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VAIO laptop, refuses to boot from Windows disk and only boots in Safe Mode

348 views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  AcEsSalvation 
#1 ·
Hi. This is about my wife's laptop, a Sony VAIO VPCF23HG which came with Windows 7 Ultimate preinstalled, with a huge amount of bloatware. Which slowed it down drastically.

The laptop has a Core i7 2630QM, 8 GB RAM and NVIDIA GT 540

Anyway, due to the fear of the new WannaCry ransomware, I set it to update. While it was rebooting to install updates, it crashed. The screen was black and there was only the mouse pointer, which could be moved, but it was otherwise unresponsive. I hard rebooted the PC, which unsurprisingly, resulted in a blank screen after the Windows splash screen. I rebooted again, and the laptop could successfully boot through Safe Mode, After which I backed up all her files.

I tried repairing the Windows using its own repair feature, but it failed. I tried using a restore point, but there was none (which is strange since it's supposed to create one before updating), so that's that.

I had another Windows 7 disc laying around, so I tried to have the laptop boot from it, but it said "Internal I/O error" and refused to boot.

The laptop comes with a recovery disc, but using it wipes the hard drive. I've all the files backed up, but I'd rather not go through restoring that stuff and only wipe the OS drive, and also, not have all that stupid bloatware bog down the OS.

Any ideas?
 
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#3 ·
Could try boot in safe mode and uninstall graphics driver. I had a similar issue with a system after a recent windows 7 update which seemed to break the nvidia driver installed.
Removing and reinstalling the driver sorted it.

edit: Although wouldn't explain the issue with not booting from windows install disk...
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by spinFX View Post

Could try boot in safe mode and uninstall graphics driver. I had a similar issue with a system after a recent windows 7 update which seemed to break the nvidia driver installed.
Removing and reinstalling the driver sorted it.

edit: Although wouldn't explain the issue with not booting from windows install disk...
I can't thank you enough. I tried literally everything, everything, but this fixed it! I was just gonna give up and use the recovery disks, but decided to try your suggestion as a last ditch effort.... and it worked!! Booted to Safe Mode, deleted the damned NVIDIA drivers, and bam! Windows boots perfectly fine.

Thanks again.
 
#6 ·
Windows 7 doesnt pull through display drivers like Windows 10 does. It would have been something in the update that messed with probably a dependancy in the nvidia driver. Or an update to the generic display driver which in turn caused the same.

I would try do a driversweeper clear of any nvidia drivers, and perform a clean install of the latest driver for it seperatly to doing Windows updates when you are back up and running with the laptop.

If it's working without needing the above.... Then just ignore
redface.gif
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex132 View Post

Windows 7 doesnt pull through display drivers like Windows 10 does. It would have been something in the update that messed with probably a dependancy in the nvidia driver. Or an update to the generic display driver which in turn caused the same.

I would try do a driversweeper clear of any nvidia drivers, and perform a clean install of the latest driver for it seperatly to doing Windows updates when you are back up and running with the laptop.

If it's working without needing the above.... Then just ignore
redface.gif
No, Windows Update in Windows 7 installs NVIDIA GPU drivers (as well as any other driver it finds for your computer). How do I know? I've had Windows 7 since July of 2009.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TwoCables View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex132 View Post

Windows 7 doesnt pull through display drivers like Windows 10 does. It would have been something in the update that messed with probably a dependancy in the nvidia driver. Or an update to the generic display driver which in turn caused the same.

I would try do a driversweeper clear of any nvidia drivers, and perform a clean install of the latest driver for it seperatly to doing Windows updates when you are back up and running with the laptop.

If it's working without needing the above.... Then just ignore
redface.gif
No, Windows Update in Windows 7 installs NVIDIA GPU drivers (as well as any other driver it finds for your computer). How do I know? I've had Windows 7 since July of 2009.
I've seen NVidia and Intel Graphics drivers in the optional tab. If you let Windows 7 select all of your options for you, it will auto install optional updates for you. TC is right here.

