Windows 7 - Won't Boot after USB device caused BSOD

[Minjin]

I plugged my Garmin 305 into a USB port causing a BSOD and the system won't startup again. This is the second time this has happened in a few months. It presented a little differently that time but the result appears to be the same (http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=31788915&postcount=52). It seems to be random as I use my Garmin on the computer every day without issue. I fixed the issue the first time with a complete OS reinstall. However, I'm resisting doing that again because if this issue keeps happening, and Garmin doesn't seem to be willing to write better x64 drivers, there must be an easy fix. I figure easy fail, hopefully easy fix.

Some facts:

- windows 7 x64, professional
- asus P8Z68V Pro
- drive is physically fine, this is not a drive going bad issue
- if system tries to boot, it goes to BSOD which happens so fast, I had to take a video and go frame by frame to get the code (7B, which indicates that it can't access the boot drive)
- when startup repair runs, it can't find anything to fix
- when I manually run bootrec via cmd line in startup repair advanced options, none of the options fix my problem and it can't even find the OS (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us)
- can't use command prompt from win 7 install disk because Microsoft keyboard doesn't seem to do anything!
- I already booted with a linux live disk and pulled everything of value from the boot drive, further cementing the fact that there is nothing wrong with the actual files on the drive
- however, system restore won't work because it can't read the restore files

What's left?

 

[exdeath]

Either from a bootable media or mounting the drive via a USB cable on another machine:

First try chkdsk /f and make sure file system is ok. If it fixes anything try system restore again.

If that doesn't work:

Move all files (not folders) from \windows\system32\config to new folder "badreg".

Copy (not move) all files from \windows\system32\config\regback to \windows\system32\config

Reboot and select normal startup.

I don't understand why it can't read the system restore files unless the filesystem is corrupt (need chkdsk /f) or the drive is encrypted.

 

[Minjin]

Here's something strange. I tried running UBCD and it BSOD'd with the same 7B error. Curious, I put an XP install disk in and the same thing happened. Starting to get worried, I put my Win7 install disk back in to see if anything changed and it loaded up fine. I tried the cmd prompt again (keyboard didn't work last time) and I was magically able to use the keyboard now. Ran chkdsk /f on OS drive. Didn't seem to find anything wrong. Rebooted. Same BSOD. Got back into the cmd prompt and did the registry replacement you suggested. Rebooted. Same BSOD.

There was something unusual I noticed when doing this. My win7 install is now on E: instead of C: where it was before. "Swap" and a data partition somehow got moved in front of it. I don't know if this is part of the problem or not.

 

[vailr]

Did you try: start in F8 Safe Mode, and select "Last known good"?

 

[Minjin]

Safe mode wasn't an option and it wouldn't have helped here even if it was.

I reinstalled the OS. I'll revisit this thread if (when...) it happens again.

 

[SimMike2]

Safe mode wasn't an option and it wouldn't have helped here even if it was.

I reinstalled the OS. I'll revisit this thread if (when...) it happens again.

You should start making a regular image backup so you can get back to normal if a badly written USB driver trashes your system. I don't consider this a Windows problem. It is badly written 3rd party drivers and/or hardware.

 

[Lorne]

Unplug all non-motherboard mounted USB harnes/ edge connectors.
Sometimes they go bad and cause same symptoms.