Starting Windows laptop problems

[V10R37]

Today someone I know asked my to try to fix a laptop. When I arrived there, I found BSOD, so I turned it off and tried to turn it back on, but it got stuck at Starting Windows. I then tried to start it in safe mode but it got stuck to. System repair also got stuck.

I then tried to use a usb drive with Windows setup to start the repair proces from it, but it also got stuck at Starting Windows.

Does anyone know why is this happening?

Windows 7 ultimate x86, recently installed.

[Altecice]

First thing I would do is ask your friend if he has all their data backed up. If not then I would be backing that up (presuming the HDD is ok) and that would lead me onto my second thing, Test the HDD to make sure its not broken/damaged. After that if its not damaged then its just a software error. Im not sure if laptops have the option to turn sata from IDE>AHCI but it might be worth quickly checking for that first.

 

But really if you cant repair it the way you tried to and you know the HDD is fine then a clean install is the best and quickest option by far.

[Elite14]

also try resetting the bios, i had a similar problem with a laptop and that did the trick. my bet is that the hdd is bad

[Juan Remes]

I then tried to use a usb drive with Windows setup to start the repair proces from it, but it also got stuck at Starting Windows.

 

When you used the usb with a windows install, did you booted from the usb? that is even before the OS loads up. Booting from the USB should not give errors because you are not touching the HDD

[vembutech]

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_other-system/blue-screen-of-death-bsod/1939df35-283f-4830-a4dd-e95ee5d8669d

[kirashi]

Your best option in this instance is to backup his data from the HDD immediately. To have both the regular startup and safe mode startup fail, along with startup repair, and booting a Windows installer off a USB, I can only imagine Hard Drive Failure, or software problem.

 

Most Windows USB installers will analyze the HDD for Windows installations and sometimes use a portion of it for a paging file, which is why it could be failing to boot. Take the hard drive out and see if it will boot into the Windows USB installer. If it does, presto, hard drive failure. If it doesn't, then it's got to be some other piece of hardware.

[V10R37]

When you used the usb with a windows install, did you booted from the usb? that is even before the OS loads up. Booting from the USB should not give errors because you are not touching the HDD

it loaded files and after that it showed Starting windows.

[Juan Remes]

it loaded files and after that it showed Starting windows.

Yes it should appear the gray bar that says windows is loading files and then start the installation process, then you could select repair options, untill then no problem should be detected because you are not using the HDD

[V10R37]

Yes it should appear the gray bar that says windows is loading files and then start the installation process, then you could select repair options, untill then no problem should be detected because you are not using the HDD

It just showd Starting windows after loading files, but it did not show the language options. Aparently this are the first options, i just rechecked.

[V10R37]

Your best option in this instance is to backup his data from the HDD immediately. To have both the regular startup and safe mode startup fail, along with startup repair, and booting a Windows installer off a USB, I can only imagine Hard Drive Failure, or software problem.

 

Most Windows USB installers will analyze the HDD for Windows installations and sometimes use a portion of it for a paging file, which is why it could be failing to boot. Take the hard drive out and see if it will boot into the Windows USB installer. If it does, presto, hard drive failure. If it doesn't, then it's got to be some other piece of hardware.

I don't think a backup is needed considering that the only programs installed are chrome, skype and yahoo messenger and the other partition is empty (it's an old ladys 5 year old laptop).

[RossMadness]

Most laptop manufacturers have built in diagnostics. I'd use that to run RAM and HDD tests, just to make sure. You can also try reseating the RAM and see if that helps. 

If the diagnostics give everything a pass, I would then use the recovery disk (or partition, whatever the case may be) to use CMD to run CHKDSK /f and see if it fixes anything.

[MadOliveGaming]

I had the same thing with my 4 year old hp laptop some months ago. Ended up being the hdd, so i couldnt reinstall windows as it was backed up on the hdd. Goddamn hp crap.

Did make me get my current desktop which im absolutely happy with

[Juan Remes]

It just showd Starting windows after loading files, but it did not show the language options. Aparently this are the first options, i just rechecked.

Wow thats really strange, try doing the same but without the HDD inserted in the laptop, if the problem persists then it could be a RAM issue or maybe the MB.