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General discussion

Windows 7 wont start up. No OS installed? What? D:

Dec 5, 2009 6:59AM PST

Hello everyone. I powered up my computer this morning and much to my dismay, it didn't boot all the way. Instead it took me to a repair interface. It begins a startup repair which will scan and attempt to fix it for about 3 seconds before it gives up. The problem details are:
Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 03: unknown
Problem Signature 04: -1
Problem Signature 05: ExternalMedia
Problem Signature 06: 1
Problem Signature 07: NoOSInstalled
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

So I send off the report to Microsoft (as if they're going to do anything) and then I get to more options to try and fix the issue: Startup Repair (doesn't work), System Restore (isn't showing any of my restore points), System Image Reovery (don't have an image backup), Windows Memory Diagnostic (runs but tells me nothing is wrong), and Command Prompt.

I would normally have no problem just reinstalling but I have some important stuff and would do whatever I can to keep those. Does anyone know what to do? Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Back up?
Dec 5, 2009 11:37AM PST
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I wish :(
Dec 5, 2009 12:03PM PST

I can't do either. It's not showing my restore AND it wont let me get to my desktop so that I could back my files up. Is there a way to do this without needing to get to my desktop?

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Read the Lacie Miracle at
Dec 5, 2009 12:42PM PST
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Similar problem to your post but mine doesnt go to recovery
Dec 18, 2009 5:38PM PST

Mine has the following
Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 03: unknown
Problem Signature 04: -1
Problem Signature 05: AutoFailover
Problem Signature 06: 1
Problem Signature 07: NoOSInstalled
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

When it runs the error check it says send to microsoft. Once it send it says cannot currenlty be fixed, click finish. When you click finish the laptop shuts off.

I tried sticking the recovery discs in but it just says enter next cd to all and doesn't do anyting. I am totally stuck. Please can someone help??

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Try This...
Dec 18, 2009 6:53PM PST

Go to windows recovery console and type "setup.exe" without the quotation marks