Windows 7 RC hangs at "Starting Windows"

Anonymous

I have been using Windows 7 RC for about 2 months with no problems. Now when I start it up it hangs at the "Starting Windows" screen. I tried safe mode and booting from the DVD and the same thing happens. It gets stuck at classpnp.sys.

Can anyone help? Thanks.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

I am with the other gentleman, this problem can't be solved by the rote answer of doing a system restore or start up repair . We can't even get to those options! My retail Windows 7 Ultimate install hangs on the logo/"Starting Windows" screen but no amount of waiting (even over night) gets it to move any further. When trying to access the system through safe mode I get a stop at "classpnp.sys". If I boot from the disc, try to do a system restore, startup repair, or even try just to completely reinstall the OS, it says it is "loading files" above a growing white progress bar and then just goes to a blank screen. I have spent 3 days and nights searching forums, trying to time button presses just right to access different menus, experimented with countless combinations of BIOS settings, and still have had no luck. Every tech support forum has someone who has had the same problem and the system restore/startup repair is the first and only suggestion offered followed by a whole host of people saying that it's not even possible.

I know there are a large number of people out there with the same problem, does no one have the answer? Microsoft? Please? If we can't even get the system to where I can reinstall the OS over the original to access my files have I really just lost thousands of dollars of work and pictures of my new daughter? I realize there is a lesson in backing things up in all this, but I hope there isn't a lesson about the new Windows either. I was really impressed with Win 7 so far but perhaps I should have invested in Home Server instead or even another option.

If you do create some sort of solution besides a copy/paste of the "system restore/startup repair" instructions, there seem to be more than a few people out there who would really appreciate it.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi,

Link to URL: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/12b2cc64-bdaf-4183-9a0d-22a73b72f6d6?prof=required&wa=wsignin1.0

My response:

Hello Tom

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Forums.

Classpnp.sys is the driver for SCSI devices.****Due to this Classpnp.sys your computer hangs at the "Starting Windows" screen.

This problem may occur in many scenarios. These scenarios include the following:

<br>•	The registry is corrupted.
<br>•	A System file is missing or damaged.
<br>•	A device driver file is missing or damaged.<br><br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br>You need to do a <br>Startup repair and system restore from DVD<br>to fix this issue. <br><br><br><br>Please follow these steps<br><br><br><br><br>Startup repair:

To resolve this problem, use the Startup Repair tool. The Startup Repair tool can fix some problems that prevent the operating system from starting correctly.

You can run the Startup Repair tool by using the Windows 7 installation disc or by using the computer's preinstalled recovery options.

To run the Startup Repair tool by using the Windows 7 installation disc

If you have the Windows 7 installation disc, follow these steps to use the Startup Repair tool:

1.	Insert the installation disc.<br> <br><br> <br><br>Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2.	Restart the computer. To do this, click<br>Start, click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click<br>Restart. <br><br> <br><br>Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.
3.	Set your language preference, and then click<br>Next. <br><br> <br><br>Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.
4.	Click<br>Repair your computer.
5.	In the<br>System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system that you want to<br>repair, and then click Next.
6.	In the<br>System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair <br>to start the repair process.
7.	When the<br>repair process is complete, click Finish.

To run the Startup Repair tool if the computer has preinstalled recovery options

If the computer has preinstalled recovery options, follow these steps to use the Startup Repair tool.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically. Follow these steps only if Startup Repair does not start automatically.

1.	Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from the computer, and then restart the computer.
2.	Follow one of these steps:<br><br><br><br><br>	<br>•	If the computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as the computer restarts. You must press the F8 key before<br> the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you must restart and try again.	<br>	---	---	<br>	<br>•	If the computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to select the operating system that you want to<br>repair. Then, press and hold F8.
3.	In<br>Advanced Boot Options, use the arrow keys to select Repair the computer, and then press ENTER.
4.	Click a keyboard layout in the list, and then click<br>Next.
5.	Click a user name in the list, enter the password, and then click<br>OK.
6.	In the<br>System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair.
7.	When the<br>repair process is complete, click Finish.

NoteThe problem may not be resolved after the Startup Repair tool runs one time. If the problem is not resolved when the computer restarts, follow the steps again.

