Windows 7 problems

My new desktop has a serious problem...it,s frozen on start up. I did a forced shut off then started again. First I got the blue screen of death which auto proceed to a screen to restart in safe mode. An earlier about a similar prob said to restart in safe mode with network; I did.
Result was a sort of restart. There,s a large search and support box on the right half of the screen, behind it is a box that windows has recovered- the rest is hidden by help box. Cursor arrow is dead center of screen and the whole thing is frozen.
Been like this for a while cheif "go to guy" is unavailable.
Your best thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Sent from iPad.

Can you post a picture of the screen? Especially the support box?

Hi,
Thanks for your time. I'll try.
Remember I,mm
A technotwit...pray for me.
Looks like it flipped 180.

BTW, after that support screen puter goes toward screen saver, but freezes w/o going to sleep. It stays there till I restart; beginning the cycle again.

From your OP I assume that it doesn't react at all to either keyboard, or mouse inputs? Once you're at the screen above, does pressing ctrl+alt+delete work, or not?
If so, I would try to go back to the last restore point. I haven't had to do this in years, but I think from the startup screen where you select safe mode, there should be an option to select restore points.
If there isn't let me know and I'll do some more research.

Essentially your problem could be anything from a corrupted Windows installation to a actual hardware problem. It seems a tad more like what I'd expect from a hardware problem, but hardware problems are much more rare than software issues (which is what a corrupted Windows install would be).

Without having like for like hardware around to swap things out with, the only real way to narrow down between the software and hardware possibilities is to wipe the computer and re-install Windows and see if the problem persists. You'll need some Windows reinstall media (DVD or USB key) which whoever you bought it from may have included. And you mention Windows 7, it's very likely that you could have ended up with a Windows 8 USB key and not Windows 7.

>>> If you don't have your computer backed up, then have someone recover the data first!!!!

There are 4 choices to restart--- normally, safe mode, safe mode with networking and safe mode with prompt. It has failed to restart in the first 3 modes. I just tried the fourth and got to the c prompt. It just went into freeze instead of sleep...this the same as before. It doesn,t respond to keyboard or mouse in any mode, including c prompt. Double checked both kb and mouse are firmly connected.
Darned thing is more perverse than a ...

Is this a laptop, or a desktop? How are mouse and keyboard connected? USB, or old fashioned round connectors?
Will the computer boot into bios if you hold down f8, f10, f12 or del when booting?
What model computer is it?

If your machine is new............it certainly must have some form of warranty. I have used customer service on my machine and gotten some really good results over the phone.

Barring that I would call Monster or some of the other MOL'ers who are professionals in these matters.

Hi,
Thanks for your time and input.
The problematic computer is a Lenovo tower. It was purchased mid-Dec at Micro Center. It came with Windows 7 installed; no backup disks. My 'go to' computer guy set it up and copied info and programs from my old xp laptop on to the new system.
I was told to make back up disks. Since it would take, I was told, several hours whether disks or thumb drive, I postponed making those disks. (Besides I don't know how to do it). So I don't have any backup for the system. I have some original files of my meager content on that xp (which also has issues). These aren't critically important.
A couple of thoughts:
A- the term corrupted installation implies, at least to me, a problem that occurred some months ago. Since the system has been working since Dec this seems less than reasonable.
B- in order to try starting the different safe modes I had to navigate to each choice. This implies that the kb and mouse work OK. Their failure seems to me to be part of the system freeze.
C- as I think more about this and just had another different 'problem' I'm becoming more convinced that I have contracted an Electronic Ebola. XP laptop has new issues which are somewhat similar. It booted up and worked. When the screen saver was timed to kick in the system froze instead. Also, I'm using wife's computer. When I clicked on first site today on Avast had a pop-up re: a browser with a 'bad reputation'. It seems highly unlikely 3 machines would all have some issue start at about the same time.

qrysdonnell said:



>>> If you don't have your computer backed up, then have someone recover the data first!!!!

You might be able to download what you need for Windows recovery disks from here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery
You will need your windows licenses, which should be on a sticker on the computer, or with the manual/documentation that came with it.
You will also need a computer with a dvd burner, or maybe a USB stick to create installation media.

THANKS
I,ll post progress.

Are you able to run a scan on your computer to determine if the problem is the result of malware having been installed on the computer at about the time you began having the problems you describe? If not, can you access the log of anti-malware scans done previously to see if there is something on the hard drive that should not be there?

I can do NOTHING with the computer. It completely freezes on start up, other than making the simple choice in safe mode it does not respond to the mouse or keyboard.
I did check for an available restore option, as suggested. NONE.

