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.

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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.

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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

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109 additional answers

Anonymous

2011-04-18T02:22:59+00:00

So I've unplugged and replugged all hardware from my system. Even with a brand new HDD and everything unplugged it still hangs at windows start-up. I replaced the motherboard, and still with only the MOBO, HDD (brand new) and my CPU, Windows will not load. I have had 7 Ultimate for 2 years with no issues until the last round of updates, and now it appears that I cannot run Windows on anything. This little troubleshooting round has cost well over $300, Microsoft. I have a sneaky suspicion that your latest updates have done me in. Any advice? I have practically bought a new computer to fix this one. I work in IT, so I'll hang my head in shame if you can give me one inkling of how to proceed. I want my computer back!!!
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Anonymous

2011-04-13T21:14:39+00:00

Many thanks to all who have contributed. I have the same problem and now some good ideas about how to attempt to solve it. My Win 7 64 had been going fine. It suddenly rebooted when in a completely idle state and the by now classic hang ocurred. Not even reimaging with an image recorded 8 days previously made any difference. I can get into safe mode though! (My sympathies to all who cannot get even that far.) There are no apparent problems in device manager. Seems the way to go is to bite the bullet and swap out all the hardware. Process of elimination from the chassis up. Tedious. Grrrr.

PS I have dark suspicions about my Nvidia card and it's drivers....
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Anonymous

2011-03-30T15:52:44+00:00
Just wondering if you ever found the answer to this problem?? My laptop starting doing the same thing this morning very suddenly...

It was perfectly fine when I shut it off last night, and then this morning it just started stalling during boot up..First at the welcome screen, and then it loads a blank black page after 10-15 minutes. Windows FINALLY loads after about another 20-25 minutes but everything lags.....Additionally there is now an X over the speaker icon in the corner, and it says Audio Service is not running...but it was last night?

The last time programs were added or removed was on the 16th.....and it has been just fine.....My laptop did not come with a disk and I have no idea how to reinstall windows like many have suggested. But this seems to be a HUGE issue....I googled it and TONS of people are having this problem....

What can I do?

Last night I did some reading on several forums about this issue and the MANY MANY people that seem to be having this same exact issue or some version of it. I noticed many different things & LOTS of suggestions.
1. That this has been going on with diff systems since 2009 and with Vista as well as Win 7
2. Many believe it is a hardware malfunction and in a lot of cases that cured the problem.
3. Many stated that after the repair/system restore the problem returned
There was ONE post on some no name forum that REALLY stood out to me......This guy said that the Ask.com toolbar slipped onto his computer mixed in with some other program and shortly after the problem began....Then it hit me...recently when updating some software the same toolbar was installed on my browser. It NEVER asked it I wanted it, it just installed it....I immediately used the remove option on the browser to "uninstall it" and went on about my way....But after reading that particular post I got curious and checked my add/remove programs list...And lo & behold there in the list was the Ask.com toolbar. I removed it and now my laptop is booting normally.....Could it really be that simple??
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