Can't get to login screen, can't boot from other disk
HI Experts,
I'm running into a problem with a windows 7 laptop. I boot it up, but can't get to the login screen. Repair does not work. Booting in safe mode does not work. Booting from the CD/DVD drive does not work. I'm thinking I need to reformat the hard disk, but I cannot figure out how to be able to do that without being able to get into the computer and the disk management utility. Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks
I'm running into a problem with a windows 7 laptop. I boot it up, but can't get to the login screen. Repair does not work. Booting in safe mode does not work. Booting from the CD/DVD drive does not work. I'm thinking I need to reformat the hard disk, but I cannot figure out how to be able to do that without being able to get into the computer and the disk management utility. Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks
Booting the CD/DVD not working almost rules out a hard drive problems. Normally, you would boot from the windows DVD and from the DVD choose to reinstall, format, etc. What exactly is the problem when trying the DVD?
Shura85,
To boot up from CD/DVD:
Goto into the BIOS of your laptop and make sure the boot priorty is setup to CD/DVD first. Usually if you hit F2, you can get to the BIOS menu at bootup.
Sometimes, F12 will allow you to get the boot device priority.
After you have adjusted your BIOS to boot from CD/DVD, you can then use your Windows 7 disk to reinstall the OS.
Good Luck
To boot up from CD/DVD:
Goto into the BIOS of your laptop and make sure the boot priorty is setup to CD/DVD first. Usually if you hit F2, you can get to the BIOS menu at bootup.
Sometimes, F12 will allow you to get the boot device priority.
After you have adjusted your BIOS to boot from CD/DVD, you can then use your Windows 7 disk to reinstall the OS.
Good Luck
ASKER
Thanks folks - you are fast!
@ActiveDirectoryman
I get a black screen with a cursor, but nothing else. I can get the menu about booting in safe mode etc
@CrowaX
The problem with the DVD/CD is that when I try to do that, I get a message that a CD/DVD drive cannot be found.
@saastech
The boot device priority is failing me completely...will try to change the priority in the BIOS
@ActiveDirectoryman
I get a black screen with a cursor, but nothing else. I can get the menu about booting in safe mode etc
@CrowaX
The problem with the DVD/CD is that when I try to do that, I get a message that a CD/DVD drive cannot be found.
@saastech
The boot device priority is failing me completely...will try to change the priority in the BIOS
ASKER
I should say it also just restarts once I wait long enough on boot.
SOLUTION
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ASKER
After trying all this, I still get a "no bootable device found" message when I try to alter the boot order in the BIOS. Couldn't get to a QuickBoot
Are you using an original Windows 7 disk? Do you have another bootable CD or DVD to try? I would be suprised if both the hard drive and CD rom went bad at the same time. Since it's a laptop there isnt a lot of internal work to do, but I'm wondering if its a motherboard or sata failure. Is the laptop under warranty?
ASKER
I tried it from a Windows XP with the same results (or lack thereof). Unfortunately, its just barely out of warranty :(
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Unfortunately no USB drive. Is it possible that this could be the result of a trojan or some other type of malware?
Maleware should only effect the computer once you hit the loading of Windows an on. To not be able to boot from a disk leans towards hardware problems.
ASKER
Found out it was a combination CD Drive/Hard drive failure. Thanks everyone for your help.
When happens when you try to login to windows?
does the computer reboot?
what happens ?
what happens when you try to get into safe mode ?