"Repair" sequence can't fix boot up problem

[jazzman111]

Lately, on boot up my PC starts up then shuts down. On second try, a DOS screen recommends I "Launch start-up Repair" sequence. Last time I toggled "OK" to the program's finding a Restore Point and Win 7 launched apparently normally. This morning the screen informed me it could not repair the boot sequence. It then listed 9 items, e.g. "Problem Signature1 - 6.1.7600.16385," etc. The next boot was successful (I'm here posting about it), but who knows what's going to happen the on next boot attempt. Any ideas on how to address this problem? Or is it time to take my tower to my local PC repair shop?

 

[linney]

Besides the System Restore option via the Startup Repair process, did you try the actual Startup Repair default option itself?

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Try it first by not checking either box (Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems. If it does, start by ticking both boxes, in any further rerun.

The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that is bootable, or that may even run from within Windows, that will thoroughly check the condition of your hard drive.

How to Use the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Vista (or 7).

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/65361-memory-diagnostics-tool.html

Startup Repair.

Startup Repair is a Windows recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Wi...809f-ed90-415f-a83f-89b42108b3551033.mspx#EFF

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx

 

[jazzman111]

I ran both checks: chkdsk to check the hard drive and Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. Both came up negative. Puzzling.

 

[Hawthorne]

.

The few time I have run Start up Repair it has always said that it could not fix the problem.

However my computer has always worked afterwards.

This sounds dumb but I have seen many messages recommending that you run startup repair 3 times in a row. They swear that it makes a difference.

.

 

[tlcscousin]

Do you have AVG installed as an antivirus program?

 

[linney]

Have you tried setting the Bios to Safe Defaults, or even checking for any Bios update?

How to Generate a System Health Report in Vista and Windows 7

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/82728-system-health-report.html

Have you any hardware attached that can be easily removed and then check to see if the problem still occurs.

 

[jazzman111]

Answers:

* Yes, I do have AVG antivirus running on this computer

* Yes, I have a Logitech webcam attached to the computer. I'll unplug it and run the repair program.

Things are also getting worse: I had to reboot 3-4 times this morning before succeeding to bring up Win 7.

 

[BadBigBen]

is the drive SATA or IDE?

did you check the seating of the cables?

replace drive cable just to rule out a bad cable...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[tlcscousin]

when you can get it to start remove avg and see if it makes a difference. One of their updates is known to cause an issue. If removing it clears the issue you can reinstall it or try one of the other free ones.

 

[jazzman111]

I removed the webcam and this morning, when the repair sequence came up on bootup, it seems to have worked. If the problem repeats itself, I'll uninstall AVG and install another antivirus program to see if that clears things up.