Windows 7 Boot Manager/System Recovery

[alex.j.jones.mt]

After receiving a generic error message regarding a GPU driver missing I ran "update driver" on my GPU from the device manager menu, after a successful update I was prompted to restart the computer which I then did. After the restart I Windows 7 failed to boot, showed a blue screen momentarily, then brought me to the black and white "Windows Error Recovery" screen with two options available:

1 - Launch Startup Repair

and

2 - Start Windows Normally.

Options 2 just repeats the cycle ending at the same screen getting me nowhere, the first option recommends inserting the Windows installation/repair disc and selecting "repair your computer."

After F12ing my way to the boot menu and booting from the CD I followed the steps given and ran a system repair. Afterwards I could see the repair details explaining the following:

"The following startup options will be repaired:
Name: Windows Boot Manager
Identifier: {9DEA862C-5CDD-4E70-ACC1-F32B344D4795}

The following startup options will be added:
Name: Windows Recovery Environment (recovered)
Path: Recovery\windowsre\Winre.wim
Windows Device: Partition=C: (22544 MB)

A copy of the current boot configuration data will be saved as: C:\Boot\BCD.Backup.0001"

Upon restarting I was sent to the same screen with Options 1 and 2. Not sure what to do from here. I ran a diagnostics from the BIOS and didn't get any errors or problems regarding the OS, memory, storage, etc. so it seems this is a boot device issue. The computer in question is a Dell Precision M6800 with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. I believe it has an SSD and an NVIDIA Quadro GPU. This is a work computer so I don't have the specifics.

Interested in hearing any thoughts or suggestions.

 

[jr9]

- It is inadvisable to try to update GPU drivers with the device manager. They are large and complex software suites at times and the only proper way to install them is with Radeon or Nvidia installers. It appears the GPU drivers are malfunctioning when they are being loaded by Windows.

- The issue likely has nothing to do with failed hardware. This issue lies inside the SSD or boot drive. Boot repair tools also won't help because Windows isn't damaged at all.

- When laptop is started, trying pressing f8 at startup to trigger the advanced boot options menu. If you can get to this screen, select safe mode and see if you can get into safe mode.

 

[alex.j.jones.mt]

- It is inadvisable to try to update GPU drivers with the device manager. They are large and complex software suites at times and the only proper way to install them is with Radeon or Nvidia installers. It appears the GPU drivers are malfunctioning when they are being loaded by Windows.

- The issue likely has nothing to do with failed hardware. This issue lies inside the SSD or boot drive. Boot repair tools also won't help because Windows isn't damaged at all.

- When laptop is started, trying pressing f8 at startup to trigger the advanced boot options menu. If you can get to this screen, select safe mode and see if you can get into safe mode.

I can't get to advanced boot options with F8, only F12 works to get me to the menu with Legacy Boot, UEFI Boot, and other options (BIOS Setup, BIOS Flash Update, Diagnostics, Change Boot Mode Setting). I don't see where I can boot with just the core drivers from here.

 

[jr9]

- Try mashing the F8 key from the second you press the power button. Sometimes this is needed.

This might be one of those Dell machines that they removed advanced boot options menu from. I hope not because if so whenever I see I usually end up just reinstalling the OS.

Since Dell diagnostics came up, give it a try. Maybe it will pick up something we missed, it has out-foxed me in the past.

 

[alex.j.jones.mt]

- Try mashing the F8 key from the second you press the power button. Sometimes this is needed.

This might be one of those Dell machines that they removed advanced boot options menu from. I hope not because if so whenever I see I usually end up just reinstalling the OS.

Since Dell diagnostics came up, give it a try. Maybe it will pick up something we missed, it has out-foxed me in the past.

Mashing F8 relentlessly actually did work, I was able to boot in safe mode. So now that I am here, how can I undo what caused this problem? Appreciate your help on all this.

 

[jr9]

If you can get into safe mode that is great, it means the PC works in a basic configuration. The next step is while in safe mode (with networking to be specific, we need to download something) open up a web browser and go download DDU or Display Driver Uninstaller. This is a program that will strip out display drivers that are installed. It's a lot like nail polish remover. Have this program remove all nvidia drivers + restart. After this you should load into normal Windows (hopefully).

If you get something like a blank screen trying to load into Windows, you will have to go into BIOS settings and change the video source to integrated until the new drivers for the quadro are installed. Most cards however will still work once their drivers are removed, just in a very limited capacity. You will be running in low resolution more (640 x 480). If you can get into normal Windows, go online and download your GPU drivers. I recommend using their autodetect tool for this. You can also get the driver from the manufacturer's website.

 

[Paul NZ]

I update the video drivers on this thru DM. Only because the intel update tool whatever it's called cant get the right drivers

It'll list whatever driver, so I download, then it brings up some stupid error message

So I have no choice. Since, Intel's site isnt exactly the most friendly user site on the net

It's not that easy trying to find a driver for anything Intel

 

[alex.j.jones.mt]

If you can get into safe mode that is great, it means the PC works in a basic configuration. The next step is while in safe mode (with networking to be specific, we need to download something) open up a web browser and go download DDU or Display Driver Uninstaller. This is a program that will strip out display drivers that are installed. It's a lot like nail polish remover. Have this program remove all nvidia drivers + restart. After this you should load into normal Windows (hopefully).