Reference link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810

Systems restore:

Please follow these steps to do system restore

1.	Insert the Windows Vista or Windows 7<br>DVD, and then restart the computer.
2.	When you receive the following message, press any key:<br><br><br><br>Press any key to boot<br>from CD or DVD.
3.	Set the following preferences, and then click<br>Next : <br><br><br><br>	<br>•	Language to install	<br>	---	---	<br>	<br>•	Time and currency format	<br>	<br>•	Keyboard or input method
4.	Click<br>Repair your computer, select the operating system that you want to repair, and then click<br>Next.
5.	Click<br>System Restore, and then click Next.
6.	Click the<br>restore point that you want to use, and then click Next. <br><br> <br><br>Note Click a restore point that will return the computer to a state where the logon is successful. After you use the<br>System Restore feature, reinstall any programs or updates that may be removed. You will not lose any personal documents. However, you may have to reinstall programs. You may also have to reset some personal settings.
7.	Confirm the disks that you want to<br>restore, and then click Next.
8.	Click<br>Finish, and then click Yes when you are prompted.
9.	When the<br>System Restore process is complete, click Restart to restart the computer.
10.	After the computer restarts, click<br>Close to confirm that the System Restore process has finished successfully.

Reference link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940765

Once you boot to the desktop, you need to update all the drivers to the latest versions available.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and Regards,

Dinesh

Microsoft Support

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

0 comments

109 additional answers

Anonymous

2011-09-01T06:48:21+00:00

I am currently having the same problem which coincidentally took place right after installing two more sticks of RAM and successfully flashing the BIOS. My original install went off without a hook but the control monitor software provided by my motherboard manufacturer wouldn't launch. They suggested I flash the BIOS. So I did. Before doing this I hooked up two other SATA drives on top of my SATA SSD that windows was on. I also installed the two extra sticks of RAM bringing the total to 16GB. It was running fine. Then, on a restart windows hung. I restarted and it opened again. Then the keyboard and mouse locked up. I restarted and haven't been able to get back in since. I disabled all USB in BIOS. I took the SSD out and hooked it up to my laptop to transfer my files for backup. I deleted all partitions and tried running the install again. I don't know if the "reserved" partition from the original install was ever removed. During several attempts during the restart process of the re-install I get a solid cursor in the top left and an A2 in the bottom right. This A2 changes to 99 eventually. I have no idea what this means. I disabled all usb from BIOS. Then I somehow got the windows disc to run again which allowed me to once again delete all partitions and try re-installing. I don't understand...The two sticks of RAM are the same as the other two installed originally. The hard drives I added were already hooked up once externally and worked. I've built computers for over 10 years and have never run into issues this bad. I've had to run the dos XP recovery copying over all system files before on a Dell computer (complete with the corrupted admin password on the Dell Windows Recovery Disc) to get it running again but this time around it was more unpredictable and debilitating. I felt completely hopeless....Just sitting and wondering if the computer was actually doing something or would ever come back to life...I'm waiting for another copy of Windows 7 Pro that I luckily have already purchased to see if it makes any difference. My next step will be cleaning off another hdd and trying windows on that...It is really bogus that it was running fine an hour ago and with hardly any changes my computer won't even open Windows and I can't even get it installed...Looks like $1000 in the hole for this new computer for now unless I try putting XP back on again....

What do you guys think of trying to flash the BIOS with an earlier firmware? Possibly the one the board originally had if possible?

Okay, failed to mention that I didn't have the CPU fan on the after market heat sink plugged in that I installed yesterday. The system still ran cool enough to not be dangerous but out of curiosity I unplugged it. This has allowed me to get much further. I am beginning to believe it may be the power supply is the issue even though it has been working fine for the past week before this freeze up thing. Other people have had problems with a particular Corsair PSU. Mine is OCZ. It's hard for me to believe that it's really hardware related though...

Had windows up and running then on restart not responsive again after enabling USB support in BIOS. Disabled USB support in BIOS and back to the cursor/92 black screen....
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2011-08-29T04:53:32+00:00

I had the same error a few hours ago. I managed to fix it by spamming F6 and then F8. I got the system restore option on. Got it restored. Started it up and restored it again.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2011-08-19T12:09:19+00:00

I too, had the same problem. Repaired Windows, reloaded Windows, reformatted hard drive, replaced hard drive, and still the problem returned...

There were times when it would take up to 20 reboots to get it to start up. And as described, starting in safe mode also did not work.

On a hunch, I started hitting the "ESC" key where it normally would lock up, and the machine booted up successfully. This has worked for several weeks without fail. I shut down and restart my machine everyday.

I am sure there is some underlying issue that is unresolved on my machine, but it works. And that's a lot less frustrating than staring at the windows start-up screen for hours, just hoping...maybe this time.

Hope this helps someone else out there who was as frustrated as I. :)

God Bless!
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments