Windows 7 Suddenly Will Not Boot

Windows 7. This is my work computer, and I do not use it for anything else. No downloading, no email...just accessing a virtual workspace. At the end of my last shift it it was fine.

I always restart the computer at the end of my shift to make sure that any updates get installed. But today when I went to wake it up, it gets to the Windows screen then just shuts down.

System Restore did not fix it, but I I can boot into Safe Mode, and I can boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

When I go into Event Viewer, I see lots of Red and a Yellow. This isn't all of them.

I do not know what to do or where to start.

 

I figured something out. There are 2 USB ports on the front of the computer. One is marked SS. That one stopped working a couple of weeks ago, but my headset was still plugged into it. Now if I unplug the headset, the computer boots.

Is this a driver issue? If it is, how can I fix it? And if it is a MB slowly dying, its still in warranty, so .....

 

I was going to suggest unplugging hardware until it booted, but you've done that successfully. If you plug the headset into another port, does the machine boot?

If it's under warranty, don't mess with it too much. Set up an RMA or whatever you must do to let the manufacturer take care of it. Do not void your warranty.

 

Thanks so much!

Yes, the computer will boot if the headset is plugged into another port.

I am not worried about messing anything up. I built the computer, so the MB would be in warranty separately from the machine. But I need this for work, and if I don't have to take everything apart it would be better.

That particular USB port stopped working a little while ago. I rarely use it. I usually leave my headset plugged in, although I don't use it much. At some point I went to use the other port to charge my cell phone and it did not work, so I swapped them. Keeping the headset plugged into the non-working port just to keep it off the ground, really. When I need sound, I swap it back.

Pretty sure there was a time when both the jacks worked, but I couldn't swear to it. And I know for sure that putting the headphone in the dead port never mucked up the boot process in the past.

I was tinkering around with it. Going into the control panel, disabling and reenabling the driver worked, sort of. But as soon as I restart the PC, I lose it again.

My biggest concern isn't a dead USB port. I've got lots of them in the back, and I technically really only need 1 for the mouse. I'm more concerned that the problem will get progressively worse.

Is there a way to tell if it's just a driver thing, or something more serious?

 

There is, but PC Doctor is expensive.

You could try Sandra Lite, but I've never actually used it myself.