When I Turn On My Computer It Freezes At Windows Loading Screen
QUESTION: My computer freezes when turning on at "Starting Windows". What can I do to fix it?
ANSWER:
1. First try booting to Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key immediatly after the computer first turns on. Now select "Safe Mode" or "Safe Mode With Networking" and do a Windows System Restore. Goto Start ---> All Programs ----> Accessories ---> System Tools -----> System Restore. Choose a date when the computer was working and restore to that particular date. You might have to try multiple dates before it works.
2. If that doesn't work you'll have to do a Full Factory Restore which will wipe the computer clean and restore it to it's original factory state. A lot of factory restore programs will allow you to back up files, but on some PC's you'll have to create a Linux Live disc and back up the files from there.
3. For more information on how to do a factory restore and to backup files before proceeding, please visit our factory restore guide or try our free tech support chat room.
ORIGINAL CHAT LOG FROM Free Computer Help Chat
11:21 Jessica my desktop comes on, and shows starting windows and then when it wants to come to the desktop, it doesn't come all the way, i don't know what i need to do about that
12:46 Geek hi
12:53 Jessica hi
12:53 Geek sorry for the late reply
13:01 Jessica it's ok
13:07 Geek Jessica, have you tried booting into safe mode?
13:20 Jessica i have done that once
13:25 Geek did it work?
13:32 Jessica and it comes up fine like that
14:03 Geek okay. So when you boot regularily, what is the last thing you see? and what happens?
14:18 Geek please be as detailed as possible
14:25 Jessica starting windows
14:40 Geek so it just freezes on starting windows?
14:47 Geek does it shut off?
14:50 Geek or just freezes?
14:52 Jessica yea
15:20 Geek What version of windows?
15:25 Geek Xp? Vista? 7?
16:15 Jessica the hard drive is still on, but the monitor goes off......i switched from vista to windows 7 about a year or so ago
16:45 Geek hi Tim, Sorry The Job I went to lasted till past 7..
17:29 Geek have you tried restoring to an earlier date?
17:38 Geek You dont loose files
17:41 Geek and its reversible
17:46 Geek just boot to safe mode...
18:02 Geek and it usually will ask if you want to do a windows system restore to an earlier date
18:04 Jessica i've tried that and the whole factory restore
18:15 Geek oh wow you did a full factory restore as well?
18:19 Geek wiped it totally clean?
18:30 Geek Did it work after the factory restore?
18:42 Jessica so do i need to manually shut it down and boot as safe mode and no it did not
19:14 Geek If you did a full factory restore and it still didnt work, then its got to be a hard ware problem
20:52 Geek a factory reset turns it back to EXACTLY how it was when it was brand new
20:59 Geek the computer has NO memory of the past
21:06 Geek Is it still under warranty?
21:18 Jessica no
21:39 Geek is it a laptop or desktop?
22:02 Jessica desktop......i'm actually on my laptop right now
23:29 Geek Well It doesnt sound like the hard drive or RAM
23:34 Geek its not the graphics card
23:38 Geek its not the power supply
23:49 Geek so I'm thinking its hte motherboard
24:04 Jessica right now i'm on the safe mode with networking on my desktop
24:06 Geek How old is it?
24:22 Geek are you sure you did a full factory restore?
24:39 Geek where it deleted ALL your files....and it made you create a new account and everything?
24:50 Geek its odd to me that safe mode works...
25:01 Geek but regular doesnt...after a factory restore
25:09 Jessica i think i got the computer in 2006 or 2005
25:12 Geek I've been doing repairs a long time now
25:19 Geek wait a second...
25:25 Geek you upgraded from vista to windwos 7
25:31 Jessica yes
25:33 Geek So how on earth did you do a factory restore?
25:48 Geek that would put you back to vista if you did
25:54 Geek I dont think you did a factory restore
25:57 Geek what you need to do...
26:03 Geek is back up all your stuff in safe mode..
26:06 Geek somewhere safe
26:07 Geek and
26:12 Geek get your win 7 disc...
26:18 Geek and boot to the disc by usign the boot menu
26:28 Geek then from the disk goto "custom install"
26:33 Geek and format the hard drive
26:36 Geek then reinstall
26:50 Geek you will most likely have to download drivers off the manufacters website
27:07 Geek That should def fix it..(if done properly) I can work you through the steps
27:50 Jessica i really don't have any important files on there anyways........so i need to put the disc in there now
23:29 Geek Well It doesnt sound like the hard drive or RAM
23:34 Geek its not the graphics card
23:38 Geek its not the power supply
23:49 Geek so I'm thinking its hte motherboard
24:04 Jessica right now i'm on the safe mode with networking on my desktop
24:06 Geek How old is it?
24:22 Geek are you sure you did a full factory restore?
24:39 Geek where it deleted ALL your files....and it made you create a new account and everything?
24:50 Geek its odd to me that safe mode works...