Go ahead and do a fresh install of Windows. All your files should be put into a new folder on the HDD.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by AcEsSalvation View Post

I've seen NVidia and Intel Graphics drivers in the optional tab. If you let Windows 7 select all of your options for you, it will auto install optional updates for you. TC is right here.

Go ahead and do a fresh install of Windows. All your files should be put into a new folder on the HDD.
According to his last reply, "deleting" the NVIDIA driver in Safe Mode fixed everything. So I think the next step is to set Windows 7 to never install any drivers, run a check for updates but do not install, and hide any NVIDIA GPU drivers. Then, install a genuine NVIDIA driver from here:

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us
 
#10 ·
Thanks, I did that guys. I downloaded the latest NVIDIA drivers for Windows 7 from their own site, which was version 382, set to do a clean install, and then rebooted to confirm it was all fine. Installed the rest of the updates, disabled some VAIO bloatware and it's working fast and fine.

Surprisingly enough, even after deleting the NVIDIA drivers and booting to Windows, and then rebooting (since Windows prompted me to) I faced the same problem again, Windows possibly decided to install that infamous update again. I did the process again, and this time, Windows did not prompt me to reboot. Regardless, before rebooting, I downloaded and installed the genuine NVIDIA drivers and it's been working well since.

Thanks again for your help.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiladEd View Post

Thanks, I did that guys. I downloaded the latest NVIDIA drivers for Windows 7 from their own site, which was version 382, set to do a clean install, and then rebooted to confirm it was all fine. Installed the rest of the updates, disabled some VAIO bloatware and it's working fast and fine.

Surprisingly enough, even after deleting the NVIDIA drivers and booting to Windows, and then rebooting (since Windows prompted me to) I faced the same problem again, Windows possibly decided to install that infamous update again. I did the process again, and this time, Windows did not prompt me to reboot. Regardless, before rebooting, I downloaded and installed the genuine NVIDIA drivers and it's been working well since.

Thanks again for your help.
Their "clean install" option just deletes existing Registry values for all of your settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel. It doesn't really do anything else. So, don't be mislead by that. I mean, don't let yourself believe you have to select that in order to get the same results.

You may need to go into "Device Installation Settings" to make Windows stop installing drivers for your hardware. Also, you need to make Windows Update check but not install. That way, you can look for drivers and then choose to "Hide" them.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TwoCables View Post

Their "clean install" option just deletes existing Registry values for all of your settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel. It doesn't really do anything else. So, don't be mislead by that. I mean, don't let yourself believe you have to select that in order to get the same results.

You may need to go into "Device Installation Settings" to make Windows stop installing drivers for your hardware. Also, you need to make Windows Update check but not install. That way, you can look for drivers and then choose to "Hide" them.
Oh, I thought it performed the same as DDU. Anyway, it's working fine, but I'll DDU it and reinstall just in case.

Yeah, it's already set to not install automatically. I'll make sure to not let silly MS install any more corrupt drivers.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiladEd View Post

Oh, I thought it performed the same as DDU. Anyway, it's working fine, but I'll DDU it and reinstall just in case.

Yeah, it's already set to not install automatically. I'll make sure to not let silly MS install any more corrupt drivers.
Yeah, I stopped using Windows Update back in the middle of 2012 because of bad updates. :)

I don't think you need to use DDU. Everything seems to be working well now.
 
#15 ·
Some reason, OCN never subscribed me to this thread. So I'm just now seeing the updates posted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiladEd View Post

Yeah, every damn new update makes me wanna cry. Windows 10 (which I use) is somewhat better than previous generations in updates though, it breaks less stuff.
I believe MSi just had a bit of RMA because Windows installed an incompatible graphics update, bricking some laptops. Had my of my supervisors' daughters have to do a return. Apparently rather rampant.
 
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