Problem with Win 7 Start up

[OneSpirit]

Howdy ... I have a computer that has win 7 ultimate 32 bit and something is wrong with the start up files. I tried using mini tool to repair the MBR but that didn't help.

If the install disk is not in the dvd player windows will go to the screen that states there is a problem due to new software or hardware which isn't the case and gives me the option of launching the repair option or starting windows normally ... if I try starting normally it gets as far as the logo, then reboots.

When I ask it to do a repair I get an error message stating "failed to save startup options" ... I have to put in the install disk and do the repair that way, then I can get into windows ... remove the install disk ... get the error screen when I reboot ... leave in the install disk ... it is able to get the startup files it needs and goes into windows.

The problem is getting those files to the hard drive and why isn't the install disk doing this during the repair?

[OneSpirit]

I forgot to mention that I did test the hard drive, memory, and cpu ... all checked out good. I tried to go to the command prompt and ask it to fix the MBR but I got a messages stating ... "'bootrec' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file".

[OneSpirit]

I found I was using the win7 64 bit install disk ... I used the 32 bit disk and tried to do a repair and got a message that it could not detect a problem with start up, but when I remove the disk and try to boot I get the windows error recovery screen. I copied the diagnosis report.

Startup Repair diagnosis and repair log
_________________________________

Last successful boot time: 9/2/2014 9:20:25 PM (GMT)
Number or repair attempts: 2

Session details
_____________

System Disk = \Device\Harddisk0
Windows directory = D:\Windows
AutoChk Run = 0
Number of root causes = 1

Test Performed:
_________________
Name: Check for updates
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 0 ms

Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Disk metadata test
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 47 ms

Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Target OS test
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 109 ms

Test Performed:
_________
Name: Volume content check
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 187 ms


Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Boot manager diagnosis
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 110 ms

Test Performed:
_________
Name: System boot log diagnosis
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 0 ms

Test Performed:
_________
Name: Internal state check
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 47 ms

Test Performed:
_________
Name: Boot status test
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 0 ms

Root cause found:
_________
Boot status indicates that the OS booted successfully.

___________
__________
Session details
______________

System Disk = \Device\Harddisk0
Windows directory = D:\Windows
AutoChk Run = 0
Number of root causes = 1

Test Performed:
_________
Name: Check for updates
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 0 ms


Test Performed:
_________
Name: System disk test
Result: Completed successfully. = 0x0
Time taken = 0 ms


Test Performed:
_________
Name: Disk failure diagnosis
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 63 ms


Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Disk metadata test
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 31 ms


Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Target OS test
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 94 ms

Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Volume content check
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 202 ms


Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Boot manager diagnosis
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 94 ms


Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Event log diagnosis
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 187 ms


Test Performed:
_______________
Name: Internal state check
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 16 ms


Test Performed:
_________
Name: Boot status test
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 0 ms

Root cause found:
__________

Boot status indicates that the OS booted successfully.

[Karlsweldt]

Noted this clue.. "

System Disk = \Device\Harddisk0
Windows directory = D:\Windows

".
Some more details about the setup. Is the primary OS on drive C:\ or elsewhere? Is there another hard drive as primary, or some other storage drive being designated as the C:\ drive?
What is the boot sequence for the system.. optical disk or hard disk first?

[OneSpirit]

It's a dual boot ... the C drive is 7 and the D drive is XP but I'm not seeing any options at boot up that will allow me to go into xp ...

[Karlsweldt]

If a dual-boot, then Win XP should have been first installed.. and then Win 7. The reverse order will never work properly.
Win 7 should be on the primary or "C" drive. Both OS versions must be the same as to 32-bit or 64-bit, ideally. But you can run different versions.
If Win 7 was installed as a stand-alone (not seeing the Win XP install on the other drive), then it would not create the proper boot.ini file on the primary drive.. for choice of default OS start.
Perhaps this link may help.. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 87ddda02a2

[OneSpirit]

I did install XP first ... I don't know what happen where I don't get that option ... could it have something to so with 7 not having the start up files it needs?

[Karlsweldt]

What was the setup when you installed Win XP.. just that drive itself, or two drives in the system?

[OneSpirit]

XP and 7 are on the same drive ... I downloaded EasyBCD and was able to get XP back in the boot menu ... but the problem still remains ... without the win7 install disk in the DVD it will go to the windows error recovery screen ... if I leave the install disk in ... it will go to the dual boot menu ... go figure

[Karlsweldt]

So both "C:\ " and "D:\" are on the same drive.
Is your boot order set for hard drive or optical drive first?
You cannot boot to a "D:\" drive partition if on the "C:\" drive.. only if a stand-alone.
Most likely, Win 7 did not reset the MBR for the dual boot during the install.
Boot to the Win 7 install disk, do the "Bootrec.exe" process. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
Still not "all up" on Win 7 quirks. Possibly someone else may have an idea.