Windows stuck at Welcome Screen

by kliq Aug 15, 2011 10:32AM PDT

I have an HP Pavillion Media Centre PC m7657c running Windows XP. The
other day it froze on me and now it wont load windows, it just gets
stuck at the Welcome Screen. About a month ago I found my computer
started constantly freezing on me, this happened whenever I ran Bit
torrent. I since uninstalled it (and erased all entries in the registry)
and ran a restore and it seemed to work. But when I downland Vuze the
other day, a similar thing thing happened. Basically as soon as I load
any type of torrent software it freezes. At 1 point 2 weeks ago it
wouldn't boot getting stuck on check disk saying "USN Journal
Verification Complete", then I tried booting from a CD and it seemed to
bypass that and load windows. (not sure if this is relevent or not but
figured more info couldnt hurt)

I have tried booting with all the safe modes, last know good etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I should note, my computer does have an HP System Recovery, but I am worried to run it as I dont want to erase any files.

Discussion is locked

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The clue is in the non booting CD.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 15, 2011 10:35AM PDT

Try a CD LENS CLEANER first, re-test then swap in a new CD or DVDRW drive. As the drive gets old, it stops booting.

As to the OS, when it's taken heavy damage (torrents are the clue this machine was exposed to bad things) then we know to save the files then reinstall the OS.

Bob

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follow-up

by kliq Aug 15, 2011 10:39AM PDT

Do you know of a way to get back into Windows so I can save my files? I have some backups but not everything.

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The usual is with a bootable CD

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 15, 2011 10:44AM PDT

I use UBUNTU since it boots off CD, USB and does not require me to install or learn Linux.

It's also free.
Bob

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error

by kliq Aug 15, 2011 12:31PM PDT

I should mention that when I do a SMART Test, it gives me error code HD521-2W

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(NT) This won't stop you from trying to get your files out.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 16, 2011 1:03AM PDT

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Update & Question

by kliq Aug 26, 2011 12:59PM PDT

My hard drive was failing. I took the computer into the local computer repair shop and they replaced it. I do have a questions though. When a Hard drive fails, is this a physical issue or is it something caused by viruses, malware, Trojans, corruption etc?

If you were to do a low level format on a hard drive that was failing, would it then work? Or is it a physical issue where there is nothing you can do?

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I've seen both.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 26, 2011 1:33PM PDT

Some shops are not the great and then we have the cost issue.

If you wanted a shop to test the HDD that would cost more than the drive is worth. Many consumers are unwilling to pay for such tests.

So a virus or such could corrupt the drive and you have a client that won't let you wipe the drive and maybe the best thing is to replace the drive and hand it back to them so they can send it off to http://drivesavers.com

You could learn more about placing it into some USB enclosure and try recovery software noted in the CNET Storage forum.
Bob

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drive

by kliq Aug 26, 2011 1:38PM PDT

I should note, they were able to recover my data from my old drive and transfer everything over to the new one.

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Which means only that and nothing more.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 26, 2011 1:42PM PDT

That may be another COST SAVING MOVE on their part. To copy it all out then wipe the drive, test and install the OS then restore from some network drive would cost a few hundred more.

All this to save what could be a 50 buck drive.

They may have done you a big favor.
Bob

Windows stuck at Welcome Screen

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