Windows 7 Startup Problem

I have a Gateway laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium that I'm trying to fix for a friend because it won't start up.

He got a notice from AVG that said he needed to upgrade to the new version. From his description, I think it was the legitimate notice, not something else. He clicked on it and downloaded the new one. It stopped installing and told him he had to remove the old version first. He says he did that through Control Panel, restarted without a problem, then tried to reinstall the new AVG from his download. It again told him to remove the old one. He went into folders and tried to delete anything AVG he could find, because it was no longer in the Control Panel. He tried to reinstall the new version again from his download. It hung up, so he tried to restart the computer.

The computer won't start up. It goes the Windows Error Recovery screen to launch Startup Repair or Start Windows Normally. If you pick Launch Startup Repair, the screen goes black, then right back to that same Windows Error Recovery screen. If you pick Start Windows Normally, you see the Windows icon, black screen, Gateway logo, then back to the same Windows Error Recovery screen.

When trying to enter Safe Mode, you can get to the screen to pick it. If you pick Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking or Last Known Good Configuration, it acts like it's been restarted and goes to the Windows Error Recovery screen.

When booting from the Windows 7 CD, I have tried Startup Repair and System Restore, but neither work. I tried three different Restore Points, just to be sure.

All of the error messages from each repair/diagnostic tool are attached.

Sure seems like something was corrupted due to the install/uninstall/deleting things he was doing. I'm stuck on what to try next.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions to avoid completely reinstalling Windows 7 and erasing all of his documents and photos.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! THANK YOU!

 

Check out Statement on AVG Free 2011
at http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=229347

Search on avg free 2011 crash
at http://www.google.com/search?q=avg+free+2011+crash&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=&sa=2

for lots more links.

Bazza

 

Hello,
Can you get into a command prompt using the Window 7 CD? If so, go the the programs folder and rename the AVG folder to something like AVGold and see if it will boot.

Sorry,
Did not see bigbazza's post after I posted. :-o

 

You can download an iso file from AVG (KNOWN PROBLEM), Aand it has to be burned to a cd, then used as you start up the pc,-if it is the AVG download that caused it, this should fix it- it just depends on what else he did.
http://www.avg.com/gb-en/faq.num-4079

 

Great info and suggestions, but unfortunately all are a no-go.

It won't boot from the CD. It goes right back to the Windows Error Recovery screen. I can't get to the command prompt either. It also takes me to the same screen.

What do you think?

 

Hello,
Did you burn the iso file as an image with something like Nero or Imgburn? I have found if a CD does not boot, Imgburn will do the job. Also, check in the BIOS. You might have to change the boot options to boot off of the CD first.

 

My boot order was already set correctly, and I confirmed it before trying the AVG fix. I used the ISO option in my CD burning program. I also tried it from a flash drive after making it bootable per AVG's instructions. Neither worked. It goes back to the Windows Error Recovery screen each time.

If I can find another blank CD, I'll try the program you suggest for burning it and try it all again. If this doesn't work, what's next?

 

I believe next we would burn a small linux distro like puppy and then delete or rename the AVG folder with that.

 

Such as from puppylinux.org? I know what it is but have never done it myself. Any advice or things to avoid during the process? Thanks!

 

Nothing special. Just download the iso, make sure the MD5 matches and burn it with Imgburn at 4X speed.

 

I'm traveling today, but will try it tonight or tomorrow. I appreciate the assistance.

 

Sometimes with laptops, it skips very quickly past the boot from cd- If you have selected cd rom as first boot device, then pressed f10 to save and exit, and it does not boot from cd, then try choosing boot menu -I think its f12 in the gateway- and ensure you have moved cdrom to top place, then continue with booting.
I cannot remember if these show the same as Toshiba's do- With Toshiba's you can look at bottom of screen, and if you are quick, you can use the right arrow to change to the cd on the bottom (shows charcters for cd/hard drive etc and click the enter button

 

I don't appear to be having that problem, but I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks!

 

I've gotten into the laptop with Puppy and renamed the AVG folder. Tried a restart and it still went to the Windows Error Recovery screen. I went back in and deleted the AVG folder. Still getting the Windows Error Recovery screen. I can't find any other AVG folders files. Any ideas?

 

Sorry-holiday, been inactive.
This was a really awkward one with AVG.
If you put your Windows 7 disc in and choose repair, Then choose command prompt on that screen, and type in SFC /SCANNOW- It should replace any corrupted main windows files (note the space after SFC, )
Also from this command prompt, you can try the fixboot, and fixmbr tools as described here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
Read through well, to try to get to grips with it- but only try those two for now.:wave

 

Got through scannow, fixmbr and fixboot successfully, but still having the same problem.

 

I did, but unfortunately it didn't work.

 

I have never bothered with the Linux method, so I cannot give exact information on it, but I understand that you can copy files from your hard drive with it, to save his work.
I tend to use an adaptor to connect these hard drives to my main computer, or, use a hard drive caddy, and usb to another computer/laptop and copy files off that way- the usb caddy for a laptop are very cheap, so that is one way that you could save the data-
I believe the gateways have a hidden recovery partition, and it can be activated to restore to factory condition, but if Windows 7 is an update to original, you will only get Vista, or, XP , whatever was on the laptop at factory install, if you do that.Also having the boot messed up by AVG, and working around the problem may have lost you the link , and make it hard to use any recovery partition, unless you have install discs as backup. As I understand it, you should be able to use puppy linux to copy files, perhaps to a usb stick, but someone else should lead you through that ,as I have no other ideas , if the AVG fix will not work, now, after what we have done.
I have the Gateway recovery method somewhere in my archive, and I will loo it up, in case it is of use to you.

 

Gateway recovery partition- if it has one
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH2/MLXPH2faq6.shtml

Further information that may be useful, as if you have upgrade, you can recover then update to windows 7.
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/Medialess/MLXPH1/MLXPH1fql.shtml

 

Considering it was an upgrade from Vista and that he had a backup of some items, I decided to just do the Windows 7 reinstallation. It's working perfectly now. I appreciate everyone's time and efforts. Thank you! :wave