Unbootable Vista (Possible File System Corruption)

[Gecko 1123]

I have a computer with Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit. I think the file system might be corrupt. When I start the computer, I would get the Vista loading bar, and then I would get a black screen. Now when I start it, it gives me a screen to choose between normal startup and the built in startup repair program. If I choose startup repair, it freezes on the loading screen. Knoppix recognizes the hard drive and is able to mount it. If I try to use the Vista installation disk to repair the operating system, it freezes while running startup repair. According to Microsoft's help database, these are two signs of file system corruption. PcMinistry's EBCD doesn't have any helpful programs that support NTFS. Any help with this problem would be appreciated. It would also be nice if someone could find a bootable disk that has checkdisk on it. Thanks.

[Mak 2.0]

The Vista DVD should have the Check Disk option. If you do not have that please follow the link thru our Wiki will will take you to a download of a Recovery Disk.

Repairing the Windows Vista Bootloader - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki

That should be of use for you.

[Gecko 1123]

The installation/recovery DVD freezes as soon as it gets to the repair stage. It automatically runs startup repair, which freezes.

[Mak 2.0]

Can you hit F8 and try getting into Safe Mode with Command Prompt? I know there is a site called bootdisk.com but i do not know if it will be of service to you.

If anything you might want to try and restore it to factory settings. But i would get the data you need off there first.

[Gecko 1123]

I've tried that, it will only let me choose between startup repair and normal mode (which gives me the black screen.)

[JustinW]

First, if you want to try to boot from safe mode, highlight the normal boot entry in your menu and without selecting it, hit F8. See if you can get into safe mode now.

When you boot from the recovery disk, select command prompt from the recovery options menu instead of startup repair. Run:

chkdsk c: /f

That should check Vista's partition for corruption

Then try to reboot and see what happens and post back. It could be a hard disk failure in general if this doesn't work.

[Gecko 1123]

First, if you want to try to boot from safe mode, highlight the normal boot entry in your menu and without selecting it, hit F8. See if you can get into safe mode now.

When you boot from the recovery disk, select command prompt from the recovery options menu instead of startup repair. Run:

chkdsk c: /f

That should check Vista's partition for corruption

Then try to reboot and see what happens and post back. It could be a hard disk failure in general if this doesn't work.

The disk automatically runs startup repair before giving you the menu.

[Mak 2.0]

So you have no way to do anything? Did you check bootdisk.com? See if there might be something there for you to use?

[JustinW]

I'm assuming your booting from the recovery disc to do the repair... the start-up repair installed on the hard drive isn't going to help you.

If you're having start-up repair running when using the recovery disc, wait until it finishes. Instead of pressing the reboot button, click the "X" button to exit it out. Instead of rebooting, you should see the recovery options menu. From there you can follow the directions of my previous post. Good Luck!

[Gecko 1123]

I'm assuming your booting from the recovery disc to do the repair... the start-up repair installed on the hard drive isn't going to help you.

If you're having start-up repair running when using the recovery disc, wait until it finishes. Instead of pressing the reboot button, click the "X" button to exit it out. Instead of rebooting, you should see the recovery options menu. From there you can follow the directions of my previous post. Good Luck!

When running startup repair from the installation disk, it makes no progress even after several hours. If I try to cancel startup repair in any way, it says that the current repair operation can not be canceled.

Addendum:

So you have no way to do anything? Did you check bootdisk.com? See if there might be something there for you to use?

There isn't much for Vista on that website. I haven't found anything containing checkdisk that would work with Vista, anyway.

[JustinW]

Don't cancel it, just press the "X" button to see if you can get out of the window then and onto the recovery options menu.

[Gecko 1123]

Don't cancel it, just press the "X" button to see if you can get out of the window then and onto the recovery options menu.

If I press the "X" button, I get the same result.

[Mak 2.0]

You could try the XP Bootdisks. at least to try the check disk.

[Gecko 1123]

You could try the XP Bootdisks. at least to try the check disk.

Already tried that, it gave me a blue screen of death.

[Mak 2.0]

Well sadly unless Guru can think of something I think a factory restore might be in order.