Windows 7 RC hangs at "Starting Windows"

Anonymous
2009-10-14T12:26:58+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2010-02-08T00:54:06+00:00

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
2009-10-15T00:34:55+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-13T04:06:52+00:00

    Consider disabling the floppy disk in the BIOS even if you don't have any connected, it happened to me a lot on different computers and it solved the problem.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-30T07:33:41+00:00

    So, I had the same problem.  Couldn't run anything.  Couldn't boot from disk, get to system repair, etc... when I booted in safe mode it would get to classpnp.sys or disk.sys before stopping.

    I was encouraged by many of the posts here and on other websites to try everything, so that's what I did.  Disabled peripherals in BIOS or manually removed RAM and other devices, reset the CMOS battery, etc...

    Eventually what worked:

    I switched my hard drive config from RAID to IDE (in BIOS).

    Doing that allowed me to boot from the DVD.  System restore and startup repair still didn't work, but the memory diagnostic check somehow ran and logged me into windows.  From there I was able to do a system restore, but only to the most recent date.  After the system restore, startup repair ran on its own and did something.  Now I'm logged in, things are very wonky, but it's better than before.  Going to make a backup now before it crashes again.

    Anyway, hope that encourages some others: google a lot and try EVERYTHING.

    By the way, are there any diagnostics I should run from windows while it's working?

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-18T00:36:16+00:00

    Hello CB_846,

     Thank you for the response.  Since you are able to get to the Startup Repair options have you tried any of the other options?   How long have you had this issue?    I would consider a System Restore, to a point in time prior to having this issue or even Last Known Good Configuration.

     If you are still having any issues,  I would suggest reposting this question at the link below.  Please include any steps you have attempted.

    Microsoft Answers:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

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