Windows won't boot... or reinstall

[SPS]

You could create a live disk with Ubuntu then format your drive.
If you are afraid of a virus you could try a resque drive (CD or USB ))) I personally prefer Karspersky

I'd also recommend using live USB to see if you can diagnose the HDD

 

[Feronix]

Not sure if you already did this, but have you checked the processor or basically had the PC boot with the bare minimum components installed? Could also try completely draining all the capacitors etc and then boot cold, not sure if it would help though.

Did the cold boot thing but that didn't help. The computer is basically already bare minimum:
ASRock B85 Motherboard
Intel Core i3 4130 (I think?)
HD4400 integrated graphics
1x4GB Kingston HyperX Fury
Corsair VS350 PSU
WD Caviar Blue 1TB

Only thing I haven't tried yet is taking the WiFi card (TP Link WDN-4800) out. You guys reckon this could be the problem? Did tell my sis how to take it out and that she should try that today but I doubt she has. Probably just waiting for me to fix it without putting effort in herself :mellow:

It's one tool every enthusiast should have in there arsenal Hirens 15.2 is the latest, just download and burn to disk.

Thanks for the download link mate, was looking for that one!

Might give it a shot later this week and report back. Honestly, personally I'm not in a hurry cause I'm mainly busy with other stuff (and also ill) and she has a laptop anyway.

i know that windows 7 had a black screen issue with some gpu's at release time.
and the only way you could fix it was to use a auto unattended method.
that was with i think hd 5770 cards (could have been more)
i know i had to have a usb with auto unatend set up to install 7 on one of my systems.

But that would not explain the rest of the symptoms.

Auto unattended method?

Don't think that's it though, it was a fully updated version of Windows 7 and she's running Intel HD graphics.

You could create a live disk with Ubuntu then format your drive.
If you are afraid of a virus you could try a resque drive (CD or USB ))) I personally prefer Karspersky

I'd also recommend using live USB to see if you can diagnose the HDD

Thanks guys, would Elementary OS be alright? That's the only Linux OS I have experience with

 

[shambles1980]

this covers the unatended thing..

seems it was the 4xxx cards not the 5 ones..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978226

possibly could help?? i dont think so though as it does not cover any of the other issues.

autounatend generally just ticks the continue i accept and so on parts of the install and also installs the drivers needed "if thats why you were using it"

 

[SPS]

Thanks guys, would Elementary OS be alright? That's the only Linux OS I have experience with

Should be fine using the terminal.

 

[BigDaddyKong]

Why not download PartedMagic and secure erase the drive. Also, just for giggles, run Memtest and see what you get.

 

[Greenback]

Did you work out what was wrong with it?

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

as others have said;

get livecd/boot drive, if it boots bios, mobo, ram, cpu are fine,

get into windows repair screen if you can, use cmd to format drive, reinstall, if this works, registry and system should be mostly recoverable and prolly not infected.

if not get hiren's, nuke the hdd/mini xp and format.

if neither of above works, get some firewood and make some hdd bbq

 

[Feronix]

Tried the Elementary OS live thing but Gparted didn't seem to find any hard disks at all. It just kept loading/searching. Right now we tried to install it, but clicking 'Next' to the part where you're supposed to pick hard disks it just keeps loading for hours on end and appears to have gotten stuck.

Guess we're chucking the webshop an email or phone call tonight and get that drive replaced, as it's only 3 months old anyway.