If you get something like a blank screen trying to load into Windows, you will have to go into BIOS settings and change the video source to integrated until the new drivers for the quadro are installed. Most cards however will still work once their drivers are removed, just in a very limited capacity. You will be running in low resolution more (640 x 480). If you can get into normal Windows, go online and download your GPU drivers. I recommend using their autodetect tool for this. You can also get the driver from the manufacturer's website.

Was able to get DDU installed while in safe mode with networking, ran DDU then used NVIDIA's scanner to find me the most recent driver for the Quadro K3100M which was installed and updated without any issue. I restarted after all this and it failed to boot once more leaving me at the screen with Option 1 and 2 as mentioned above. No idea what could be causing this because it seemed to be working fine before all this happened and I didn't run into anything weird while in safe mode.

 

[jr9]

Lets try using Windows' System Recovery Options to see if we can get the PC to boot normally.

F8 -> Repair your Computer

This should bring up a Window called System Recovery Options after loading. From this, we have a few tools we can use. First one we will try is startup repair which can often automatically fix boot issues. Give it a try and see if it finds anything

If this one doesn't work, we will try doing it manually with the command prompt and if THAT doesn't work we will go into system restore and hope there is a restore point we can revert the PC to. System restore isn't the same as image restore, it is a non destructive process.

 

[alex.j.jones.mt]

Lets try using Windows' System Recovery Options to see if we can get the PC to boot normally.

F8 -> Repair your Computer

This should bring up a Window called System Recovery Options after loading. From this, we have a few tools we can use. First one we will try is startup repair which can often automatically fix boot issues. Give it a try and see if it finds anything

If this one doesn't work, we will try doing it manually with the command prompt and if THAT doesn't work we will go into system restore and hope there is a restore point we can revert the PC to. System restore isn't the same as image restore, it is a non destructive process.

Repair Your Computer sends me to the Windows Error Recovery from the very beginning that prompts me to insert my install disc. What do I need to do to get this done from the command line?

 

[jr9]

OK so Windows PE doesn't seem to want to load from the HDD, that's unfortunate especially since the CD said it was installed. Regular cmd in safe mode also won't work because bootrec (tool for manually fixing Windows MBR and other things) is only available in the Windows PE (system recovery options in Windows 7).

When you used the Windows CD to get to the blue Windows installation menu did you go: "Repair your computer -> Startup repair"? If you used this to run your first repair then good, that will give you a Windows PE to work from that we can use. It looks like https://kbimg.dell.com/library/legacy/kcswisdom/images/kcswisdom_sol_20140108160642/1374751767724.recovery%20options.jpg . I'm guessing you tried the first one "Start up repair" and that didn't help. So open "command prompt" and we will try some commands, hit enter after each command line to run them:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

restart and see if you can boot into Windows

Another thing you can try is in safe mode using the commands in the command prompt (windows key -> cmd -> enter)

sfc /scannow ----------- to scan Windows OS files
chkdsk C: /f ---------- to scan filesystem for issues, replace C with your drive letter

You can also create a Windows 7 PE boot disk if the one on your PC and CD isn't working properly. It isn't the most user friendly process but it would get you into System Recovery Options. Hopefully we don't need to do this.

Another more last resort option is to just use safe mode to back up your stuff and reinstall Windows with the disk because it seems like something has made a mess of your Windows installation.

 

[alex.j.jones.mt]

OK so Windows PE doesn't seem to want to load from the HDD, that's unfortunate especially since the CD said it was installed. Regular cmd in safe mode also won't work because bootrec (tool for manually fixing Windows MBR and other things) is only available in the Windows PE (system recovery options in Windows 7).

When you used the Windows CD to get to the blue Windows installation menu did you go: "Repair your computer -> Startup repair"? If you used this to run your first repair then good, that will give you a Windows PE to work from that we can use. It looks like https://kbimg.dell.com/library/legacy/kcswisdom/images/kcswisdom_sol_20140108160642/1374751767724.recovery%20options.jpg . I'm guessing you tried the first one "Start up repair" and that didn't help. So open "command prompt" and we will try some commands, hit enter after each command line to run them:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

restart and see if you can boot into Windows

Another thing you can try is in safe mode using the commands in the command prompt (windows key -> cmd -> enter)

sfc /scannow ----------- to scan Windows OS files
chkdsk C: /f ---------- to scan filesystem for issues, replace C with your drive letter

You can also create a Windows 7 PE boot disk if the one on your PC and CD isn't working properly. It isn't the most user friendly process but it would get you into System Recovery Options. Hopefully we don't need to do this.

Another more last resort option is to just use safe mode to back up your stuff and reinstall Windows with the disk because it seems like something has made a mess of your Windows installation.

The bootrec commands all scanned successfully with no issues, the sfc /scannow didn't find any integrity violations, chkdsk didn't have any issues either. There aren't any system restore points that I could find. Because this is a work machine there aren't a lot of personal files or anything local that I'm going to miss. I'm going to do a fresh install after backing up a few things because it seems to be the quickest route to getting this up and running again.

jr9, you have been a massive help and I thank you.

 

[jr9]

NP, yes fresh install (delete partitions, nuke everything) is your next best bet. You could use diagnostic startup and add processes one-by-one until you find what is causing the boot to fail but few people have the time for that.