This guide will help you start troubleshooting if you cannot boot with your Windows OS.
Things assumed:
You are not having a hardware failure.
You are not having a BIOS failure.
1. Boot into safe mode. This can be accomplished after a failed start up/shut down of Windows. You select the option on the next boot. Figure out under diagnostics what might have failed and fix it, or remove any recently installed drivers that might be preventing start-up. If you have a virus, this is a bigger problem and you probably should be looking down a few steps to solutions with boot discs for help. If you can boot into safe-mode, and cannot boot normally, and do not understand what is wrong, please make a thread on it.
2. Run Windows Automated Recovery. This can be done a few ways. Windows XP SP3 has a built in recovery module with a few options. I will discuss some options with the command line later. Windows Vista's recovery can usually be done by booting to installation disc and running automated repairs or via command line. Windows 7 has an automated startup repair, and also has a command line.
3. Use the command line. In the recovery console, find where to use command line. You must be an administrator to use the command line! To check for corrupted
system files, enter
sfc /scannow into the command line. To check for all corrupted files, type
chkdsk /r or
chkdsk c:/r if you are using the volume "C:" as your system partition. Note that CHKDSK takes a significant amount of time to complete. There are other
complicated functions, but ask first before you use them, because you need to know what you are doing.
4. Virus? Forgotten administrator password? Best to use a boot disc, such as
Trinity Rescue Kit. This is mainly a text-based command line interface that has many virus scan options and also remove administrator passwords and plenty of other options. There are a lot of alternatives, which might be discussed later.
5. Partitioning problem? Make a
Partition Wizard bootable CD. This CD will run in a liveCD format with a decent GUI. This can help fix MBR, recover partitions, move/resize them, and much more. Note: partitioning
can really screw up your system, if you do not know what you are doing. Best to ask first!
More to come
