Rkbruner
asked on
Windows 7 X64 will not boot
I have a machine Lenovo Thinkpad W510 Intel Core i7 Q 720 1.60GHz 4gb RAM Windows 7 Pro x64. It is having issues booting into Windows intermittently. It will get stuck at the Windows splash page and will sit there and do nothing. The machine is encrypted using TrueCrypt. I am able to enter the password for TrueCrypt and get past that screen. It will then either freeze at the aforementioned splash page or go directly to the normal startup/recovery mode selection page. I have scanned/repaired the hdd with no change. I would appreciate any ideas on how to fix this as the user is becoming more agitated each time this occurs.
Thanks,
Rob
Thanks,
Rob
You can try installing Win7's SP1
One likely cause (because this particular machine should work flawlessly with Windows 7 X64) is malware. Do a thorough scrub with a good anti-virus tool.
If you can get it to boot, open cmd.exe with Run as Adminstrator and run SFC /SCANNOW to fix any protected Windows system files.
Also in the same command window, run CHKDSK (not with /F initially). Does this disclose any disk errors.
Finally, if the user is an administrator of their own computer, they may have installed non-compliant software (which is dead simple to do in an X64 environment).
... Thinkpads_User
If you can get it to boot, open cmd.exe with Run as Adminstrator and run SFC /SCANNOW to fix any protected Windows system files.
Also in the same command window, run CHKDSK (not with /F initially). Does this disclose any disk errors.
Finally, if the user is an administrator of their own computer, they may have installed non-compliant software (which is dead simple to do in an X64 environment).
... Thinkpads_User
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ASKER
I am away from work until tomorrow afternoon. I will check/try these suggestions and let you know how things go. Thanks for all the suggestions.
-Rob
-Rob
Thanks. Let us know.
By the way, Windows 7 SP1 is still a release candidate and not production. Windows 7 without SP1 is perfectly reliable, so I am not sure if it will correct problems. I read that it is predominantly a roll-up of prior patches and updates.
... Thinkpads_User
By the way, Windows 7 SP1 is still a release candidate and not production. Windows 7 without SP1 is perfectly reliable, so I am not sure if it will correct problems. I read that it is predominantly a roll-up of prior patches and updates.
... Thinkpads_User
you can also test the ram with memtest86+
here a bootable cd with all diags : http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
here a bootable cd with all diags : http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
You metioned you ran startup repair. Can you upload the log file
%WINDIR%\System32\LogFiles
Also would recommend disconnect all devices and just connect mouse, keyboard, display and power. Disconnect pen drive, external hard drive etc. and then try to boot the computer.
Ded9
%WINDIR%\System32\LogFiles
Also would recommend disconnect all devices and just connect mouse, keyboard, display and power. Disconnect pen drive, external hard drive etc. and then try to boot the computer.
Ded9
ASKER
As an update, I am currently decrypting the drive, which takes 7 hours. I will update again tomorrow with how things go.
Thanks a bunch for the help. This site is a life saver.
-Rob
Thanks a bunch for the help. This site is a life saver.
-Rob
Hey Rob, did anything come about after decrypting the drive?
ASKER
I ran chkdsk and the SFC /scannnow commands and they both found nothing. Since decrypting the drive the issue has not occurred again either. I am thinking that something fouled up during the encryption process. Would you suggestion attempting to re-encrypt using TrueCrypt or trying a new encryption software? I work in a health clinic so the encryption is required by the HITECH Act.
Thanks for all the help.
-Rob
Thanks for all the help.
-Rob
ASKER
Very quick and concise response. Got this issue resolved in a short time.
As I've said earlier, I've never used TrueCrypt for system drive encryption... since you are running Windows 7 (although you didn't mention the edition), have you looked at using the built-in BitLocker?
But I do use TrueCrypt for encrypted partitions for a few of my clients and to like the product.
Personally, I have not had a need to use bitlocker, so my real-life experience is zero...
But I do use TrueCrypt for encrypted partitions for a few of my clients and to like the product.
Personally, I have not had a need to use bitlocker, so my real-life experience is zero...
ASKER
We use Windows 7 Professional so bit locker is not included. I am going to attempt to re-encrypt using TrueCrypt and see how things go. Thanks for all your help again.
-Rob
-Rob