Windows 7 Problems

spaz · 2009-12-20, 03:55

Background on problem (skip this section to get to the current shinanigans windows is pulling);
So I'm a big fan of Linux, but for projects I occasionally need to use windows software, and lets face it as a broke person I can't afford a game console so I game on Windows (where lets face it there are many more quality titles). So my laptop came with Windows Vista Home Premium 32. It worked really well for about a month, as I was about to retract my opinion that windows can't do anything right. I then proceeded to experience 7 blue screens of death within 42 hours. I myself had installed nothing within the last week, McAffee might have installed something, but I don't know. At this point windows 7 was now avalible and I have access to the MSDN.

Current Problem;
I installed Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit RTM and updated and activated it. It was great for about two weeks. Everything seemed to run faster, and now crashes. (Using Microsoft Security Essentials as I couldn't login to a VPN to get McAfee). I started it one day and recieved and error message about the bootloader not being found and windows can't start. (Or something to that effect) The error code 0xC000000F turns out to be (according to google searching) a file missing or currupted problem that doesn't allow the system to continue booting. (One source indicated specifically the System32/config/SYSTEM file) The error on the screen also indicated it could be do to a hardware change or software update, would I like to restore to a previous state? After selecting yes it thought for a bit and declared that there were no on disk backups that could be used (which is werid casue I know I made them). It then said to insert the install dvd, which declared that it couldn't do anything, and to just reinstall.

So I reinstalled windows 7, it worked for about a week, and now I have the same error message again... Same problems. I can vouch that both times I shut it down correctly and let it control the shutdown, I know for a fact that this time there were no windows updates installed (although microsoft security essentials might have added an update I don't know). The hardware has not changed at all. (Heck even USB devices (mouse keyboard) and the sd card stayed the same).

I'm now at a loss for what to do. I can install windows 7 again, but clearly something seems to be going wrong and is producing the same error code everytime. So any ideas anyone has for how to prevent this, and how to recover without reinstalling wouldbe much appreciated.

Useful information;
Dell Vostro 1320
Core 2 Duo P8700
4 Gigs of ram
250 GB HDD
dual boot system (Windows when it works and fedora core 11 (12 soon))
Mem test passes my ram every time.
mprime shows the system as being stable
the linux install seems completely unaffected

Sorry that was so long but I'm at a loss for what to do...

retina · 2009-12-20, 06:57

Sounds to me like a problem with the HDD. You could try something like spinrite or similar. Or even just replace with another if you have no need of the data on the existing HDD.

Cruelty · 2009-12-20, 11:41

If it's SATA drive, first check cables. I have faced similar issues in the past and all were related to SATA cables...

lfm · 2009-12-20, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruelty

If it's SATA drive, first check cables. I have faced similar issues in the past and all were related to SATA cables...

Ya, you can't crimp sata cables like some people used to like to do with ide cables.

spaz · 2009-12-21, 05:00

Well I'll check the HDD but I think it should show some problem under linux though to. I spend 90+% of my time running linux, and have moved around 45 gigs of data recently (none of which has corrupted as far as I can tell). I guess maybe a driver problem, or linux touching the other partition. But I rarely touch the windows partition from linux, and I know I didn't do it at all between the first win 7 attempt and the second one...

I'll give the drive a check though.

retina · 2009-12-21, 05:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaz

Well I'll check the HDD but I think it should show some problem under linux though to.

Not necessarily. If one portion of a platter has a weak magnetic coating then the Linux partition might never use that portion. That weak portion can be allocated to the windows partition, and particularly where the Windows boot files often reside, thus giving you the booting problem in only one OS.

spaz · 2009-12-22, 04:58

Hadn't though about that, but that's a very good point. Depressing as its newer then 5 months but could be....

Not to be a broke person but is there a decent free version of something similar to spinrite, or do I actually need to shell out cash? (probably wishful hoping to avoid it, but we'll see)

2009-12-20, 03:55	#1
spaz Apr 2009 2²×5 Posts	Windows 7 Problems Background on problem (skip this section to get to the current shinanigans windows is pulling); So I'm a big fan of Linux, but for projects I occasionally need to use windows software, and lets face it as a broke person I can't afford a game console so I game on Windows (where lets face it there are many more quality titles). So my laptop came with Windows Vista Home Premium 32. It worked really well for about a month, as I was about to retract my opinion that windows can't do anything right. I then proceeded to experience 7 blue screens of death within 42 hours. I myself had installed nothing within the last week, McAffee might have installed something, but I don't know. At this point windows 7 was now avalible and I have access to the MSDN. Current Problem; I installed Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit RTM and updated and activated it. It was great for about two weeks. Everything seemed to run faster, and now crashes. (Using Microsoft Security Essentials as I couldn't login to a VPN to get McAfee). I started it one day and recieved and error message about the bootloader not being found and windows can't start. (Or something to that effect) The error code 0xC000000F turns out to be (according to google searching) a file missing or currupted problem that doesn't allow the system to continue booting. (One source indicated specifically the System32/config/SYSTEM file) The error on the screen also indicated it could be do to a hardware change or software update, would I like to restore to a previous state? After selecting yes it thought for a bit and declared that there were no on disk backups that could be used (which is werid casue I know I made them). It then said to insert the install dvd, which declared that it couldn't do anything, and to just reinstall. So I reinstalled windows 7, it worked for about a week, and now I have the same error message again... Same problems. I can vouch that both times I shut it down correctly and let it control the shutdown, I know for a fact that this time there were no windows updates installed (although microsoft security essentials might have added an update I don't know). The hardware has not changed at all. (Heck even USB devices (mouse keyboard) and the sd card stayed the same). I'm now at a loss for what to do. I can install windows 7 again, but clearly something seems to be going wrong and is producing the same error code everytime. So any ideas anyone has for how to prevent this, and how to recover without reinstalling wouldbe much appreciated. Useful information; Dell Vostro 1320 Core 2 Duo P8700 4 Gigs of ram 250 GB HDD dual boot system (Windows when it works and fedora core 11 (12 soon)) Mem test passes my ram every time. mprime shows the system as being stable the linux install seems completely unaffected Sorry that was so long but I'm at a loss for what to do...

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2009-12-20, 06:57	#2
retina Undefined "The unspeakable one" Jun 2006 My evil lair 14062₈ Posts	Sounds to me like a problem with the HDD. You could try something like spinrite or similar. Or even just replace with another if you have no need of the data on the existing HDD.

2009-12-20, 11:41	#3
Cruelty May 2005 2³×7×29 Posts	If it's SATA drive, first check cables. I have faced similar issues in the past and all were related to SATA cables...

2009-12-21, 05:00	#5
spaz Apr 2009 2²·5 Posts	Well I'll check the HDD but I think it should show some problem under linux though to. I spend 90+% of my time running linux, and have moved around 45 gigs of data recently (none of which has corrupted as far as I can tell). I guess maybe a driver problem, or linux touching the other partition. But I rarely touch the windows partition from linux, and I know I didn't do it at all between the first win 7 attempt and the second one... I'll give the drive a check though.

2009-12-22, 04:58	#7
spaz Apr 2009 2²×5 Posts	Hadn't though about that, but that's a very good point. Depressing as its newer then 5 months but could be.... Not to be a broke person but is there a decent free version of something similar to spinrite, or do I actually need to shell out cash? (probably wishful hoping to avoid it, but we'll see)