[CardsOfTheHeart]

Can someone say "back to square one?" T-T

Whatever Startup Repair did to restore my system apparently messed around with the Hibernate function, i.e. disabled it. I kept getting the same old "improper shutdown" error every time, but I always went to my typical "Start in Safe Mode and restart" routine and thought nothing of it.

Well, now the thing has refused to "startup" properly. What I mean is that I can get all the way to the Windows "Welcome" screen--and then I come to a black screen with nothing but a cursor. No desktop, no Windows Explorer, nothing. I can't even press Ctrl+Alt+Del to reach the Task Manager.

...

Safe Mode doesn't do much better. Instead of a plain black screen I get a black screen with the words "Safe Mode" in each corner and the Windows build at the top; still no icons, still no Windows Explorer. At least Ctrl+Alt+Del works, but Task Manager won't load. I can't even shut it down from there, either.

I've tried Startup Repair through the disc; it detects no problems.
I did a System Restore to before my most recent Windows Update; it fixed nothing.
Memory Diagnostics also came up empty... I think. I have no way of seeing the results! ><

Now I'm getting more and more worried that it might be a hardware issue. I don't know how that could be, but I don't want to consider nuking the drive until I'm sure that that's not the problem.

So... what could it be, now?

EDIT: (sigh) Last Known Good Configuration doesn't help, either...



EDIT2: The Command Prompt comes up, at least. Not sure if it'll do anything yet, though.

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

Sounds like the system paths are screwed.

only fixes
1. mount the system hive on another computer and delete the volume letter reg strings.
2. Do an Actual repair install of windows.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

I had the same problem on Windows XP 2 years ago lol.Ohh you have no idea how mad I was grrrr

Anyway,if you DO NOT WANT to lose your hard disk drive data,the old,but very useful MS-DOS can help you here.Take the USB stick if you have one,plug it in some other computer that works normal,format it and then on the internet find the MS-DOS program and put it on your USB stick.MAKE THE USB STICK TO BE THE "STARTUP DISK".After you have done that,take that USB stick and plug it in your computer with which you have these problems.After you have plugged it in,turn on the computer and go in the BIOS.(Usually pressing the F2 button on the keyboard will enter the BIOS,but start pressing it as soon as you turn on the computer).After you have entered in the BIOS,go in the BOOT tab and from there put that USB stick to be the FIRST device to run.After that save the changes to CMOS in the BIOS and restart the computer using the BIOS selection buttons on the EXIT tab.

And now your computer will boot from the USB stick and you can copy ALL the files from your hard disk drive to some other hard disk drive that is plugged into your computer through the USB entrance or if you do not have SO MANY files,you can simply copy them on that USB stick.But if you have the formatted hard disk drive,plug it in your computer and copy the files on THAT formatted hard disk drive.

Here are the basic MS-DOS commands which can help you to do all this:

dir = Lists the contents of one or more directories.

del = Deletes one or more files.For example:
del C:\Program Files\Pcsx2\msvc.dll
(This will ONLY delete the file "msvc.dll").To delete ALL the files from that
"Pcsx2" folder,just write this:
del C:\Program Files\Pcsx2
(This will delete ALL FILES from the "Pcsx2" folder).

copy = Copies one or more files to an alternate location.THIS CAN COPY
ONLY THE FILES.IT CANNOT COPY THE FOLDERS.Here is the
example for the "copy" function:
copy C:\Program Files\WinRAR E:\Folder

Here the disk "C:" is that hard disk drive you want to save and disk "E:" is that USB stick where you want to copy the files to.This example will ONLY copy the FILES from the "WinRAR" folder.If you have MANY files from many different folders that you want to save,do the same thing for each of them.For example:
copy C:\Program Files\WinRAR E:\WINRAR files
(press Enter and wait until it's finished.Then let's copy more files from another location):
copy C:\Program Files\Alcohol120 E:\ALCOHOL files
(press Enter and wait until it's finished.Then let's copy more files from another location):
copy C:\Program Files\Pcsx2 E:\PCSX2 files

And so on...........