Is the computer password protected? If so, try control+alt and then entering your password and see if that unlocks it. It is also possible that your computer is not frozen but is busy doing updates. Depending on the number and size of updates the computer identified, it can take hours for a computer to complete the update process before you get a desktop screen that allows you to function.

Apollo_T said:

I can do NOTHING with the computer. It completely freezes on start up, other than making the simple choice in safe mode it does not respond to the mouse or keyboard.
I did check for an available restore option, as suggested. NONE.


Did you get a system restore disk(s) when you bought your computer? If not, are these disks available for on-line purchase, snail mail delivery?

Can you repeatedly press the F2 key while booting? On most Lenovo systems that should get you to the revovery/rescue system. You can find the instructions on the lenovo support website, one example would be this: http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_h50_ug_v1.0_win8.1_en_online_20140715.pdf

Were you able to get it resolved yet?


Not yet. 

I  just got MOL kinda working.  The discussions on mfr website are in jargonese, which I don't speak.  I'll prob contact someone to do for me.

BTW I'm using the old xp that the win7 was supposed to replace.


I thought it was Win 7 that was having the problem?

It is. 

These msgs are being typed on xp laptop

bc new win7 desktop is NOT working.


Ah, ok.  Sorry I misunderstood.


What site did you click on?  Could that site be infected with malware?  Are you able to run anti-malware on the computer that still works "somewhat?"  If so, I would strongly recommend doing that.   I would also avoid going to the "site with a 'bad reputation" until you rule out malware as the source of your problem.  

Apollo_T said:

... as I think more about this and just had another different 'problem' I'm becoming more convinced that I have contracted an Electronic Ebola. XP laptop has new issues which are somewhat similar. It booted up and worked. When the screen saver was timed to kick in the system froze instead. Also, I'm using wife's computer. When I clicked on first site today on Avast had a pop-up re: a browser with a 'bad reputation'. It seems highly unlikely 3 machines would all have some issue start at about the same time.

Why did you not contact your brother-in-law???


call me


Apollo_T said:

When I clicked on first site today on Avast had a pop-up re: a browser with a 'bad reputation'.


I'm running Avast on my home PC, and have started getting those pop-ups as well.   

'Bad reputation'?  Whose opinion is that?   I just close the pop-up.



That's what I did... it's just another coincidence.

Just had someone quite savvy here.  Tried safe mode- still freezes.  Tried restore to last good config-- freezes then got a window that "...computer is not running genuine windows."

Just emailed Micro Center- since they installed system.  Now at wait and see point.


UPDATE:

I wasted hours at Lenovo helpsite, which is laid out by pros who think we're all as adept as they are.  I stumbled around and got nothing done- first shot.  Second try I asked 'better' questions and got to a place that told me there are 1035 replies on the forum that could be useful.  Third try buried in one of those 1035 possibilities was a link to MS support... I got more done there in 15 mins live chat than in all the time wasted at lenny site.

Fourth try at lenny site I stumbled, fumbled and bumbled to the place where there are support phone #s  Once again I got more done in 18 mins of live talk- which included 7 mins hold time- than all the other time   Return call and walk thru various attempts at restarting yielded this:

Hard drive needs to be replaced... tech to set up appt in 3 days.

All this time wasted because they hide a live option.


Sympathies. There just isn't anything quite as frustrating.


For future reference:  http://gethuman.com/phone-number/Lenovo/


Thanks Steve-  didn't see it earlier

Thanks J-  T S

Latest news (aka "Reports of Latest Disasters")

Hard drive was replaced and I got error msg about no operating system found.  Lenovo sent me 2 sets of recovery discs.  I tried one set, w/ assist from  a savvy BIL, didn't work.  Last week called- they to call back- still waitng.  So I called about 10:30 this AM; eventually someone called back.  Lenny support and I went thru recovery process that returned to same error msg.  So it wasn't  my fault.

I repeated the exercise w/ 2nd set of discs- same result.  More time on phone as they walked me thru more attempts to repair.  Still unresolved.  They now suspect that it's the motherboard.  SUSPECT mind you and they want to send out another tech to swap out the motherboard.  Will this work???  Who knows. 

Got off phone a few mins before 7PM.  I've wasted over10 hrs actively trying to resolve this mess.  That doesn't include time sitting around the phone like a 16 yr old waiting for a girl to call me for a date.  I can tell you this: I think I've got a right to be as pssssst as I am. I'm half of a mind to get it up and running then sell it.

URRRRGH


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