Author Topic: windows 7 stuck in repair loop .. (Read 21453 times)

shawie60 · « **on:** June 20, 2018, 08:58:55 am »

Hi Guys I have a HP compaq dx2250 running windows 7 pro 32bit sp1 2Gb memory. Its running an 2.2ghz AMD athlon x2 processor.
Its stuck in a boot repair loop which I cant get out of.
so far Ive tried the following :-

startup repair - no joy
last known good configuration - no joy
safe mode - no joy
chkdsk - found errors and corected them
sfc /scannow - no problems found
system restore fails with memory error .. (the memory @0x74818f18 reference memory @ 0x00000004. the memory could not be read .)
run memory diagnostic (Memtest+86) no problems
the startup repair logs tell me its a bad patch and the system logs seem to confirm this as the problems happened after a windows update.

Ive run hotfix uninstaller which basically just looks busy and progresses no further.

I believe the problem either lies with the update or may be related to avira antivirus as my mate said that kept throwing errors about avira backup ..
Is there any way to remove the last update and /or Avira other than whats listed above?
also can I alter the startup to a clean boot bearing in mind I cant access windows ?

Any suggestions would be appreciated that I can try before re installing windows.
many thanks
glenn

Boggin · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2018, 09:47:21 am »

Let's see if this will work.

In the advanced boot options select Repair your computer and navigate to the Recovery Environment (RE) to select Command Prompt.

Enter wusa /uninstall /kb:44284867

repeat the cmd for KB4284826

exit

then reboot to see if you are back to normal.

Note the space before each /

It may not find the first one as that is a security only update, but the second is the monthly rollup one.

shawie60 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2018, 10:20:02 am »

hi thanks for the input .. sadly that didnt work. Gave an error 0x8000ffff catastrophic failure which I assume means it cant find it.
based on that I looked through the logs to find which items it failed on. They were kb4099633 and kb4103718. Tried the uninstall with those with the same error.
I noticed in the app logs that the user profile service failed on a few occasions.. saying cant load classes registry file - unspecified error, not sure if thats related..
sorry clutching at straws here I'm afraid ..
glenn

Boggin · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2018, 01:03:36 pm »

Are you able to boot up into Safe Mode with Networking by selecting that from the advanced boot options ?

In that mode you can access Installed Updates by going Start - type installed then press enter when View installed updates comes up.

The search in the top right doesn't work but you can scroll down to those you want to uninstall by right clicking on them and selecting Uninstall.

EDIT - I'm unable to find KB4099633 on my Win 7 but KB4103718 was installed on the 20th June 2018 but after each month's updates I run Disk Cleanup as an admin which cleans out obsolete updates and that one may have been in those.

shawie60 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2018, 01:54:38 pm »

no they all stop at a advprot (which i guess is part of the avira system) and then restart.
It would certainly give me more options if i could get into safe mode..

Boggin · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2018, 02:19:06 pm »

See if you can uninstall Avira by this method - https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/272460-programs-uninstall-using-command-prompt-windows.html

If you can't get Safe Mode with Command Prompt, see if the cmd will execute from the RE Command Prompt.

EDIT - It doesn't work from the RE cmd prompt or from booting up with an install disk from the RE.

Is that the correct spelling for advprot as I can't find anything on that file/driver name.

shawie60 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2018, 03:04:57 pm »

no sorry it should be avdevprot.sys .. see what you mean about the uninstall feature, getting late this end so might not reply soon but once again thanks for the help, its much appreciated ..
instead of uninstalling it what about trying to disable the components using autoruns etc ? think that would work ?/

Boggin · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2018, 03:13:08 pm »

Yes, that is an Avira file - http://www.freefixer.com/library/file/avdevprot.sys-269831/

It's about 11.15pm here in the UK so I won't be around for much longer either.

shawie60 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2018, 03:34:29 pm »

uk here to mate, yorkshire born n bread ! lol
getting square eyes so im off to bed now, thanks for all your help tho its much appreciated
glenn

Boggin · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2018, 01:00:46 am »

Co Durham for me

shawie60 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2018, 04:28:14 am »

Just tried disabling services etc that were associated with avira on the hope I might get it into safe mode but no joy there... looks like I may have to bite the bullet and re install, unless you have any last idea's I can try ..

Boggin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2018, 04:39:42 am »

Have you tried to uninstall Avira by the method in that article ?

How were you trying to access services and on another note, what logs were you referring to that snagged those two updates ?

shawie60 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2018, 06:00:08 am »

the unintall didnt work from re like you said. The logs I viewed were system logs (see attached)

Boggin · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2018, 06:58:27 am »

How/when did you access Event Viewer ?

Were you able to select Safe Mode with or without Command Prompt ?

To exit that if you can, enter shutdown /r /t 00 which will effect an immediate reboot.

I'm not sure if this article will help with the user profile service, but if that has become corrupt, it's worth a try - if you are unable to access Safe Mode with or without Command Prompt to uninstall Avira.

https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/fix-the-user-profile-service-failed-the-logon-issue-for-windows-7/

You can access the registry from the RE cmd prompt by entering regedit

BTW - what are you using to post with ?

shawie60 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2018, 08:05:25 am »

got to the logs via a MsDart disk I got supplied to me when i worked at the local college a few years ago ..
I couldnt access safe mode at all as I mentioned in my original post, if I had been able to I could have done lot more I think ..
I'll check the link out later thanks .. tho it doesnt get any where near the profile log in .. and I'm using firefox why?
and yes I can access the registry that way ..

Boggin · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2018, 08:08:41 am »

What I meant was what machine/device are you using to post with ?

Boggin · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2018, 08:31:41 am »

You could remove Avira while in the registry after first backing it up by exporting it to see if that will help.

Boggin · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2018, 08:55:01 am »

This looks like what has happened to your machine, although I don't know how you are supposed to install the new update when they get it sorted if the machine won't boot up normally.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/9b648fda-fb3f-4f57-a96b-1165ef21dbdd/may-2018-pathch-install-issue?forum=w7itprosecurity

Update problems are free with MS support but in this case the best they are likely to come up with would be a clean install.

You could see what the virtual tech has to offer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/contactus/

You can also phone them on 0800 0260329

shawie60 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2018, 09:48:30 am »

Quote from: Boggin on June 21, 2018, 08:08:41 am

What I meant was what machine/device are you using to post with ?

lol sorry its my own machine .. he brought his to mine.

shawie60 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2018, 09:59:34 am »

Quote from: shawie60 on June 21, 2018, 09:48:30 am

Quote from: Boggin on June 21, 2018, 08:08:41 am
What I meant was what machine/device are you using to post with ?
lol sorry its my own machine .. he brought his to mine.

yeah looks like .. I'll contact them just out of curiosity to see if theres a solution .. many thanks

Boggin · « **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2018, 03:09:12 pm »

Let us know how you get on.

shawie60 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2018, 02:35:10 am »

had no joy with Ms so ive re installed it.
Frustrating to say the least.
many thanks for all your help tho, its much appreciated.
glenn

Boggin · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2018, 02:46:44 am »

MS updates have caused quite a lot of problems over the years and while they do test them to a point (I assume), they can affect some machines and not others and often have to rely upon feedback to be alerted to problems.

Sorry they didn't have a fix for you but it can depend on the MS tech that you get as to whether they can come up with a solution.

Unfortunately, Win 7 for them now have very low priorities it would seem.