And you are DONE!!!
Ok you will lose at least 1 or 2 days to do ALL this,but at least you won't lose ANY of your data from the HARD DISK DRIVE
This is how I did it 2 years ago
So one more time in short words:
1. Create the MS-DOS startup disk on some other computer that works.
(The startup disk can be formatted USB stick or some other formatted
hard disk drive or whatever you have at home).
2.Make that startup disk to be the first BOOTABLE disk from the BIOS
under the BOOT tab.
3.Use those functions like "dir" and "copy" to save your files.
4.Please reinstall Windows lol and simply copy the files back to your hard
disk drive.You can now copy them normaly through Windows.

Well that's it I think.You can print this ENTIRE text and have it close to you while you are doing this to make it easier.

Trust me,this will work:thumb:

 

[zidine00]

I had the same problem on Windows XP 2 years ago lol.Ohh you have no idea how mad I was grrrr

Anyway,if you DO NOT WANT to lose your hard disk drive data,the old,but very useful MS-DOS can help you here.Take the USB stick if you have one,plug it in some other computer that works normal,format it and then on the internet find the MS-DOS program and put it on your USB stick.MAKE THE USB STICK TO BE THE "STARTUP DISK".After you have done that,take that USB stick and plug it in your computer with which you have these problems.After you have plugged it in,turn on the computer and go in the BIOS.(Usually pressing the F2 button on the keyboard will enter the BIOS,but start pressing it as soon as you turn on the computer).After you have entered in the BIOS,go in the BOOT tab and from there put that USB stick to be the FIRST device to run.After that save the changes to CMOS in the BIOS and restart the computer using the BIOS selection buttons on the EXIT tab.

And now your computer will boot from the USB stick and you can copy ALL the files from your hard disk drive to some other hard disk drive that is plugged into your computer through the USB entrance or if you do not have SO MANY files,you can simply copy them on that USB stick.But if you have the formatted hard disk drive,plug it in your computer and copy the files on THAT formatted hard disk drive.

Here are the basic MS-DOS commands which can help you to do all this:

dir = Lists the contents of one or more directories.

del = Deletes one or more files.For example:
del C:\Program Files\Pcsx2\msvc.dll
(This will ONLY delete the file "msvc.dll").To delete ALL the files from that
"Pcsx2" folder,just write this:
del C:\Program Files\Pcsx2
(This will delete ALL FILES from the "Pcsx2" folder).

copy = Copies one or more files to an alternate location.THIS CAN COPY
ONLY THE FILES.IT CANNOT COPY THE FOLDERS.Here is the
example for the "copy" function:
copy C:\Program Files\WinRAR E:\Folder

Here the disk "C:" is that hard disk drive you want to save and disk "E:" is that USB stick where you want to copy the files to.This example will ONLY copy the FILES from the "WinRAR" folder.If you have MANY files from many different folders that you want to save,do the same thing for each of them.For example:
copy C:\Program Files\WinRAR E:\WINRAR files
(press Enter and wait until it's finished.Then let's copy more files from another location):
copy C:\Program Files\Alcohol120 E:\ALCOHOL files
(press Enter and wait until it's finished.Then let's copy more files from another location):
copy C:\Program Files\Pcsx2 E:\PCSX2 files

And so on...........

And you are DONE!!!
Ok you will lose at least 1 or 2 days to do ALL this,but at least you won't lose ANY of your data from the HARD DISK DRIVE
This is how I did it 2 years ago
So one more time in short words:
1. Create the MS-DOS startup disk on some other computer that works.
(The startup disk can be formatted USB stick or some other formatted
hard disk drive or whatever you have at home).
2.Make that startup disk to be the first BOOTABLE disk from the BIOS
under the BOOT tab.
3.Use those functions like "dir" and "copy" to save your files.
4.Please reinstall Windows lol and simply copy the files back to your hard
disk drive.You can now copy them normaly through Windows.

