Posted on 07/14/2015 10:46:16 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
...my desktop Gateway(500 GB HD, 6 G of Memory, Windows 7) will not boot up, it just gets to the "Windows" Logo and sits and then just goes into the "Boot Up" process again and again. ---SIGH--- Any ideas would help.
My old XP did something similar...got anything plugged into your USB ports on start-up(flash-drive/other)?
Safe Mode will also allow you to do a rollback of your OS to a previous working state.
Free is free though!
Boot into Safe Mode.
It will probably require a reinstall of Windows(commonly called a repair). Do not format your hard drive.
As it boots ups keep tapping F8
When a DOS screen comes up, “Boot to last good Config”
You can even boot to safe mode and after it fully boots, restart and let it fully boot.
Assuming you are doing a forced-shutdown or power interruption to get out of that windows screen it should bring up “windows was shut down unexpectedly” and three options during the reboot cycle. Choose SAFE MODE. If that allows you past the point where it was hanging up there are several things you should do. First do a full backup of all your files. Then you can start working on diagnosing the problem. Definitely check out the PROGRAMS section and uninstall anything that was installed around the time your problems began, and anything you don’t recognize that was installed recently.
This would be a really good time to buy burn a Linux Live CD. You can boot off the CD and copy your files to a USB drive before you do anything.
You can also burn a USB stick with Linux and copy the files to it. Booting from a USB stick is a little more difficult.
Seriously though, sounds like you've rec'd some good advice already. Good luck.
Many good suggestions here. I had to “repair” Windows with the disk.
Image the OS partiction, as a minimum.
I image mine periodically after some major program installations and clean ups.
Those images (both laptop and desktop) have saved me many times. It is a lot easier to reimage the OS partition than to spend several days reinstalling.
I also keep my data on a separate partition and USB backup drives. If my boot up hard drive fails, I have the image and data backups.
Windows has am imaging program. I have used it a few times, but IIRC, it will not recognize a USB drive.
I currently use Macrium Reflect Free Home edition on my Win7 laptop and desktop.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
How do you do a backup in safe mode? I’ve got a similar problem.
But, Iowa...is flat.
You mean the PC that was stolen out of your car this morning?
What a shame. And it was such a good computer.
(Wink wink.)
Anything plugged into your usb ports? My computer won’t start if I have my Kindle plugged in/charging.
Boy, you got as far from the Ocean as you possibly could.
What did the ocean ever do to you?
(Just kidding.)
About the computer: Need to have a techie buddy or any 15-year-old computer-literate boy to come fix it for you for free at your home. It’s an easy fix but may take some time.
Or take it to the shop and be ready to pay $60-$100.
...and lose some or all of your documents and added programs.
I think I see your problem.
Couldn't help myself. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
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