing you're secure.

I don't have Norton, I said I have MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials).

You can try the following command when at the CMD prompt.

"sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\windows\"

I tried that and it said it fixed some things but could not fix others, still didn't solve the problem though.

Thanks for all the suggestions and replies. I've tried various things but I think its best to just copy all the data in safe mode over to an external HDD and do a repair (upgrade install) of Vista. Problem with Vista is you have to be in windows proper to do a repair install so I don't know how I'm going to go about that!

It's a very odd problem, after the windows loading bar the screen just goes black (as in off, not lit and black) yet the hard drive is still reading stuff from time to time (like its loaded and the screen is just not on) but I have already tried an external screen.

 

[Owen.C93]

Could be graphics driver. Try disabling it in safe mode via device manager or updating it to the latest one online.

 

[Sureboss]

I don't have Norton, I said I have MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials).

I know, just speaking generally.

 

[ell470]

I know, just speaking generally.

Norton is for some reason one of the biggest suppliers & therefore the 1st one they program their viruses to go around...

I'm using F-Secure, it's ok but not failsafe. Had a TDSS virus pay me a visit a while back...

 

[Grayfox]

When a virus attacks norton, norton does tend to go into a lockdown kind of mode where even after you get rid of it, you can't do anything since norton blocks it.

I use and recommend Kaspersky.

 

[ell470]

When a virus attacks norton, norton does tend to go into a lockdown kind of mode where even after you get rid of it, you can't do anything since norton blocks it.

I use and recommend Kaspersky.

Yeah, Kaspersky seems really good, I used their TDSS Killer to save my computer last time. Neither Malwarebytes nor F-Secure did detect the virus.

I discovered the virus myself when I got tired of all strange browser redirects & googled my symptoms

Edit:
How system heavy is Kaspersky? F-Secure takes up a whole lot of RAM unfortunately...

 

[Robin]

So looks like its going to have to be a full re-install as I can't get into proper windows to do an 'upgrade' (repair install in disguise) and disabling every driver in safe mode hasn't worked. Such an odd fault as safe mode always boots. Damn Vista!

 

[Grayfox]

Yeah, Kaspersky seems really good, I used their TDSS Killer to save my computer last time. Neither Malwarebytes nor F-Secure did detect the virus.

I discovered the virus myself when I got tired of all strange browser redirects & googled my symptoms

Edit:
How system heavy is Kaspersky? F-Secure takes up a whole lot of RAM unfortunately...

Not that heavy I don't have ram usage figures.

 

[ell470]

Not that heavy I don't have ram usage figures.

Ok, I think I'll try it out anyway. F-Secure is quite pricey, system heavy, really good but not failsafe so I suspect that Kaspersky should be equal or better.

Thanks anyway

 

[Robin]

Just an update,

I left the laptop off for a few days and as usual with electronics when you turn them back on something different happens!

Now instead of getting a black screen after the windows loading bar I get a BSOD (which flashes so fast I had to film it) before it reboots.

It says....

Stop: C000218 (registry file failure)
The registry cannot load the hive (file): or its log or alternative.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable
Collecting data for crash dump...
Collecting disk for crash dump...

This is odd because the laptop boots fine into safe mode so how can the registry be borked??? How do I fix this?

 

[TP1]

I'm assuming it's out of the warranty period.
My advice when dealing with problems relating to booting is to take out the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS which has fixed many, many problems I encountered when fixing computers (black screen, screen tearing, malfunctioning colors on display, not booting properly, shutting off, etc.).

Before starting, you might want to google your model or a similar model in the range, to fid out where the CMOS battery is located.
This is because for some laptops you have to take out nearly all components (including keyboard) to get a comfortable position, but it's so much simpler if you keep the laptop open with one hand and use the other hand (or most likely some tweezers or something) to disconnect the cord which links the battery to the motherboard.

Once you disconnect it, leave it for 5 minutes and then connect it back and reassemble it together and boot it up.

Best of luck!

P.S. If even this fails, then I'd focus on the HDD. I recommend not wasting anymore time on this laptop, but plugging the HDD either into another laptop and formatting it, or putting into a usb rack and using another PC to do the formatting.

 

[ell470]

Sounds like something went wrong when installing/uninstalling an windows update of some sort, wouldn't be the first time.

Try to remove the CMOS battery like TP1 said just to troubleshoot.

I still think a complete re-install is the safest way to go, to start troubleshooting registry files requires quite a lot of knowledge.

Google your BSoD code just for fun, sometimes there's tips & articles on what it means

 

[Infinital-NG]

Don't take your laptop apart to reset the CMOS.

Grab a linux live CD like mentioned, copy your data needed, and re-install windows.

Trying to do these quick little fixes might work, but more than likely you are looking at a fresh install of windows.

Generally if you did get it back running, without knowing what caused this, (bad drivers, virus, corrupt file) there's no guarantee that at some later time you are looking at the same problem.

How old is your laptop? Just curious as to the ones mentioning removing cmos battery must not take apart many laptops. Laptops can be really easy or really difficult to get apart and back together correctly.

If your laptop was still under warranty, you took it apart to reset the cmos more than likely you will have voided your warranty. Some laptops have warranty stickers that when peeled off read void.

Keep it simple.

Save Data
Re-install windows and when asked to in windows setup, format your hard drive so everything is fresh.

 

[ell470]

Don't take your laptop apart to reset the CMOS.

Grab a linux live CD like mentioned, copy your data needed, and re-install windows.

Trying to do these quick little fixes might work, but more than likely you are looking at a fresh install of windows.

Generally if you did get it back running, without knowing what caused this, (bad drivers, virus, corrupt file) there's no guarantee that at some later time you are looking at the same problem.

How old is your laptop? Just curious as to the ones mentioning removing cmos battery must not take apart many laptops. Laptops can be really easy or really difficult to get apart and back together correctly.

If your laptop was still under warranty, you took it apart to reset the cmos more than likely you will have voided your warranty. Some laptops have warranty stickers that when peeled off read void.

Keep it simple.

Save Data
Re-install windows and when asked to in windows setup, format your hard drive so everything is fresh.

He doesn't need an linux live cd, he can boot into safe mode.

Anyway, yes, tearing a laptop apart is a real hassle. But since I've been saying back up & re-install! beginning with my first post we've been giving alternate troubleshooting / solutions.

Just saying, if he had backed up everything when we first suggested it, this thread would have been dead long ago.

 

[Infinital-NG]

Didn't see the safe mode part. My bad.

Just trying to help push him into the best way to get his computer back up and running.

More people that say "back up data, reinstall windows"

More likely he would do that, then trying to take apart a laptop to reset a cmos.

And also if people are going to recommend taking apart any computer device to someone that from the looks of this post, has never done such thing. You should explain static electricity and being grounded before they start touching electrical components. For all we know, he could have taken the laptop apart on the carpeted floor of this house, in socks, rubbing his cat.

Not being nasty about it, but if we are trying to help, then we need to make sure they know what they are getting into.

 

[ell470]

Didn't see the safe mode part. My bad.

Just trying to help push him into the best way to get his computer back up and running.

More people that say "back up data, reinstall windows"

More likely he would do that, then trying to take apart a laptop to reset a cmos.

And also if people are going to recommend taking apart any computer device to someone that from the looks of this post, has never done such thing. You should explain static electricity and being grounded before they start touching electrical components. For all we know, he could have taken the laptop apart on the carpeted floor of this house, in socks, rubbing his cat.

Not being nasty about it, but if we are trying to help, then we need to make sure they know what they are getting into.

I agree with you completely!

After all, we're all trying to help him. I figured he would look at some how-to's before tearing it apart tho. The first time is always scary for everyone & no matter how many times you've done it, there will always be leftover screws when it's back togheter (spelling?)

I'm no advanced hardware guy myself, I know my way around & have never managed to break anything, but I'm more of a software kind a guy. My expertise lies in Win XP, but I know a whole lot about troubleshooting Windows in general.

 

[Infinital-NG]

Extra screws is always a pain.

What I usually do for example:

For all the screws on the bottom of the latop, take a piece of paper and sketch a rough outline of the laptop and mark where a screw exists. When that screw comes out it gets taped to that mark on the paper. Then do that for the insides as well. Makes it easier if I take apart a laptop then one of my techs has to put it back together.