PC won't boot into Windows

[1DSmII]

I had problems with a PC I dragged out of storage recently but managed to get it all working again. However I just dusted off another older PC that has not been used for a few years, and have been trying to get it working again.

Like the other one, I replaced the motherboard button cell (didn't check to see if it was working, just assumed it wasn't since it had been left longer than the other which was dead).

When I tried to boot, it got to "starting windows" with the flying coloured balls, looked like it was about to log me on as the screen turned into the windows looking backdrop/wallpaper (looks like a blue window that has lighter blue streak marks made by a squeegee moving in an arc), but it just hangs there.

So I tried recovering by using an old image I made of the C:\ drive when the system was put together and working, but that did not solve the issue.

I also found an old Windows CD, and booted from that in an effort to repair Windows, but for some reason it took me straight to Windows install, and then the screen froze before I could do anything more.

That is where I'm at now. I can't think of anything else I can try.

My guess is that there is a setting in BIOS that was lost when the button cell died, but I have no idea what!

Can anyone help?

The system is:

Intel Core i5 3330 3.00GHz Socket 1155 6MB
Corsair 16GB DDR3 1600 MHz Vengeance Memory
ASRock Z77 Extreme6 Motherboard
SanDisk Ultra II SSD 120 GB Sata III (System drive)
Intel 40GB 320 Series SATA-II OEM SSD (Cache drive using Intel Smart Response)
Seagate 1TB Barracuda Internal Hard Drive 64 MB Cache
Seasonic M12II Evo 520w GOLD 80+ PSU
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64bit
LiteOn iHAS124 24X Internal DVD Writer
Icy Box IB-158SK-B Trayless Aluminium mobile rack for 3.5" SATA HDD
Silent Game Max PC Gaming Mid Tower Computer Case

 

[Robert Zanatta]

OK, I've figured out what's been going on. Feeling really stupid!

I've been in Windows all along!

The trouble is, the monitor seems to be "zoomed in" to one little part of the screen, meaning I couldn't see the usual things I'd expect to see on my desktop, and I couldn't see the mouse cursor moving about on the screen, at least at first. It seemed to be frozen!

OK, so, now the problem is this monitor it seems. I tried playing with screen resolution, but that didn't seem to change much. I'd prefer to leave it at 4k anyway if possible.

Going to check the box for a drivers disk, but guessing I'll need to download drivers.

I'll do so tomorrow as it's getting late...

 

[1DSmII]

OK, I finally got it all working!

I should have tried it with my day-to-day monitor (LG 27UD59P-B) in the first place as it's likely the monitor I set up the PC with in the first place.

The one fly in the ointment is that this monitor is on it's way out (the picture suffers from lines that constantly appear/disappear on the screen). I'm contemplating mothballing this monitor to save it for when I want to use the PC I just got working again!

Maybe a new Cyber Monday monitor? ......... ;-)

That's the point. New monitors are unlikely to support Win7. At least from what I've seen. Thanks for the suggestion though.

AFAIK monitors don't much care what OS the PC is using as long as it outputs a video signal the monitor can recognize, and most monitors aren't too picky.

That's what I thought, up till the other day.

For example, I've used the same monitor on Windows and Linux without a problem.

Well I was using an old TV for when I needed a spare, and it worked fine with everything I tried previously (Win10 systems only though).

It would be nice if I could get it (or the newer LG) working with the Win7 PC, but not sure what else I could try since I can't find Win7 drivers, and changing desktop resolution does nothing?

 

[1DSmII]

Congrats. Persistence pays off.

Thanks. And thanks again for taking the time to help.

Now that all the old PCs are working again, I'm just about to start building some new PCs, so I'll probably be back with another problem soon! Just waiting for the CPU's and RAM.

One more quick question, to save starting another thread. Do you (or anyone) know if it's worth getting a fresh tube of Arctic Silver?

I think I have one here I opened 2-3 years ago. If that's going to give me less "life span" than buying a new tube, then I'll just get a new tube.

 

[GodSpeaks]

You could try uninstalling the video driver while in safe mode (as you could always reinstall it) them reboot.

I missed this earlier.

Just tried uninstalling the driver, and it rebooted... straight into windows (low resolution), then asked me to reboot again, and now it's stuck one again.

Seems it's a problem with the driver, but the same driver replaces it, and has the same problem...

What are you using for as a graphics card? I didn't see anything listed in your first post. Are you using the Intel builtin graphics?

Either way, all vendors will have newer versions of their graphics drivers, so go to the manufacturers site, enter your card and download the newest supported driver.

Another option would be to download the Display Driver Uninstall utility (it's FREE) and run it. Not sure if that works on Intel graphics. But it will wipe all graphics files from your computer to allow you a fresh CLEAN install. But you WILL need a graphics driver in hand to install after reboot.

EDIT: It DOES support Intel.

The more I think about it, download DDU and eliminate all old graphics drivers and their remnants from your HD FIRST. Just make sure you have a suitable graphics driver to install on hand.

 

[Robert Zanatta]

If your existing tube was sealed well it should be fine.

 

[1DSmII]

What are you using for as a graphics card? I didn't see anything listed in your first post. Are you using the Intel builtin graphics?

Yes.

Either way, all vendors will have newer versions of their graphics drivers, so go to the manufacturers site, enter your card and download the newest supported driver.

Thanks for pointing that out. I was so fixated on the monitor,I forgot there was other hardware.

Another option would be to download the Display Driver Uninstall utility (it's FREE) and run it. Not sure if that works on Intel graphics. But it will wipe all graphics files from your computer to allow you a fresh CLEAN install. But you WILL need a graphics driver in hand to install after reboot.

EDIT: It DOES support Intel.

The more I think about it, download DDU and eliminate all old graphics drivers and their remnants from your HD FIRST. Just make sure you have a suitable graphics driver to install on hand.

OK, now this is odd:

After having tried successfully to get the PC to work with the old LG monitor, I switched back to the new LG monitor so I could update the GFX driver.

I tried to boot into Windows safe mode since I was expecting problems/zoomed in screen with normal mode, but I missed the right time to hit F8 and it booted normally.

As soon as it booted, I could see the desktop as normal. I was not expecting this since I hadn't done anything yet to fix the problem, but simply attaching it to the old monitor seemed to have sorted the problem out anyway.

So I followed your advice and updated drivers to make sure. Everything seems to be working fine now.

Thanks again.

 

[1DSmII]

If your existing tube was sealed well it should be fine.

Thanks. That'll save me a couple of quid!

 

[1DSmII]

Now that all the old PCs are working again, I'm just about to start building some new PCs, so I'll probably be back with another problem soon! Just waiting for the CPU's and RAM.

Well apart from one post I made about a potential problem, the first PC has been built, windows installed, updated, and is ready to capture footage.

It must be the smoothest build I've ever done. No real issues, and only took perhaps 8 hrs total to put together, install, test. I think that's a record for me, and I barely had to reference any "how to put together a PC" guides (no matter how many PCs I've built I have always struggled to remember something or other).

Hopefully the next few will go just as easily!

Just remembered, there was one issue that might have foiled a flawless build. No optical drive in the case meant I could not install drivers for my USB wireless adapter. No internet without the adapter so couldn't download drivers. Catch 22.

Thankfully I have an external USB DVD drive which saved the day. But what if I didn't?