Computers Repair Windows 7 startup drive in another win 7 machine? - Page 2

Dave Lane · 01-31-2013, 08:20 PM

My observatory computer drive acted up tonite. Can't get windows 7 to boot. It offers to let me run start up repair or boot normally to windows 7.

Trying to boot to Win 7 causes a reboot after it starts to load maybe 30-45 second in. Up till then it has the normal Windows screen with the 4 colors. Taking startup repair causes it to show a loading file progress bar then blank screen with lots of disk activity and then seemingly the twilight zone. 20 minutes and nothing seems to happen.

So I put the drive into another machine with a functional Windows 7 install and I can see the problem drive without any difficulty. Load files from it etc.

So is there a way to repair the problem installation from the current machine? I'll have to take it home to make any repair DVDs so I'm hoping I can fix it while I'm still here.

Thanks for any help!

**QuikSsurfer** · 02-01-2013, 07:06 AM

Hiren's Boot CD should help you here.

htismaqe · 02-01-2013, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Hiren's Boot CD should help you here.

Yep.

Dave Lane · 02-01-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Hiren's Boot CD should help you here.

Whats that?

htismaqe · 02-01-2013, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Whats that?

A bootable CD that contains about 200 utilities for diagnostics and repair.

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

htismaqe · 02-01-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

The problem was caused by having to pull the power cord after a program locked up the system.

I've haven't had that happen since before Win XP.

You did something wrong there.

htismaqe · 02-01-2013, 07:54 AM

By the way, in addition to Hiren's, I've also used this one:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

htismaqe · 02-01-2013, 07:55 AM

Honestly though, if you have another Windows system that you've put this drive in, stop trying to repair it and just copy all the files over.

Fish · 02-01-2013, 07:58 AM

Microsoft Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset. It's a boot disk like Hirens that will fix most Windows boot problems.

Dave Lane · 02-01-2013, 08:01 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'll just take both systems home to work on. I don't have an CD / DVDs here which I plan to correct. I'll make recovery disks and try to recover.

I'll also use my clone duplicator to clone both drives to a couple new WD green 2TB drives and then retire these as backups.

I was just hoping for an easy way to reset the drive but windows isn't real friendly for that type of thing.

Dave Lane · 02-01-2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Microsoft Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset. It's a boot disk like Hirens that will fix most Windows boot problems.

Thanks Fish where can I come by one of these?

Fish · 02-01-2013, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Thanks Fish where can I come by one of these?

You running Win7 32-bit or 64-bit?

And are you interested in a paid version or a slightly less moral version?

Here's a start: http://mythoughtsonit.com/2010/11/ho...overy-toolset/

DaveNull · 02-01-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

I'll also use my clone duplicator to clone both drives to a couple new WD green 2TB drives and then retire these as backups.

Want to think about that one? You're taking a known unstable drive and you want to use it as a backup? So that way when the active drive dies you have a lower probability of having a viable backup?

I commend you for wanting to do backups, but unless you're using it for a real short rotation then I'd just overwrite the drive with 0s and toss it.

htismaqe · 02-01-2013, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveNull

I commend you for wanting to do backups, but unless you're using it for a real short rotation then I'd just overwrite the drive with 0s and toss it.

+1

That would be my recommendation too unless you were certain that the original issue was Windows and not the HDD itself.

ElGringo · 02-01-2013, 04:29 PM

If you get to windows startup repair, would guess the hard drive is okay. If you have the windows 7 CD, or download one, I would try booting into that and choosing repair mode. The start using the bootsec commands (I forget what they all are, but google bootsec nt60), won't touch data or programs but attempt to repair any problems with booting as it will create a whole new mbr.

EDIT: I should include this should be done in the original computer.

01-31-2013, 08:20 PM
Dave Lane Space Cadet Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City, Mo, USA Casino cash: $2197479	Repair Windows 7 startup drive in another win 7 machine? My observatory computer drive acted up tonite. Can't get windows 7 to boot. It offers to let me run start up repair or boot normally to windows 7. Trying to boot to Win 7 causes a reboot after it starts to load maybe 30-45 second in. Up till then it has the normal Windows screen with the 4 colors. Taking startup repair causes it to show a loading file progress bar then blank screen with lots of disk activity and then seemingly the twilight zone. 20 minutes and nothing seems to happen. So I put the drive into another machine with a functional Windows 7 install and I can see the problem drive without any difficulty. Load files from it etc. So is there a way to repair the problem installation from the current machine? I'll have to take it home to make any repair DVDs so I'm hoping I can fix it while I'm still here. Thanks for any help!
Posts: 19,333

02-01-2013, 07:06 AM	#16
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $96898	Hiren's Boot CD should help you here. __________________
Posts: 11,302

02-01-2013, 07:54 AM	#21
htismaqe In the misty morning... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: on the edge of time... Casino cash: $1044370	By the way, in addition to Hiren's, I've also used this one: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ __________________ Don't live for pleasure, make life your treasure... \m/ Ronnie James Dio, 1942-2010 \m/
Posts: 52,058

02-01-2013, 07:55 AM	#22
htismaqe In the misty morning... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: on the edge of time... Casino cash: $1044370	Honestly though, if you have another Windows system that you've put this drive in, stop trying to repair it and just copy all the files over. __________________ Don't live for pleasure, make life your treasure... \m/ Ronnie James Dio, 1942-2010 \m/
Posts: 52,058

02-01-2013, 07:58 AM	#23
Fish Missing Dick Curl Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2086934	Microsoft Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset. It's a boot disk like Hirens that will fix most Windows boot problems. __________________
Posts: 21,142

02-01-2013, 08:01 AM	#24
Dave Lane Space Cadet Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City, Mo, USA Casino cash: $2197479	Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'll just take both systems home to work on. I don't have an CD / DVDs here which I plan to correct. I'll make recovery disks and try to recover. I'll also use my clone duplicator to clone both drives to a couple new WD green 2TB drives and then retire these as backups. I was just hoping for an easy way to reset the drive but windows isn't real friendly for that type of thing. __________________ Matt Cassel - 58.9 completion %, 13,495 yards, 82 TD, 57 INT, 24 Fumbles, 80.4 Passer Rating Alex Smith - 59.3 completion %, 14,280 yards, 81 TD, 63 INT, 36 Fumbles, 79.1 Passer Rating Do you realize the backups we have to this second coming of Matt Cassel have NEVER EVER thrown a regular season pass.
Posts: 19,333

02-01-2013, 04:29 PM	#29
ElGringo Veteran Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Vicente, Nayarit, Mex Casino cash: $1073070	If you get to windows startup repair, would guess the hard drive is okay. If you have the windows 7 CD, or download one, I would try booting into that and choosing repair mode. The start using the bootsec commands (I forget what they all are, but google bootsec nt60), won't touch data or programs but attempt to repair any problems with booting as it will create a whole new mbr. EDIT: I should include this should be done in the original computer.
Posts: 1,175

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode