Can not load Windows 7

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AgonistesDML

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Aug 23, 2011
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18,510
Dell Latitude E6400
Windows 7 Pro 64-bit

Laptop has been working fine until this morning. I logged off as usual last night, and when i tried to login this morning Windows had frozen apparently. The mouse and keyboard did not have any response at the ctrl+alt+del screen. I had to hold the power button to shut off and restart the laptop. Upon booting back up, i get to a screen with the options to run a repair (recommended) or continue loading windows as normal (see below for screen message). I first tried loading windows as normal, but it would hang at the "Starting Windows" screen. I then tried to run the repair, but it would hang on the "Windows is loading files....." screen. I then tried to boot from the OEM windows 7 install disc, but same as the repair, it would hang on the "Windows is loading files..." screen. I switched the SATA mode in BIOS between IRRT and ATA and tried all three ways again, with same results. I left the loading for over an hour and it would not progress. I would just give up and reinstall Windows, but I can't even get the boot disc to load. I ran the Dell System Self-test from the F12 boot options screen thinking it might be the RAM or HDD going out, but the self-test came back clean. I have no external devices plugged in that might cause it, not even a mouse. Has anyone seen this before or know what to do to fix this issue?

Edit- The screen when booting as usual reads:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
If Windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, Startup Repair can help diagnose and fix the problem. If power was interrupted during startup, choose Start Windows Normally
Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally


Edit- I did not change/add/remove any hardware or software in over a week prior to it not responding this morning.
 
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I can't do the repair; it hangs at the "Windows is loading...." black screen with the grey bar when trying to run the repair or boot into the install disc. The bar at the bottom loads to the end, then it doesn't do anything. I've let it sit there for over two hours now and it still has not loaded.
 
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Ok it's fixed now.....this one is bizarre. I wanted to bring the laptop into another room, so i uplugged the ac adapter so it is now running on battery, and the repair screen loaded. I've never heard of an ac adapter causing a laptop to hang. I'm going to mess around with the adapter to see if that is what was really causing it and will let you know what i find out.
 
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I have had something similar on a hp laptop. Mine would hang - but I'd leave it - and maybe half an hour later windows would come on. My point is - maybe you should leave it going and see what happens. I'd give it 45 mins max. If it does - you can do some damage control - but be aware that the next time you switch it off - you will probably find yourself in the same situ.

The thing is - if Windows is having trouble booting up - it's usually because the HDD is going to give out. At least that is my experience. Is the HDD making any clicking noises when you boot up? It's doubtful that it's a software problem - if it was software then repair would have had some success, since essentially a repair checks the integrity of the boot up files for windows.

BIOS will do nothing. I wouldn't trust the Dell System Self-test if I were you. It's not always possible to detect a problem outside of the OS. It's doubtful that it's your ram - if there was a problem with that I'd doubt your laptop would try to run windows at all.

1. Leave the laptop to do its thing and see if windows eventually loads.
2. Determine if there are any unusual noises coming from the HDD. How does it feel in the area of the HDD? Too hot?
3. If it refuses to load - you could try safe mode or even system restore. I doubt it will do anything, but the more options you elliminate the more it gets narrowed down.
4. Lastly if this fails and you're beginning to despair - I have heard a few succesful cases (and I'm one of them) but it is an option to take out your hdd, wrap it up so it's airtight in some plastic bags and packaging then stick in the freezer. Ha ha! you think what a nutter - but this has proved in a few cases to provide a brief reprieve to the problem and has allowed function to the hdd for probably long enough to copy out all the info off of it. Do this only as a last ditch, and only if you are sure that the hdd is the problem.

As I said - I really can't see that this would be a software problem, though I'd be happy if there was one.

Lastly : You may even find that leaving the laptop alone for a day or two will grant you an hour or two on the machine before the hdd plays up again.
 
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Ah, I posted too late. :??:

I've never heard of an adapter doing that. Perhaps its faulty and has been giving your laptop a small electrical current? Hmmmm. Let us know.
 
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Yeah, it is. I'm think it is actually something with the AC port on the back of the laptop. Once I finally got Windows up and running again, I plugged both the suspect adapter and also a known good adapter and the laptop will not show being on AC power using either adapter. Both adapters show powering fine on another laptop. So most likely the AC port on the laptop has gone bad. Why this would affect Windows from loading, I'm not sure yet, but it is running fine off battery power.
 
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this actually happens to me every so often. i cant say i understand the AC adaptor thing, but hanging at the boot screen can indicate an issue with the boot sector on your HD (and if your HD is failing, it can corrupt the boot sector) if you have your windows installation disk you can do an easy fix using the bootrec.exe utility. if you want me to explain the process, let me know
 
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