Most of the capabilities that the average owner of desktop computers and laptops use are available to humans thanks to the use of special operating systems on the equipment. The most popular OS is a product from Microsoft. Therefore, if Windows 7 or one of the other OS variants does not boot, the user is in serious trouble.

There are many reasons why Windows 10 (7, 8, XP) does not load. Often in this case, an unpleasant situation is accompanied by a specific error message. But what to do if Windows 10 (7, 8, XP) does not boot on a laptop or regular PC without such messages? There are several universal treatment methods that can lead to a way out of this situation.

Selecting the download type

This is the simplest fix method if Windows 7 or another type of operating system from Microsoft does not load. What you need to do:

1. Start rebooting the computer.
2. Press the “F8” button.
3. In the proposed list, select the launch item with the most successful configuration.

In some cases, this action is quite sufficient when Windows 7 (8, 10, XP) does not load.

Windows Recovery

So Windows won't boot. You can try to return Windows to full functionality using the recovery menu. To do this, of course, you will need to have a boot disk with the desired OS option on hand. What actions should the user take in this case if Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP does not load:

1. Insert the source into the drive.
2. Change the priority in BIOS. That is, the operating system should not be launched from a hard drive, but from a DVD-ROM.
3. After starting the process, you will need to press the “R” button.
4. Select the option to restore.
5. Wait for the results. Restart the equipment one more time.
   Windows XP (7, 8, 10) still won't load early? Next option.

Recovery within the OS itself

If previous operations have been carried out, but Windows 7 still does not boot, you can try to restore it directly using the tools of the operating system itself. It's quite simple:

Pressing the magic button “F8”.

Selecting further boot in security mode.

Obtaining limited access to the operating system.

Making the transition: “Start” – “Standard” – “Service” – “Recovery”.

An attempt to return the OS to an earlier state that was stable.

Naturally, at the end you will need to restart the computer to check whether Windows 10 (7.8, XP) does not boot or whether the problem has been successfully resolved?

Boot file disinfection

If Windows 7 does not boot after updating, then the possible cause of the problem lies in a damaged Boot.ini boot file. To fix the problem you will need to follow these steps:

1. Start the PC using the same external source.
2. In the recovery menu, go to the command line.
3. Enter the phrase “Bootcfg/add”.

Wait for the process to complete and initiate another reboot to check whether Windows 8 or its equivalent of a different version does not boot, or whether the treatment helped in this predicament?

Boot record defect

Another option for trouble with Windows. Windows won't load? The boot record may have become corrupted. In this situation, you will need to repeat almost the entire procedure described in the previous paragraph, but enter a completely different phrase into the command line. Namely: “Fixmbr\Device\HardDisk0”.

Perhaps this action will be quite enough when Windows 7 does not load and freezes on the logo.

Damage to the boot sector on the hard drive

This nuisance can lead to a situation where, for example, Windows 7 does not load beyond “Welcome”. Here the treatment is also quite simple - the steps are repeated by running the command line from the computer user, into which you should type “Fixboot” and then the letter that is responsible for the hard drive partition where the installed OS version is located.

Quick reinstall

Sometimes, if the computer does not boot beyond the Windows 7 splash screen, only reinstallation can help. But it is not at all necessary to launch a full-fledged procedure that lasts quite a long time. You can speed up this process. This is a very powerful treatment tool as it can deal with most of the troubles that arise.

What is required from a person:

1. Start again from the boot disk.
2. Press the “R” button, then the “Esc” key.
3. Select quick reinstallation of the operating system.

It is important to understand that this procedure can only work if identical versions of the OS are located on the disk and hard drives. That is, if, for example, Windows 10 does not boot after the update, you should not try to quickly reinstall it using a boot disk with Windows 7 or 8 for this purpose.

Conclusion

A special case of this situation may be a constant automatic reboot of the OS. Naturally, this option excludes the possibility of any therapeutic processes. To break this sequence, you will need to press the “F8” button the next time you start the system and go to the “Advanced parameters” menu. After this, disable the OS reboot procedure and if failures are detected. Well, then you can use one of the treatment options described above.

All described methods are universal. That is, they are recommended to be used only when it is not possible to accurately determine the root cause of the malfunction. Most often, the user can see a message on the monitor screen indicating a specific error code. And each of them has their own method of correcting an unpleasant situation. Most of them can be easily found on this Internet resource dedicated to answering questions related to OS damage from Microsoft.

