Has anyone actually fixed a Windows operating system that would fail to boot without reinstalling the OS? I have tried every solution I have found on this forum but have yet to actually solve the problem of not being able to boot fully into windows and have everything working properly. I have attempted this on at least 10 different machines but ultimately give up after an hour and format and reinstall. I am beginning to think I should not even try to repair the OS, and just reinstall when I get these problems. The odds seem to be against a valid solution.
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Windows failed boot solutions.
- Thread starter ktmrandy
- Start date
ktmrandy - bit of context/background would be helpful. Why did at least 10 machines need to be 'fixed'? Different problems have different solutions.
Two methods I've had excellent success with are:-
Repair reinstall -
Recovery console -
and then running chkdsk /p
But it depends on the problem.
Two methods I've had excellent success with are:-
Repair reinstall -
Recovery console -
and then running chkdsk /p
But it depends on the problem.
- Thread starter
- #5
I have started a small repair shop and over the last few months I have had different computers running xp or me or Win 98 that would not start. Last example was Xp had a virus, removed the virus but the computer would not boot. It would boot in safe mode. Spent an hour rebuilding the registry, disabling programs in msconfig, removing bad software but finially decided there were too many problems to solve each one and formatted and re installed xp. This seems to be the case for most of the problems I run into. One guy has a son that deleted something. This computer would not boot and did not recognise the hard drive. After 45 minutes of rebuilding the mbr and looking for anything to restore I gave up and formatted the drive and reinstalled. Scanreg did not work, sfc/scannow did not work. I can fix each of these individual problems but it is not economical it seems. It is faster for me to just reinstall. Most of the post I have seen seem to indicate a lot of others just give up and re install. Xp repair from the cd will usually get the computer running but there are still problems to repair. Two hours to format and reinstall and 3 or 4 hours to solve all the problems on one machine.
When you receive a machine that's 'broken' to be fixed, there's probably a multitude of sins behind the straw that broke the camel's back in many cases. Which puts you on a loser trying to fix - because as you say, you get machine running & then start discovering the 'other' problems. As long as your customers are aware of this - and the time it takes for a complete rebuild!
My concern is that there are hundreds of reasons why a machine will not boot, and a reinstallation of the OS is sometimes the only recourse.
Having said that, when a reinstallation is required an 'Upgrade' or 'Maintenance' form of reinstallation will handle nearly all cases except for a hardware failure or truely brutal virus.
The times in which a reformat and clean reinstallation was required in my own experience has been very, very small, and much, much less than with previous Windows versions.
Having said that, when a reinstallation is required an 'Upgrade' or 'Maintenance' form of reinstallation will handle nearly all cases except for a hardware failure or truely brutal virus.
The times in which a reformat and clean reinstallation was required in my own experience has been very, very small, and much, much less than with previous Windows versions.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks for the replies. Maybe I will give the Windows repair a couple more shots before I give up on it. Generally is seems like if it can be fixed in an hour all is fine. If there are still problems at the hour mark I should quit and reformat. The typlical computer that cannot be fixed in an hour is 2 or 3 years old running xp. Their antivirus software is outdated, no antispyware, and the windows updates have not been installed. I bring updates, spybot and symantec virus removal tools with me. After doing these three things the hour mark has passed and goofy things are still going on generally. I discuss this with my customers ie: 3 hours to rebuild and it will be fixed for sure or attempt a repair and it might be fixed in 1 or 2. I have a hard time telling the customer which option has the better odds.
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