crazy vista boot loop

M

mumbles

New Member
I've searched the web for three days trying to figure something out. Posting as a last resort.

A few days ago, Vista would not boot on my Dell laptop. Ran startup repair - no help. No system restore points could be found (even though I had set some in the past). Appeared to be booting to the recovery partition, but could not find any Windows installs. I did all I knew how to do. Did some internet research, tried some things, no solutions.

Somewhere as a result of one of the attempts (not sure which one), Vista is now in what seems to be a boot loop and will only boot to the stand alone memory test/diagnostics menu. (It's a window with "Choose an Option" in the header, and three choices: Test Memory, Test System, Exit). Test Memory, runs the memory test (it passes). Test System, runs the diagnostic test (it passes). Exit, exits the diagnostic test menu and reboots the system which goes back to the diagnostic test menu.

F8 not working. F12 takes me to BIOS, but I can't boot from disc/USB, it keeps going back to the test menu. I cannot bypass it.

Any ideas? I'm helpless and clueless.
 

My Computer

System One

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    a6530f Desktop
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    HP-PAVILION
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    M2N68-LA (Narra3)
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    Menory Card Reader: 15-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader

    Media Drive
Hi mumbles, now I did the same as you and I have the same problem.
How did you fix it finally?

Thanks
I know that this is an old thread but, considering that don't have any solution...
 

My Computer

System One

What did you do to get yourself into a loop?

What kind of loop is it?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
So I had an Partition table issue, that I fixed using Testdisk on a Ubuntu live CD.
Then I boot the computer and It appears Choose An Option: Test memory, Test System, Exit. After doing all the tests, when I click exit it reboot the computer and brings me again to the Choose an option window.

When I did the Test system it appeared a: error code 0F00:065D disk_0 self-test read error
 

My Computer

System One

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Hi oldow,

The error code 0F00:065D disk_0 self-test read error means that the hard drive is faulty and needs replacement.

You can check warranty status online. Click on the link below: Product Support

If the computer is in warranty, then contact the technical support for Dell they would be able to replace the hard drive.

For any further questions in future please feel free to contact me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-4100
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI 5450
    Screen Resolution
    1600*900
    Internet Speed
    10Mbps
Yes, it often means the hd has problems.

But because it appeared after using Testdisk, it is possible the error message might be incorrect.

If you have data on there you want, worth checking with something else (eg partition wizard ) just to make sure.

Otherwise, if you are covered by SGA or guarantee - might as well just get a replacement as Madhur suggests.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
You are helpping me so much:
So the first thing, I don't thing that the hard disk will be dead because the first time I run Ubuntu I could access to C: and all of my files (unfortunatelly I didn't copy my files...).
After using testdisk (I did something wrong) so now when I run Ubuntu it appears Unlabeled with anything.

So, now I'm on the MiniTool partition wizard and there I can se:
Disk 1:
*: Capacity: 70.57Mb Used:7.81Mb FileSystem: Fat Type:Primary Status:Active
*:*Capacity: 32Gb Used:26.79GB FileSystem: Fat32 Type:Primary Status:None
*: Capacity: 564GB Used:0B FileSystem: Unallocated Type:Logical Status:None

Ok, so with the 564Gb disk most of the options are disabled.

I remember that during the TestDisk process there was a Step that was:
Choose your disk as primary, logical...
I keep it as it was maybe this was the mistake, so:
I try to fix it with Partition Wizard, or with TestDisk?

Thanks!!!

PD: the fact that it appears: Used 0B it means that all the data has been deleted (ot not necessarily)
 

My Computer

System One

It is unallocated right now so it is showing used zero.

I would use the partition recovery feature in partition wizard.


Do a quick scan of the whole HD.

After it has finished ( just a few seconds)

Tick ALL the partitions you want to keep.

Apply, OK.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Ok, so for quick Scan you mean:
Partition Recovery Wizard>Disk1> Which i have to choose between:
full disk (san entire disk)
unallocated space (scan free space)
specified range (scan specified sectors)

then I can choose Quick Scan.

And, when the quick scan finishes, which partitions I must keep I mean, I only want:
The HD partition with all the data, the recovery partition and the boot partition.
(if there is some partition that isn't a partition sorry...) I need more partitions?

Thanks!!!
 

My Computer

System One

Yep, scan the full disk , the whole HD - do quick scan.

You only want to tick all the partitions you originally had before your problem.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Ok, the scan will take all the night (+1h Barcelona time) the fact is that I don't know which partitios were before all the boot issues... I don't know is now there are new partitions.
That's why I asked if with The HD partition with all the data, the recovery partition and the boot partition.
(if there is some partition that isn't a partition sorry...) I need more partitions?
Because aboute partitions (logical, primary...) I have not Idea (sorry, I'll search about it)

Thanks!
PD: I'll answer you after the scan
 

My Computer

System One

I cannot know what partitions you had originally - only you can know that.

The scan will take all night?

It is usually seconds for me.

You did select QUICK SCAN?

If you don't know , I suppose this is a good guess

That's why I asked if with The HD partition with all the data, the recovery partition and the boot partition.
Click to expand...
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
The scanning progress bar was stuck, now it is 35 min left.
The thing is that now with 55% of progress, it appears 5 partitions. I will check on google.

Also at the end I will take a screen capture to be sure that I'm doing the right things this time.

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

If you post a screenie, we can take an educated guess.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Ok, here is the screenie:
3KL9wkGaNMdbk4ZJewZGusBv6IuiCA1-xB1rbzcilMqA2-y3J_sRTcZGrfsNMQx64-uA_70Ywyw

I'm worried about the sizes of the disks, because the max size is: 32Gb...
 

My Computer

System One

I can't see a screenie.
I'm worried about the sizes of the disks, because the max size is: 32Gb..
Click to expand...
.

What do you mean by that? Sounds like FAT .
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
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