Very often, computer users encounter a problem when the Windows 7 operating system refuses to start. However, many of them do not understand why this can happen. In this case, it would not hurt to know the main and common reasons why this can happen, as well as the errors that occur with this problem and methods for eliminating them.

Error Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press Enter

This is the most common error that appears after starting the computer. As a rule, instead of starting the operating system, the Disk Boot Failure error is displayed. This may indicate that, according to the operating system, the disk from which they wanted to launch it is not the system one. This problem can occur for various reasons, among which are the most common.

It very often happens that a disk is inserted into the drive or a USB drive is connected to the PC, and the BIOS is configured so that it sets this media to boot by default. This leads to the operating system not starting. In this case, you should try to disconnect all third-party storage devices such as SD memory, flash drives, smartphones, etc. You also need to remove the disc from the drive and then try to start the computer again.
Perhaps this time the operating system will start.

In addition, the problem may occur when the boot order is set incorrectly in the BIOS. In this case, the instructions from the method above will not be able to help. Even if the computer starts up normally in the morning and then stops in the evening, you need to check this option, since the BIOS settings may be lost. This can be affected by a dead battery on the motherboard or power outages, as well as static discharges. When checking the settings, you need to verify that the hard drive is detected by the BIOS.

In addition, if the operating system sees the hard drive, you can resort to system startup recovery tools. This will be discussed a little below. If the system cannot detect the hard drive, if possible, you can try disconnecting the hard drive and reconnecting it. In this case, you should pay attention to the connection of the hard drive to the motherboard.

In addition, such an error may occur for other reasons, including problems with the hard drive itself, the presence of viruses in the system, and much more. Be that as it may, it is recommended to check all the methods described above. If nothing helps, then there is another solution to the problem, which is suitable for almost all cases when the “seven” does not want to start.

Error BOOTMGR is missing

This error can also appear when the operating system of the seventh version refuses to start. In this case, the message BOOTMGR is missing appears on a black screen. This error can appear for various reasons, including the activity of viruses, incorrect actions of the user himself, which led to a change in the boot record of the hard drive, or some mechanical problems in the hard drive. Options for solving this problem can be searched on the Internet.

Error NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart

This error manifests itself in almost the same way as the one described above. At the same time, the methods for eliminating it are slightly different from the previous one. To fix this problem, you can use special instructions that are easy to find on the Internet.
Windows 7 boots but only displays a black screen and mouse cursor

If, after starting the computer, the operating system desktop is not displayed on the screen and there is no “Start” menu, but only a black screen with a mouse cursor, then this problem can be solved quite simply. Very often, this problem occurs after removing the virus using antivirus utilities or yourself. As a rule, not all changes that the malware caused were corrected, which led to the appearance of a black screen. This error can be fixed quite simply, as can be found on various forums related to this problem.

Troubleshooting Windows 7 startup errors using integrated utilities

In some cases, when the system refuses to start due to changes in the hardware configuration, incorrect shutdown of the PC, or some other errors, when the PC starts, the system recovery screen will be displayed, with which you can try to resume starting the operating system.

However, if such a screen does not appear, then you can press F8 after the BIOS has loaded, but the operating system has not yet started loading. As a result, a menu will appear on the screen with the item “Troubleshooting PC”, which must be clicked.

After this, a notification will pop up informing you that the download of operating system files has begun. Then you will be prompted to set the language, where you need to specify Russian. Next you need to log in to your account. To do this, it is better to use an administrator account. If a password has not been set, then it can be left blank.

After these manipulations, the operating system recovery window will open, in which you can activate automatic search and elimination of problems that prevent the system from starting normally. To do this, you need to click on a special link.

After identifying all problems, the application will automatically eliminate all errors found that prevented Windows from starting. It happens that the utility does not find any problems.

In this case, you can resort to using the OS recovery function. If the problem with starting the operating system appeared after updating drivers or something else, this action may help. In principle, it is clear how this procedure can quickly resolve the problem associated with updating operating system components.

In general, these are almost all the main problems that can arise when the system refuses to start. If none of the above helps, then you should contact a specialized computer repair company.

Good afternoon everyone!

Despite the fact that each new version of Windows becomes more stable and reliable, it still often causes unpleasant incidents...

For example, a seemingly trivial thing, a power outage and an emergency shutdown can easily lead to the fact that after turning on the computer - Windows won't boot anymore (moreover, this also applies to the newfangled Windows 8.1, 10)! Although, of course, there are many more reasons for this misfortune.

Actually, in this article I want to look in more detail at what can be done to restore Windows boot(or at least minimize your losses).

By the way, it’s worth clarifying right away one moment:

And so, now closer to the topic...

The first thing I would advise you to do is pay attention to the screen. Often you can see an error message, its code, description (and knowing this information, it will be easier to find and diagnose the cause).

For example, the photo below shows one of the typical errors “Disk boot failure...” (an error related to the boot media, according to its solution, I have). I note that in your case the error may be slightly different (there are quite a lot of them).

In general, all the popular errors that can be seen at the computer boot stage have long been sorted out by many specialists (including on the official Microsoft website).

In general, the message of the first step is simple: If you see a specific error, write it down and try to find a guide to solve that specific problem. The situation is worse when there are no errors at all and it is not clear what to do next...

⇒ By the way!

If after turning on your PC/laptop you just have a black screen (i.e. there is no image on it) - I recommend that you read these instructions:

STEP 2: Disconnect all "unnecessary" equipment from the computer

The next thing I would advise is to disconnect all unnecessary equipment from the laptop/computer: second monitor, printers, mice, speakers, headphones, etc. Particular attention to flash drives, CD/DVD drives, SD cards, and other storage devices.

The fact is that with certain BIOS settings, the computer can “search” for boot entries on the same flash drive, and if it doesn’t find them, it simply won’t proceed to boot Windows from the hard drive.

Note: after you disable everything “unnecessary”, restart your computer.

STEP 3: Check BIOS settings

If you changed the BIOS settings (or reset them, for example) or connected another hard drive to the PC, it may happen that the BOOT section contains incorrect settings (for example, the wrong boot device may have been selected).

As an example, below is a photo of the BOOT section. Pay attention to the sequence: 1st is the CD/DVD drive, 2nd is the hard drive. In some cases, the PC may “refuse” to boot Windows from the hard drive (in this sequence).

You need to: put the hard drive in first place, save the settings (usually the F10 key) and restart the PC.

⇒ Help! By the way, you can simply reset the BIOS settings to factory settings (as a rule, they are universal and by going to them you can solve most problems) -

STEP 4: Try to repair Windows bootloader

⇒ Addition!

Detailed instructions for restoring Windows functionality -

STEP 5: Scan your PC for viruses

Some viruses can corrupt system files, delete information from the hard drive, and block some functions and capabilities of the OS. All this can lead to a wide variety of problems with Windows, including the one discussed in this article. (moreover, restoring in the previous step can help exactly until the next reboot).

In order to scan your OS disk for viruses (when Windows itself does not boot), you can resort to two ways:

• remove hard drive from a computer/laptop and connect it to another device on which a modern antivirus with updated databases is installed ();
• create a LiveCD flash drive (i.e. from which you can boot even if your PC does not have a hard drive) and run the HDD check from it. Now such images for recording on a flash drive can be downloaded from official antivirus websites.

⇒ Help!

How to create a bootable LiveCD/DVD/USB flash drive or disk with the Windows operating system and service utilities that do not require installation on a hard drive -

Often, many users wait for Windows to load for 5-10 minutes (some of them, by the way, think that it has frozen and are in a hurry to restart the PC and wait this time again).

In general, the first thing I would advise you to do in this case is check startup(the more programs it contains, the longer it will take to load the OS). Pay special attention to any torrent programs: if you have hundreds of torrents in them, downloading can become very long!

In Windows 10, to view startup, just open the task manager (key combination Ctrl+Shift+Esc). You can also use various specials. utilities, for example, .

In addition, check Windows using some utility to clean up garbage, temporary files, fix errors in the registry, etc. All this together can also seriously affect the speed of the OS.

I have a separate article on my blog dedicated to the best utilities for maintaining and cleaning Windows -

⇒ Addition!

Why does a computer (laptop) take so long to boot/reboot, what can I do to boot Windows faster? -

STEP 7: how can you copy your data from the disk if Windows still won’t boot

If all the previous recommendations did not bring success, then before formatting and reinstalling Windows (or some other more radical measures), it is advisable to make a copy of all important documents from the hard drive. You never know...what if something goes wrong?..

Method 1

The easiest way is to remove the hard drive, connect it to another computer and transfer all important data from it. By the way, now on sale you can easily find various “boxes” for connecting an HDD to a regular USB port (it makes the work much easier).

Method 2

That's all for now...

For additions - a separate merci!

Mar 3 2015

How to restore Windows 7 on a laptop, a black screen appears when booting, the recovery environment does not work, I deleted all hidden partitions, there is no original disk with Windows 7.

I spent a lot of time, tell me what to do now, or at least how to insure myself against such situations in the future, preferably without using paid data backup programs.

How to restore Windows 7 system

Unfortunately, there are many reasons for this problem, ranging from incorrectly written drivers, harmful effects of a virus, file system errors and ending with our erroneous actions when working with a computer. There is no need to be afraid of such problems, you need to learn how to deal with them effectively.

Let's think about how to restore a Windows 7 system, and also insure ourselves in the future against possible troubles using the backup and recovery tools built into the operating system.

We will learn how to restore Windows 7 without using third-party backup programs, even when System Recovery Options do not load and the F-8 button is useless.

It has in its arsenal a fairly powerful and good tool -> Recovery Environment, which is created automatically when installing Windows 7 in a hidden partition and contains five other tools that solve numerous malfunctions and problems.

Note: If you learn how to use Windows 7 recovery tools correctly, and this is not difficult, then you can do without additional and paid data backup programs.

You can launch the recovery tool by pressing the F-8 button on the keyboard immediately after starting the computer. After this, the menu Additional boot options will open in front of you: Troubleshoot your computer, then Safe Mode, Safe Mode with loading network drivers, etc.

A small digression: Before selecting Troubleshoot your computer, try the simpler option - Last Known Good Configuration - in simple words, the operating system always remembers the last successful boot of the computer and enters this information into the registry.

If there are problems loading, Windows can remember the registry settings and driver settings that were used when the system was last successfully booted and use them if you select the Last Known Good Configuration option.

If this tool does not help, select the first -> Troubleshoot computer problems.

Next, we get to the Windows 7 System Recovery Options menu, this is what we need, this is where we can select the System Restore Tool we need, there are five of them in total, let’s take a closer look at how they all work.

The first thing to do is apply Startup Repair (Automatically fix problems that prevent Windows from starting).

Required digression: After pressing the F-8 button when booting the computer, you may not have the item > Troubleshoot your computer, but only Safe Mode and so on, the question arises why.

When installing Windows 7, a recovery environment partition is created automatically and is located in the root of the drive (C:) in the Recovery folder. You can also see in the Disk Management window - a separate, hidden partition of the hard drive, its volume is only 100 MB, it is used to store boot configuration files (BCD) and the system bootloader (bootmgr file).

You can see it under Computer->Management->Disk Management. Under no circumstances should you delete this partition (many people delete it out of ignorance), otherwise you will not have the recovery environment start, that is, you will not have the Troubleshoot your computer option, and in more severe cases, you simply will not boot the system.

In the lower screenshot you can see another hidden partition, with a capacity of 9.02 GB, this is a hidden recovery partition with factory settings on my laptop, yours may be larger or smaller. It’s also better not to delete it; if necessary, you can always restore Windows 7 from it.

What should you do if you do not have a partition with a recovery environment and when you press the F-8 button in the Additional boot options menu, the Troubleshooting computer option does not appear? How then to restore the Windows 7 system?

An installation disk with the Windows 7 operating system can help here. You can run the recovery tool by booting from the original Windows 7 installation disk, selecting System Restore at the very beginning.

If you don’t have an installation disk, then you can use the Windows 7 Recovery Disk (you can make it in any running Windows 7) in five minutes, then you can also boot from it and do the same.

So we finally got to the System Recovery Options, either using the F-8 button and the Troubleshooting item, or the Windows 7 installation disk or the Windows 7 Recovery Disk.

In the System Restore Tools Selection menu, select the first one:

Startup recovery-> there will be an analysis of faults that interfere with the normal loading of Windows 7 and their further correction for the normal loading and functioning of the operating system.

During the process, we may be warned that problems have been detected in the boot parameters, click Fix and restart.

System Restore-> using this function we can select a previously created system restore point, if we have it enabled, and roll back to the time when our Windows 7 worked and loaded perfectly, everything is simple here.

Restoring a system image-> I personally use this tool; if used skillfully, it can replace paid data backup programs. If you are interested, read on.

What's good about it? It will help when you don't have the original Windows 7 installation disk and you've deleted the hidden partition with your laptop's factory settings, but that's not all.

Sometimes there are situations when, for various reasons or due to the actions of a virus, you will not be able to boot the operating system at all, or many people ask How to restore the Windows 7 system, even if the menu with Additional boot options is also unavailable. Should I reinstall the operating system again?

Therefore, immediately after installing Windows 7 on your laptop or computer, using this function -> Restore system image, we create an archived image of our Windows 7 on the hard drive, and take care of it.

It is imperative to create a Windows 7 Recovery Disk (read below), it will help you use the System Image if the Advanced Boot Options menu does not load.

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Back up computer data.

Select “Create a system image”.

In my case, Local disk (E:), if you have several hard drives in the system unit, then of course it is better to place the backup on the hard drive where the operating system is not installed.

By default, the data archiving program will automatically select a partition with the Windows 7 operating system; if you wish, you can add Local disks for archiving, as long as you have enough space.

Note: You may notice that I have two operating systems installed on my laptop, so the archiving program selected two Local disks.

Click Archive and the process of creating an archive with our Windows 7 will begin.

Created, it will look like this.

Now, if necessary, you can deploy the archive with Windows 7 to your computer in 20-30 minutes. It would be better if you additionally copy the archive with the system onto a portable hard drive, this will doubly protect you.

Let's imagine that we can't start Windows 7 and deploy the backup we created, let's do it together.

We launch the Windows 7 Recovery Tool by pressing the F-8 button on the keyboard immediately after starting the computer.

The Advanced boot options menu opens, select Troubleshoot your computer.

Restoring a system image

Use the latest available system image.

Of course, all our data on the Local Disk, where the operating system is now being restored, will be deleted, so you can first boot from any Live CD and copy what you need.

How else can you restore your Windows 7 system? Of course, using the Windows 7 Recovery Disk.

Let's create one that can be used to boot the computer; it will contain recovery tools that can be used to repair Windows 7 boot problems, as well as restore the operating system from the backup copy that we created in advance.

Important: For a recovery disk, the bitness of the system is important, you can use a 32-bit recovery disk for any 32-bit Windows 7, and a 64-bit recovery disk for any 64-bit Windows 7.

Let's go again Archiving computer data.

Create a system recovery disk, insert the DVD into the drive, click “Create disk”.

When the Windows 7 Bootable Recovery Disk is ready, put it in a safe place.

To restore Windows 7 from a Recovery Disk, you basically don’t need any working operating system at all.

You will only need to change the boot priority to the disk drive in your computer’s BIOS, insert a recovery disk into it and restore your Windows 7 using the archive.

Many here can draw an analogy with data backup programs, and this is correct, they work on the same principle, only their functionality is, of course, more convenient.

Recovering Windows 7 from a Recovery Disk. I show you how to do it. Let's say we're in trouble, we can't start Windows 7, when we press F-8 on the keyboard immediately after starting the computer, nothing happens.

We cannot get to the menu with Additional boot options and an error message is displayed. In this case, the system archive on the hard drive is not available to us. This is exactly the kind of trouble that happened to our reader Ilya, who wrote us a letter asking for help.

In this situation, many people reinstall Windows 7 from scratch, but not you and me, because we have a System Recovery Disk.

We insert it into the drive and reboot, set the BIOS to boot from the drive, as I said, the disk is bootable, the System Recovery Options program starts.

Press Enter until the prompt to boot from the disk disappears.

Automatically, the recovery tool running from the disk will try to restore Windows 7 to start.

If nothing works, select any tool, for example, try Restoring a computer using a previously created operating system image.

We use the latest available system image.

What other ways are there to restore Windows 7?

There is another little-known way to restore Windows 7 boot after a failure, and I’ll tell you about it. At first glance, it may seem difficult to many, but nevertheless it often helps me out.

The fact is, friends, that a very large part of the problems due to which you cannot boot Windows 7 lie in registry errors. And Windows 7 would not be Windows 7 if it did not have a mechanism that protects registry files. Such a mechanism exists and creates backup copies of the registry in the RegBack folder every 10 days, regardless of whether you have system recovery enabled or not.

If you cannot solve problems loading Windows 7, you should try replacing the existing (and apparently damaged) registry files from the Config folder with archived files from the RegBack folder. To do this, we will have to boot the computer from the Windows 7 installation disk or the Windows 7 recovery disk.

Boot into the recovery environment and select the command line.

We type in it - notepad, we get into Notepad, then File and Open.

We go into the real explorer, click My Computer. Now we need the system drive C:, pay attention, the drive letters here may be mixed up, but I think you can recognize the system drive C: by the Windows and Program Files system folders located inside.

We go to the folder C:\Windows\System32\Config, here are the active registry files, specify the File Type - All files and see our registry files, we also see the RegBack folder, in which every 10 days the Task Scheduler makes a backup copy of the registry keys.

So, we will replace the current registry files from the Config folder with backup registry files from the RegBack folder.
So, first of all, let’s delete from the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder the files SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, DEFAULT, SYSTEM, which are responsible for all registry hives (my advice is to copy the registry hives somewhere before deleting, just in case).

In their place, let's copy and paste files with the same names, but from the backup copy, that is, from the RegBack folder.

Note: The SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, DEFAULT, SYSTEM files cannot be deleted all together; delete them one by one. Then copy the same files from the RegBack folder in their place.

Friends, if this does not help, use Windows 7 file integrity recovery; if the operating system does not boot, it is done in exactly the same way as in Windows 8.

What else do we have left of Windows 7 recovery tools?

Memory diagnostics 7-> checks system memory for errors. Command line-> using it you can delete files that interfere with loading Windows 7.

I hope our article on how to restore Windows 7 system helped you.

