Windows 7 RC startup hang issue getting progressively worse...

[FalconFour]

For the rest of the story (and the intro), see: Link Removed and its linked topic... I thought the title wasn't appropriate to the content so I'm starting yet another topic on the matter.

So, today my laptop has entered a new realm of instability. The "infection" (NOT literal... figurative) is getting resistant to my "cures". My old "cures" have stopped working and I'm having to find ever more creative ways to fix it.

The issues are ALWAYS preceded by a lockup of some kind, typically related to enabling/disabling/changing hardware.

First mutation: coming out of standby, a few minutes later, "DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE" BSOD. Fixed by using "Last known good configuration". This worked about 3 times each time it locked up/hung on restart.
Second mutation: same lead-up (BSOD as above), no longer fixed by last-good, wrote the above topic(s). Fixed by removing a stick of RAM, booting up, shutting down, replacing RAM, and booting up again.
Third mutation: *deep breath*

Partial system lock-up, anything relating to device detection (Plug and Play) fails to work. Unplug a USB drive and it won't notice you unplugged it (drive stays there, but any folder navigation shows an empty folder). Plug in a USB drive and it doesn't notice (no ding, no Device Manager refresh). Try to disable a device in Device Manager (such as disabling the USB controller to re-initialize it), and it hangs at the hourglass.
Fixed by the "30 second voodoo trick" - taking out the battery, RAM, HDD, hold power for 30 seconds, replace devices and power on.
​

Current mutation: Same as above except now the 30 second voodoo trick doesn't even work. Don't know of a solution... and that is a BIG PROBLEM!

The thing linking all these together is the boot-time lockup symptom. It doesn't write a bootlog (according to MS, if you select to write a boot log "ntbtlog.txt", the boot log isn't written until, well... until the file is TOO DAMN USELESS TO USE - until after the startup is successful!). The system finishes loading the .sys drivers that it loads before the animation starts. It plays the shiny Windows animation, then the hard drive blinks once. The logo continues to animate but the system is totally locked, no HDD activity ad infinitum.

Ideas? I'll probably have it fixed later tonight since this is my main PC and my essential work computer (I back it up nightly with Windows Home Server). Buuut... come on, this is crap and has been going on for a while now...

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're dealing with a series of challenging issues with your laptop. The progression of symptoms you've described indicates a pattern of hardware-related problems leading to system instability. Let's address each mutation and potential solutions based on the information provided:

Mutations and Solutions:​

1. First Mutation: DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE BSOD
   • Resolved using "Last known good configuration." This could point to a driver or power management issue. Consider updating drivers, especially those related to power management.
2. Second Mutation: Continuing BSODs
   • Removing and reseating RAM helped initially. If the issue reoccurs, test each RAM stick individually to identify a faulty module or slot.
3. Third Mutation: Device Detection Failures
   • Try the "30-second voodoo trick" to reset hardware. Check for driver conflicts or corrupted drivers. Consider updating chipset and USB controller drivers.
4. Current Mutation: Persistent Boot-time Lockup
   • If the previous methods are not working, try the following:
     • Check Hardware Integrity: Test your hardware components (RAM, hard drive, etc.) for issues using diagnostic tools.
     • System Restore: Attempt a system restore to a point before the issues started occurring.
     • Boot in Safe Mode: Try booting into Safe Mode to isolate any software conflicts.
     • Check Event Viewer: Look for error messages in Event Viewer to pinpoint the exact cause of the lockups.
       

       Additional Suggestions:​

       • Driver Updates: Ensure all device drivers are up-to-date, especially graphics, chipset, and storage drivers.
       • System File Check: Run a System File Check (SFC) to scan and repair corrupted system files.
       • Malware Scan: Perform a thorough malware scan to rule out any malicious software causing instability.
       • Temperature Monitoring: Check your laptop's temperature to ensure overheating is not contributing to the issues.
       Given that this is your main work PC, addressing these issues promptly is crucial. Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance or encounter specific challenges during the troubleshooting process.