Well that's it I think.You can print this ENTIRE text and have it close to you while you are doing this to make it easier.

Trust me,this will work:thumb:

If only i knew that a couple of months ago, oh well saved for future refference.

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

Time consuming and slow.

Use BartPE instead.

 

[CardsOfTheHeart]

I was afraid it would have to come down to nuking the drive...

Good news, though. I can still manipulate folders around through the recovery disc (namely during the part of the system recovery process that asks to load drivers for your OS). I've successfully been able to copy/paste some of my smaller-sized folders to my 320GB external drive. If the larger folders will cooperate, then I can copy all of my data to that drive. If not, then I'll certainly keep MS-DOS in mind. (I don't actually know if BartPE is compatible with Vista; I hear there's a Vista equivalent somewhere, but I haven't looked hard enough for it.)

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

BartPE is just a PE built from XP (so you do need XP disks and a license for it.)

It can access any version of the NTFS that XP can (of which xp can access the Vista/Win7 partitions.)

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

Make the USB as MS-DOS startup disk and use MS-DOS version 6.22.With that version you can copy your entire HARD DISK DRIVE on some other hard disk drive or USB stick by just few clicks on the keyboard
That process will take few hours,but you just sit back and relax while MS-DOS 6.22 is doing that

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

AGAIN, ARE YOU INSANE.

DOS DOES RAW FILE COPY, MEANING THERES NO USAGE OF UDMA, it would take hours to copy it all.

Secondly.

DOS CANNOT READ NTFS PARTITIONS,

 

[CardsOfTheHeart]

@Squall: Then how the heck can I use BartPE if I don't HAVE XP???

Also, if DOS can't read NTFS partitions, then that's a no-go for me, as well.

Anyway, those points are moot, right now. I just got off the phone with Toshiba, and I was told that the cause of this was a virus. (Isn't it always? ) So, I'm running Toshiba's Recovery Wizard to restore the thing back to factory settings. Of course, I was able to backup everything that I wanted to keep, first.

...Vista sure can be a ***** sometimes, you know? XD

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

Yea well the bad news for MS-DOS is that it cannot read NTFS file system partitions...that's true.Well my file system on my laptop is FAT32 so I don't have any problems by using the MS-DOS.Anyway there are many other ways to save your data in the future.You can go into the safe mode and try to copy files from there on another HDD,or if that doesn't work,you can always go into the safe mode with command prompt.It saved me for a couple of times 1 year ago
System restore usually won't help here,but you can always feel free to try it out.Anyway the next time you install windows,why not format your HDD into a FAT32 file system.Ok ok I know what you are all thinking now.FAT32 sucks and NTFS rocks.Well each one has it's own advantages and disadvantages.
NTFS advantages:
-allows access local to w2k w2k3 XP win NT4 with SP4 or later may get
access for some file
-maximum size of partition is 2 TB or more
-maximum file size is upto 16 TB
-file and folder encryption is possible only in NTFS
-WinRAR can compress data larger then 4 GB

NTFS disadvantages:
-MS-DOS DOES NOT WORK UNDER THIS FILE SYSTEM AND THAT SUCKS
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU NEED TO BACK UP YOUR DATA AND YOU CANNOT
GO INTO WINDOWS ON ANY POSSIBLE WAY:dead:
-who the hell needs HDD larger then 2 TB lol:dead:
-why would anyone have ONE SINGLE file of 16 TB in size:dead:

FAT32 advantages:
-FAT32 allows access to win 95 98 win millenium win2k xp on local
partition
-maximum size of partition is upto 2 TB what is EVEN TOO MUCH for a
home user.Who the hell needs that big partition anyway:dead:
-maximum file size is upto 4 GB what is pretty enough if you ask me
-MS-DOS WORKS UNDER THIS FILE SYSTEM AND YOU ARE ALWAYS
ABLE TO SAVE YOUR FILES NO MATTER HOW MANY VIRUSES YOU
HAVE:wub:This is VERY USEFUL when you cannot go into Windows on
ANY possible way

FAT32 disadvantages:
-file and folder encryption is not possible.Ok so what?If you REALLY need
it,you can always encrypt the files on some other computer that uses
the NTFS file system...