Unfortunately, Windows not being able to boot is a problem that occurs without an error message or any other obvious solution. You may experience a black screen immediately upon startup, or your computer may restart itself instead of or even after displaying the Desktop screen.
This most often occurs due to incorrect device drivers, system registry errors, file corruption, and malware.
What to do if Windows won't start? There is no Explorer to delete files, no Internet to find a solution, no Device Manager to disable or enable components, and no solitaire to kill time while you wait for the anti-malware program to download. All you have is this book and the sound of your breathing in the silence. Fortunately, Microsoft has removed the limited Recovery Console that was used in Windows 2000 and XP. It has been replaced by a fully automatic set of tools, which will be discussed later, as well as a fully functional command line.
Startup recovery
When building tools for Windows 7 Startup Recovery, Microsoft took the Apple Computer approach: make everything simple, but in a way that doesn't work in the real world.
Launching Recovery is installed by default in Windows 7 in a separate disk partition, but depending on the level of damage, you will either be able to get there or not. Read the Using F8 section.
If F8 does not work, then you will have to find the Windows 7 installation disk, which you may have already forgotten about.
Insert the installation disc into the drive and turn on the computer. If the “Install Now” window appears, then click on the Restore your computer link located below. If a prompt appears on the screen, select the Use recovery tools option, select the operating system from the list and click Next.
Another option here is called Recover your computer using a system image, and it only applies if you used the Create a System Image tool. Be careful with this tool; you will definitely lose all the information if you choose this option.
The good news is that you can relax in your chair and follow the sign for about twenty minutes. The bad news is you have no other choice.
You may be familiar with the interactive menu of five useful repair tools used in Windows Vista; don't worry, they are also present in Windows 7, but you need to wait for them. Windows will try to fix the problem for a few minutes without your help, only to then give you the option to start installing Windows again. Click Cancel to continue watching the running black bar; later you will be offered the best system recovery tools.
If an automated Windows tool solves your problem, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, the message “Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically” will appear asking you to report the problem to Microsoft; but since the Windows system is not running and the network connection is inactive, such a message will not be sent anywhere. Click Cancel to display the long-awaited page with System Restore tools. Here's how these tools work:
Startup recovery
Pressing this button will take you back a step; if you've already gone this far, then this option is useless.
System Restore
This button takes Windows back to multiple restore points. This comes in handy if the last driver installation prevented Windows from starting the system. Depending on how long ago the last system restore point was created, either nothing will happen, or you may go back very far. It's worth a try, but don't be surprised if it breaks a recently installed app or driver. Pay attention to the section “Back to the past - using restore points and shadow copies.”
Restoring a system image
You can use this operation to wipe your hard drive and restore a backup made using the Create a System Image tool in Control Panel.
Windows Memory Diagnostics
This button will check the system memory for errors. Unlike all the others, this tool does not change anything on the hard drive, so it can be used at any time.
Command line
Of all the tools listed on this page, this is the one that will save you time. Use this tool to open a Command Prompt window that will allow you to copy, delete, or rename files that may be preventing Windows from loading. These actions are also possible in Safe Mode with Command Line Support.
Using F8
Immediately after your computer starts, but before the Windows logo appears, press F8 to launch the More boot options menu.
If F8 does not help, then your computer may not recognize the Windows installation, and you will need the Startup Repair tool on the Windows installation disk described earlier. If these tools do not work or you do not have the original disk, then the best way is to disconnect the hard disk from the computer and connect it to another computer using a special USB tool. And then it will be possible to determine the problem, or - in the worst case - try to restore at least part of your data, as described in the section “Restoring a system after a breakdown.”
From the menu that appears after pressing F8, you can select the following functions:
Computer recovery
When you select this option, you are immediately taken to the System Recovery Options page.
If the Computer Restore option doesn't appear, it means your hard drive doesn't contain the hidden 100MB System Restore partition. If this partition does not exist, then you will need a Windows 7 installation disc to access the tools.
Safe mode
In this mode, Windows runs in a semi-functional state, allowing you to troubleshoot problems or remove programs or device drivers. If network drivers are not responsible for breaking Windows, use the Safe Mode with Network Drivers option instead of just Safe Mode.
Safe mode with loading network drivers
This is almost the same as Safe Mode, except that Windows loads network drivers. This is very important if you need to access the Internet or transfer files from or to other computers over a network to search for solutions and download anti-malware programs.
Safe Mode with Command Line Support
Instead of loading Windows and the Desktop, you will see a Command Prompt window. It will be similar to the one available from the System Recovery Options window.
The boot option Safe Mode with Command Prompt support is a good choice if you suspect that a recent driver installation is preventing Windows from starting. When the Command Prompt window appears, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to launch Device Manager. Then, in the Device Manager window, find the driver, right-click and disable it. Close Device Manager and restart Windows.
To exit the Command Prompt window and restart Windows, type Exit and press Enter. If after entering the word Exit the Command Prompt window closes, but Windows remains running, press Ctri+Alt+Del, and then press the small arrow located next to the red button at the bottom of the screen. To resolve file errors on your hard drive, see the “Finding disk errors” section.
Load Logging
This option starts Windows as usual, except that each boot step is written to the ntbtlog.txt file, which is located in the \Windows folder. If Windows does not start, then start it by selecting boot logging at least once. Then restart your computer, press F8 again and select one of the Safe Mode options listed earlier. When you log back into Windows, read the entry using Notepad; it is likely that the last entry in the log contains information about the source of the problem.
Enable low resolution video mode
This option starts Windows the normal way, but in VGA mode. It helps detect broken drivers or incorrect video hardware settings by starting Windows in the most compatible display mode.
Loading Last Known Known Configuration
This option starts Windows with the configuration of drivers and System Registry settings with which the system booted successfully before. Use this option if recent Registry changes or hardware installations have caused the problem that prevents Windows from starting. Check out the section “Back to the Past - Using Restore Points and Shadow Copies.”
Directory Services Restore Mode
If your computer is a network domain controller, which is strictly speaking not possible in Windows 7, this option disables Active Directory. In other words, you won't be able to use this method on Windows 7.
Debug mode
This mode, which is not typically intended for end users, sends problem fix information to the serial port for recording by another computer. In general, does your computer have a serial port?
Disable automatic reboot on system failure
Unlike the other eight options, this one simply changes the settings so you can determine why Windows won't start. If the crash occurs while Windows is loading, then by default the computer reboots so quickly that it is impossible to read the error message on that infamous blue screen. Disable automatic reboot on system failure if you want to read the message and then restart your computer manually.
Disable driver signing enforcement
By default, the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 will not allow the installation of any drivers that have not been electronically signed.
It is possible to disable driver signing enforcement to allow the computer to install unsigned drivers, but in practice this never works. Instead, to boot Windows, open a Command Prompt window and type the following:
bcdedit.exe - set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
Press the Enter button, close the Command Prompt window and restart Windows to get the desired result. If this doesn't work, then you may have to stop supporting certain devices until the manufacturer makes a signed and native driver for them.
The name of this option says it all - use it to continue booting Windows normally as if you had never pressed F8. With these tools, you'll have everything you need to get Windows up and running again.