25:01 Geek but regular doesnt...after a factory restore
25:09 Jessica i think i got the computer in 2006 or 2005
25:12 Geek I've been doing repairs a long time now
25:19 Geek wait a second...
25:25 Geek you upgraded from vista to windwos 7
25:31 Jessica yes
25:33 Geek So how on earth did you do a factory restore?
25:48 Geek that would put you back to vista if you did
25:54 Geek I dont think you did a factory restore
25:57 Geek what you need to do...
26:03 Geek is back up all your stuff in safe mode..
26:06 Geek somewhere safe
26:07 Geek and
26:12 Geek get your win 7 disc...
26:18 Geek and boot to the disc by usign the boot menu
26:28 Geek then from the disk goto "custom install"
26:33 Geek and format the hard drive
26:36 Geek then reinstall
26:50 Geek you will most likely have to download drivers off the manufacters website
27:07 Geek That should def fix it..(if done properly) I can work you through the steps
27:50 Jessica i really don't have any important files on there anyways........so i need to put the disc in there now
28:34 Geek yes
28:41 Geek do you know how to access the boot menu?
28:56 Jessica no
28:56 Geek or how to get to the BIOS and change the boot device priority?
29:02 Geek who makes your desktop?
29:04 Jessica no
29:14 Jessica it's called emachines
29:14 Geek In order to do this right....
29:31 Geek you have to BOOT to the disk NOT install it in safe mode w networking
29:41 Geek Can I have the model number please?
29:51 Geek so I can look up the proper boot menu command
29:59 Jessica T5226
30:11 Geek k. Please give me a couple minutes.
30:17 Geek i'll brb
30:22 Geek its really important you do this right
30:28 Jessica ok
34:12 Geek Jessica, I'm reading conflicting commands to get to teh boot menu
34:19 Geek one moment..thanks for your patience
34:25 Jessica ok
36:22 Geek jessica, its really hard to find the right command for your model..but there is not harm in trying the different suggested commands until we get it right
36:25 Geek its from 2006?
36:48 Jessica it has to be from either 2005 or 2006
37:10 Geek ok..SO please turn it totally off...
37:31 Jessica it's off completely
37:47 Geek then turn it back on...RIGHT away tap f10 over and over until you get to a boot menu...which will list your DVD/cd drive...navigate to it and press enter to boot to the windows 7 disc
38:04 Geek its important you press f10 immedietly after it turns on..tap it over and over
38:19 Geek (f10 might not be it)
38:45 Jessica it says boot option menu
40:02 Geek nice
40:08 Geek so navigate to your dvd drive
40:09 Jessica the first on the menu is TSSTcorpCD/DVDW TS-H652D
40:14 Geek thats it
40:20 Geek select that item using your keyboard
40:24 Geek and press enter
42:31 Jessica nothing came up
42:50 Geek is the disc in?
43:00 Geek also there are two discs...32 bit and 64 bit
43:05 Geek Im pretty sure yours is 32 bit
43:12 Geek so make sure you inserted the 32 bit copy
45:36 Jessica it's to install windows 7
46:04 Geek ?
46:19 Geek what does the disc say on it?
46:26 Jessica it's at the install windows part
46:32 Geek oh okay
46:35 Geek soo
46:38 Geek goto custom install
46:55 Geek and then select your drive and you can either click delete..or format
46:57 Jessica install now, what to know before installing windows, or repair your computer
47:02 Geek then it will show as unallocated
47:07 Geek remember you will loose everything
47:15 Geek install now
47:24 Geek yes please be my eyes..just how you did
48:36 Jessica which one do i need to delete: Disk 0 Partition 1 or Disk 0 Partition 2: windows
49:00 Geek please list what it says for the partitions
49:12 Geek also remember...
49:13 Jessica and down at the bottom it says refresh, load driver, and drive options
49:17 Geek you are going to delete everything!
49:29 Geek and also you will have to most likely download some drivers..
49:42 Geek its likely at least one or two things wont work...like audio
49:52 Geek until you download the drivers
49:55 Geek off the emachines site
50:10 Geek What does it say under the partitions?
50:14 Geek the size
50:17 Geek and all the info
50:25 Jessica Disk 0 Partition 1 total siz: 9.5 GB free space: 5.5 GB type Primary.........Disk 0 Partition 2: Windows total size 223.3 GB free space 172.1 GB type: system
51:17 Geek okay...so before you do anything...
51:25 Geek make sure everything is unplugged except...
51:34 Geek keyboard....mouse...monitor....and power
51:40 Geek EVERYTHING else please unplugg
51:55 Jessica so i need to unplug the speakers and printer right
51:59 Geek yes
52:13 Geek and anything else that is plugged into the usb's...except keyboard and mouse
53:31 Geek Then please click on partition one..and what are the options? Do you have delete or format? or do you ONLY have "Drive Options (advanced)"
53:33 Geek ?
53:43 Geek select partiton one..dont double click on it
53:47 Geek just click once
54:29 Geek If you dont have "delete" or "format"..click the 'Drive options (advanced)"
54:32 Geek I'll brb
54:39 Jessica drive options advanced and it says that windows cannot be installed to partition one
56:05 Geek yea you have to format it first
56:09 Geek done install till you press delete
56:13 Geek or format
56:16 Geek actually do delete
56:21 Geek delte partion 1 and 2
56:27 Geek then it will show one entry
56:31 Geek "unallocated space"
56:44 Geek you only install when it says "unallocated space"
56:46 Jessica do i need to delete both of them
56:51 Geek yes
57:23 Jessica then now i install
57:42 Geek yes
58:17 Geek if you have problems after the install I still have another idea
58:22 Geek so dont panic
58:29 Jessica oh ok
58:35 Geek but usually this will fix everything
58:41 Jessica i know there's no viruses on that computer anyways
58:49 Geek how do you know?
59:07 Geek and viruses arent always the cause of system crashes
59:18 Jessica b/c i've had the antivirus checked the last time we used it
59:29 Geek antivirus is at best 60% accurate
59:36 Geek viruses slip through ALL THE TIME
59:48 Jessica yea you are right about that
59:51 Geek not necessarily the case with whats going on with you though
59:59 Geek what were you using for antivirus>?
00:05 Jessica avast
00:10 Geek good
00:15 Geek avast is very good
00:23 Jessica i
00:23 Geek my favorite for the free options
00:29 Jessica i've heard it's a good one
00:34 Geek yea it is
00:41 Geek I also highly recommend you download malwarebytes
00:49 Geek its a cleaning only tool
00:54 Geek so it doesnt conflict with avast
01:00 Geek just dont start the trial
01:03 Geek adn dont buy it
01:05 Jessica my husband had avg on his computer that his dad built for him a couple of years ago and it slowed his computer so much
01:07 Geek just use the free verson
01:18 Geek yea Im not a fan of avg AT ALL
01:36 Geek here is my antivirus guide: http://www.eugenecomputergeeks.com/best-free-antivirus-program/What-is-the-best-free-antivirus-program.html
01:51 Geek its pretty in depth
01:55 Geek I keep us with this stuff
:02:06 Geek my company here in Eugene Oregon specializes in virus removal and prevention
:02:52 Jessica that's cool......i'm usually the basic IT person in our house, but when it comes to this, need a professional
:03:27 Geek Where are you located?
:03:36 Jessica south carolina
:03:59 Geek ah. Its getting pretty late over there...
:04:11 Geek You planning on staying up another hour?
:04:26 Geek Cuz its important you get the right drivers
:04:47 Jessica yea it's after 12 midnight......my step grandmother died and i'm probably not going to go to bed anytime soon, i'm pretty wide awake right now
:05:28 Geek Could you do me a favor and click at least one of the facebook, twitter, or google plus buttons located directly below this chat? (its right below the smilies towards the left) This gets you on the VIP list and helps us out A LOT.
:05:50 Geek if you have trouble you can also just goto http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eugene-Computer-Geeks/226660334011653 and click "like" (if you have facebook)
:05:55 Geek jeez Im sorry to hear
:05:59 Geek about your grandmother
:06:21 Jessica i just did and it's ok
:06:26 Geek thanks
:07:12 Geek hows the install going?
:07:30 Geek Im gonna grab something to eat but will be right back
:07:32 Jessica it's still on the completing installation
:07:36 Jessica that's fine
:11:27 Jessica it's at the set up windows window
:11:37 Geek k
:14:23 Jessica do i click on use recommended settings, install important updates only or ask me later
:15:01 Geek recommended
:17:22 Jessica saying preparing your desktop right now
:17:29 tim thegirl3 quit (timeout)
:18:20 Jessica the desktop has came up what do i do next
:22:21 Jessica it says the updates were successfully installed and saying that it needs to restart now to finish installing updates
:25:49 Geek ok
:25:52 Geek sorry
:25:53 Geek back
:26:05 Geek sooo
:26:06 Jessica ok
:26:12 Geek goto the control panel
:26:16 Geek and at the top there is a search box
:26:20 Geek search for device manager
:27:03 Geek then
:27:11 Geek are there any devices listed as uninstalled?
:27:20 Geek it should have a yellow question mark by them
:28:16 Geek Does sound work?
:28:23 Geek Does intenet work?
:28:39 Jessica the speakers aren't hooked up yet
:28:55 Geek oh ok
:28:58 Geek you can hook them up now
:30:18 Jessica i can get on the internet
:30:35 Jessica the sound does work
:31:49 Geek nice
:31:56 Geek sounds like you dont need any drivers
:32:43 Jessica so do i need to restart the computer just make sure it'll come up again
:32:59 Geek sure
:35:44 Geek dont hesitate to ask for help
:35:57 Jessica so do i need to go ahead and download the malware bytes and i won't
:36:09 Geek yea
:36:11 Geek its free
:36:16 Geek just run it at least once a week
:36:21 Geek dont do the trial
:36:30 Jessica ok
:39:29 Geek Jessica quit (timeout)