I am using FAT32 file system already for many years and I never got any
complains except once when I saw I can't compress files larger then 4 GB with WinRarBut you can always compress them few by few,instead ALL files at once
I would format the HDD and make it to be the FAT32 file system and then install Windows on it if I were you.Here is one more reason WHY:
Let's say that you must reinstall Windows.You have saved ALL the data you need,BUT ALL the SETTINGS in windows and programs that you have adjusted will of course be lost.You want to copy them too then right?
Well....the settings are usually saved into the Windows registry.The Windows registry files in XP,Vista and Windows 7 are located at
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\config"
Now...the problem is that you cannot just copy these registry files like it was in Windows 98 and earlier.In XP and newer you must mess with the registry and lose many nerves to save the entire registry.It would be much simpler if you can just copy the registry files right?Well you can copy them ALL with no problems on your USB stick through the MS-DOS.And then reinstall windows,put your programs back and through the MS-DOS copy those registry files back on the "C:\WINDOWS\system32\config"
and ALL the settings will be back just like you want it.Just like it was before...
So again I am saying...this CANNOT be done if you have NTFS file system.You MUST have FAT32 file system to do this.
OK Windows XP has the Files and SETTINGS transfer wizard that's true,BUT what if you can't go into Windows???.....You can't go into Windows and you are using NTFS.....then you are screwed.BUT if you have FAT32,you can ALWAYS copy the registry files through the MS-DOS.

After all,nothing is not perfect.Neither FAT32 or NTFS file system.But I would put FAT32 file system if I were you!Then it's a HUGE chance to save your files then if you have NTFS file system.
NTFS is newer and better in some things,but then again FAT32 can use MS-DOS to save ANY of the files.Here is one more reason why to use FAT32 instead of the NTFS:
Let's say that you have scanned your computer for viruses...and one virus has been found.Antivirus reported you the name and the location of that virus,BUT he cannot delete it because it's being used by the windows operating system.You cannot EVEN delete it through the SAFE MODE or through the SAFE MODE WITH COMMAND PROMPT.What now?!?!?!
The only way is to format the partition.OR....or you can go into the MS-DOS and simply delete the virus from there

Also FAT32 works faster then the NTFS.

Anyway it's your choice will you use FAT32 or NTFS file system.I would use FAT32 file system if I were you:thumb:

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

stop giving crap advice.

FAT32 is an insecure, and non fault tolerant file system.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

Nothing's perfect

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

its also slower to chkdsk, defrag, move files around on and boot to.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

CHKDSK usually takes a long period so who cares lol.Just leave it over night ^^
Anyway boot is faster in FAT32 because it's structure is simpler then the NTFS.For those who are using the NTFS,you can copy ANY file from your HDD by using the XP CD-ROM.Just boot to the CD and there you will have a recovery console with which you can do a lot to save your data in the case you can't go into windows.Command for copying files is the same as for the MS-DOS.

Ohh man I like this command line things.They always save everything when it's neccessary...
You can delete ANY virus with these things.Who the hell needs Norton then:dead: LoL...
If you ask me,the MS-DOS and COMMAND PROMPT from the XP CD-ROM is the best antivirus lol xD

 

[Phil]

Have you tried booting into safe mode? The first safe mode?

Ife safe mode is screwed up, it could most likely be a hardware problem.

 

[Squall-Leonhart]

Anyway boot is faster in FAT32 because it's structure is simpler then the NTFS.

You need to to stop talking now. Seriously. Bootup on Fat32 is far slower since its an unindexed file system. Where as NTFS file locations are indexed in the MFT for fast access.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

LoL calm down man.NTFS is faster when accessing big HDD and when accessing big files,but then again FAT32 is better in older things.They are both good on their own way.Take a look at this video:
YouTube - FAT32 versus NTFS