System restore failed

[Bevie]

My daughter's laptop is a DELL studio xps with Windows7. Problems started a few months ago when she had to use a Pro Tools program for uni work. Every time she used it she got a problem with windows not booting. Windows starts to load with a screen that says 'Starting Windows' and then after a few moments it switches to the screen that says 'Windows7 Home Premium' at the bottom. At this point the screen starts to flash as though it's refreshing about twice a second, and it never gets to the log-in screen.

Each time it's happened she's been able to go to safe mode and use system restore. However, it's happened again and now system restore won't work. I've tried all three restore points listed but every time it says 'System Restore Failed (error 0x80070002)'.

I've removed the Pro Tools program! I've run every diagnostic test and scan I can find on the computer, including all the pre-boot checks and it passed every one.

Is there anything else I can try before resorting to wiping the hard drive?

 

[TrainableMan]

Do you have the W7 DVD or a Restore Disk? If so pop that in and reboot up using that and allow system repair to run.

The first time a new computer boots up it normally recommends burning a restore disk. It can also be manually initiated by going to Control Panel\Backup and Restore ... Create a system repair disk but it must be done BEFORE the computer has issues. Theoretically, it should also be possible to create this disk on another computer which has the same edition and bit-size and then use it to run repair on the damaged computer.

 

[Bevie]

The W7 DVD seemed to take me straight to installing windows with no option for system repair.
The advanced boot options I can access by pressing f8 on startup include 'Repair your computer' which has a startup repair option. I've run this several times, but it doesn't seem to help.

 

[TrainableMan]

Since you said this has worked in the past, note that there may be more restore points available if you select the show more option. If so, maybe try going back further?

 

[davehc]

"The W7 DVD seemed to take me straight to installing windows with no option for system repair"

Perhaps you mean the screen which says "Install Now" ??
You must continue past this screen to get to the repair options.

 

[Kougar]

The W7 DVD seemed to take me straight to installing windows with no option for system repair.
The advanced boot options I can access by pressing f8 on startup include 'Repair your computer' which has a startup repair option. I've run this several times, but it doesn't seem to help.

Are you able to use F8 to boot into safe mode? Or does the screen still flash?

It almost sounds like a GPU driver problem... if safe mode works, I'd suggest uninstalling the graphics drivers from the Add/Remove programs screen, then attempting to boot into Windows normally and see if that works. If it doesn't work its one more thing to rule out, and DaveHC and Trainableman can better help ya.

 

[Bevie]

I spent yesterday backing up all documents etc .. just in case.

Thak you everyone who has made suggestions.

TrainableMan: There are only 3 restore points listed and I've tried them all several times. The 'show more' option doesn't show any more.

Kougar: I'm not sure how to delete the graphics drivers. I can get into safe mode. ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670 is listed as the display adapter. The 'programs and features' screen shows 'ATI Catalyst Control Centre'. Do I delete the whole control centre? And would the drivers be easy to reload? I've got a 'drivers and utilities' disc that came with the laptop, but can't find specific drivers listed on it.

Davehc: I've just tried the Windows 7 DVD again.
On the same screen as it says 'install now' there is a repair option at the bottom. This just takes me to the same screen I can access already with startup repair (doesn't work), memory diagnostic (done them all and it passed) or system restore
After I click 'install now' and accept the license terms there is then an option to either upgrade or install a new copy. Would the 'upgrade' option repair anything?

 

[davehc]

Quick answer. No. It is not what you are looking for.
Yes, you can uninstall the Catalyst centre, but, before you do that, open Msconfig (Just type msconfig in the start or run box)
Go along to the "Startup" Tab.
Scroll down and untick the Catalyst Contrrol Centre.
You will now have to reboot into safe mode again. This is neccessary, as, often, it is difficult to uninstall programs which are running resident.
But just a thought, when you have unticked it, just see if you can boot into normal mode.

 

[Bevie]

The Catalyst Centre wasn't listed in the startup menu, so I tried doing a selective startup without loading startup programs. I then removed the Catalyst Centre in the control panel. Unfortunately it's not helped.

 

[TrainableMan]

Bevie, the easiest way to back up all your documents and settings is with Windows Easy Transfer (WET). If you type "Easy" into the Start search it will be near the top of the list. It is extremely useful because it will back up your userid(s) settings as well as data. If you store info in folders other than your libraries (such as hanging off the C:\ root) then you should also hit the advanced option and add those to the list.

If you then do a complete reinstall you would install W7, restore the WET back-up, reinstall all your programs (except Pro Tools ) and for the most part you will be back up and running. (For me I have extra stuff because I disable services and change registry items etc but for most users you're all set).

 

[davehc]

The Catalyst Centre wasn't listed in the startup menu, so I tried doing a selective startup without loading startup programs. I then removed the Catalyst Centre in the control panel. Unfortunately it's not helped.

You mean under the startup tab?

If you are sure it is not showing there, then you do not have the ATI graphics correctly installed, which could be the problem.

 

[TrainableMan]

Bevie when you say Startup menu do you mean START > All Programs > Startup ? That start-up menu?

Perhaps you missed Dave's post about about running MSCONFIG; it has a startup tab which is more than the limited list you see in startup menu.

 

[davehc]

Wow. You have a load of gear running there TM! I think my (very) low spec computer would stop with that - lol
This is mine:

 

[TrainableMan]

I just have the bare Necessities; I love a nice full system tray. They are all watching out for my well being or providing a service I need.

 

[clifford_cooley]

I only have five items loading when Windows starts

HKCU:Run Sidebar C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
HKLM:Run RtHDVCpl C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RAVCpl64.exe -s
HKLM:Run MSC "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey
HKLM:Run Seagate Scheduler2 Service "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Seagate\Schedule2\schedhlp.exe"
Startup User FAHControl.lnk C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient\FAHControl.exe