Broke my PC.. Any ideas?

[Blink]

Well, it wouldn't be normal if I didn't have some serious PC issues every so often.

I've essentially got my PC into an unbootable state as a result of some sort of registry cleaning. It currently sits at a black screen after the welcome screen with just a mouse cursor for company.

I'll briefly run you through the events:

Using windows 7 x64 Ultimate

• Last night used CCleaner to clean registry and other things. This has never been done before on my PC
• Today booted up all normal and fine and after doing some browsing noticed there was no sound
• Checked device, showing all working, volume bars animating. Tried re-installing drivers. No luck.
• During this process I restarted the PC at least three times. Still booting fine.
• Decided to uninstalled LogMeIn (remote desktop software) as this caused problems once in the past. Here is where the problem might lie. I used Revo Uninstaller to nuke it, which does remove registry entries.
• Rebooted machine and noticed it would not get past windows logo when loading.
• Tried a few restarts, no luck.
• Tried safe mode and it did get to desktop.
• Restarted and tried normal mode again, did load and got to desktop but many programs failed to load and then it freezes after about 30 seconds. Complete lock up.
• Attempted system restore from just before the revo uninstall. This worked but now causes the black screen issue as previously mentioned. Can move mouse and get System Processes up but whole PC locks up after 30 seconds.
• Tried system restore to last night, and two days before. Both fail.

Anyone had anything like this before? I'm literally seeing a windows re-install as my next option.

[ROFLhacks]

can you boot in safe mode and post a HijackThis log if you dont know what that is you can get it here:

http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/

[Blink]

Unfortunately the black screen is the same for Normal and Safe Mode

[ROFLhacks]

Ok that kills the first idea... the easiest way and what i would(cuz im lazy) is to find your Windows disc and format

[Major Banter]

Have you tried Startup Repair or Windows Repair from the boot menu?

Otherwise I'm stumpted. I'd get a new HDD, install all your drivers etc and then recover your information from the OS broken HDD; it's not the hardware, it's the software, which makes recovery as easy as plugging it in. No fuss, no worry, no trouble.

[xoqolatl]

Have you tried Startup Repair or Windows Repair from the boot menu?

This. Use your Windows DVD to boot the PC and choose repair instead of install.

[PhoeniX1992]

Tried using a linux (ubuntu or an other distribution) live cd? You could at least save your files, documents and settings.

[zombie@computer]

Tried using a linux (ubuntu or an other distribution) live cd? You could at least save your files, documents and settings.

that should never be a problem since a windows reinstall doesnt clear all data...

[PhoeniX1992]

Tried using a linux (ubuntu or an other distribution) live cd? You could at least save your files, documents and settings.

that should never be a problem since a windows reinstall doesnt clear all data...

Not when you have all your important data on another disk than the C:\. And if you set your My Documents folder to another disk. Otherwise you'll lose all that, and My Documents might contain a few useful savegames and settings.

[MayheM]

are you drives formatted in raid? If not you can pull them out and get an external enclosure, pop them in there dump your needed files onto your Mac and then put the drives back in and rebuild the machine from scratch. Though that's what I would do but I am the kind of person who would rather spend a few hours rebuilding a computer rather than several days trying to figure out how to fix it.

[coder0xff]

Tried using a linux (ubuntu or an other distribution) live cd? You could at least save your files, documents and settings.

that should never be a problem since a windows reinstall doesnt clear all data...

Not when you have all your important data on another disk than the C:\. And if you set your My Documents folder to another disk. Otherwise you'll lose all that, and My Documents might contain a few useful savegames and settings.

Have to agree with z@c on this one.

On a side note, I'd avoid registry cleaners.

[zombie@computer]

Tried using a linux (ubuntu or an other distribution) live cd? You could at least save your files, documents and settings.

that should never be a problem since a windows reinstall doesnt clear all data...

Not when you have all your important data on another disk than the C:\. And if you set your My Documents folder to another disk. Otherwise you'll lose all that, and My Documents might contain a few useful savegames and settings.

unless you format, windows moves all system and user data to a windows.old directory. Dont talk bullocks. atlaest 7 does, and i reckon xp as well (not sure about xp since ive always done a clean install for xp.

[Blink]

So you guys reckon pop the windows 7 disc in and go for a repair?

[MayheM]

It is worth a try. It is not going to hurt it...

[nub]

To clarify things, the windows.old folder was introduced with Windows Vista and Windows 7 uses it as well. XP never had this feature.

This is where partitions or multiple drives come in handy though. If you fuck your installation up on accident, then you only have to reformat C: (or whatever partition/drive the OS was installed on).