Boot problem after power outage

[Cozarkian]

After a power outage, Windows 7 loads to the username selection screen but freezes while loading after I select a username. I can boot to safe mode.

Windows 7 is installed on a PNY XLR8 SSD with a separate Seageate 1 TB HDD for data/programs. I have backups of important data, but no restore point or image of the OS and programs.

Any ideas for solutions are welcome.

 

[LTC8K6]

No recovery/repair disk or W7 disk?

 

[nfriedly]

Try creating a new user account (I think you can do that from safe mode) and then logging into that account - that should at least help narrow down the problem.

 

[Cozarkian]

No recovery/repair disk or W7 disk?

I do, but I didn't want to do a full re-install, especially if the problem turns out to be a damaged SSD that needs to be replaced (although chkdsk returns no errors).

Try creating a new user account (I think you can do that from safe mode) and then logging into that account - that should at least help narrow down the problem.

Same result. The new user freezes at the Welcome screen with the ever-spinning loading icon.

UPDATE:

After selecting "Repair Your Computer" during boot and then "Startup Repair" from the recovery tool, I was told that Startup Repair could not detect a problem. I then clicked on "Vew diagnostic and repair details" and it told me my Windows directory = F:\Windows.

That isn't true. The Windows Directory = C:\Windows. I shut down, disconnected, and tried again, and this time it told me the drive was on D:\Windows, which would be the CD/DVD Drive. Nonetheless, I was able to do a repair, but it still won't load normally.

 

[nfriedly]

I think the repair tool sets up its own c: drive, so that's why it gives the "real" one a different deferent letter. But regardless, I think we've reached a point where a really natal is your best bet.

 

[Cozarkian]

I think the repair tool sets up its own c: drive, so that's why it gives the "real" one a different deferent letter. But regardless, I think we've reached a point where a really natal is your best bet.

Thanks.

I suppose I might as well upgrade to win 10 and do a clean install with a bootable USB.

 

[nfriedly]

Doh, that was supposed to say "reinstall" but I was typing it on my phone...

Win 10 clean install sounds good to me. I know MS talked about letting it accept your old key as an upgrade without actually installing the old Windows first, but it wasn't available yet when I tried a couple of months ago, so I had to install 8 and then upgrade. (Although the 8->10 upgrade is much more pleasant than 8->8.1 because you don't have to install any updates first.)

 

[Cozarkian]

Doh, that was supposed to say "reinstall" but I was typing it on my phone...

Win 10 clean install sounds good to me. I know MS talked about letting it accept your old key as an upgrade without actually installing the old Windows first, but it wasn't available yet when I tried a couple of months ago, so I had to install 8 and then upgrade. (Although the 8->10 upgrade is much more pleasant than 8->8.1 because you don't have to install any updates first.)

Sigh, I wish I had read your most recent post, because my product key didn't work. I wasn't even given the upgrade option, just the install now, so I think it was looking for a Win 10 key. I guess I'll have to call Microsoft and hope they won't make me reinstall Win 7, then upgrade, and then decide whether to do another clean install.

 

[UptownJim]

No recovery/repair disk or W7 disk?

Helpful AND offensive, eh?

 

[LTC8K6]

Helpful AND offensive, eh?

You chose that as one of your first 2 posts?