Solved System not Booting Up - Letter J displayed

nitinpai

New Member
Messages
7
Hi! Today I was trying to make a bootable Windows 7 USB using WinToFlash. The application requested the source (location of OS) and target (USB drive) which I furnished after which it proceeded to copy the data onto the USB drive. On completion the system restarted on its own but did not boot up - only the letter 'J' is flashing on the top left of the black screen. Nothing happens beyond this point.


- I've tried restarting a multiple times but the same result.
- I've tried booting from the DVD drive by making use of the Windows installtion disks but the setup fails of recognize any Windows installation or even the harddisk.


Could you please help? Should I try to intalled a driver so Windows setup can recognize the harddisk?


My configuration is as under-


HP ProBook 4420s
Windows 7 (installed from a DVD)


Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Hi,

Remove the USB stick and DVD disk from the machine.

Enjoy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
Hi! I've tried the same, but no luck. The flashing letter J is still displayed and the system stops booting.

I've run the Harddisk and Memory test in the BIOS and both of them pass!

Thanks, Nitin$
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I'd be inclined to pull the cmos battery out of the motherboard while powered off, for 30 seconds, then replace it and power on.

Alternatively, there sometimes is a button to push on the motherboard or jumper to set that has the same effect.

But unfortunately, I am guessing that you messed up the Windows boot loader by using inappropriate commands or incorrect switches.

You can run a Startup Repair if this is the case.

Option #6 here can get you started on it:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4935-startup-options-menu-boot-windows-8-a.html

then

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2843-automatic-repair-run-windows-8-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
Hi! I've tried the same, but no luck. The flashing letter J is still displayed and the system stops booting.

I've run the Harddisk and Memory test in the BIOS and both of them pass!

Thanks, Nitin$

It sounds like you're not getting as far as the option to enter the BIOS? If that's the case, HP has a way to do a reset, you can try that:

1. Remove the battery and unplug the power adapter
2. Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds
3. Plug in the power adapter - Don't put the battery back yet
4. Press the power button

Hopefully it will start...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate/Windows 8.1/Linux
    CPU
    FX-8350
    Motherboard
    GA-990XA-UD3
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD7860
    Sound Card
    Xonar Essence STX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Various
    PSU
    Corsair HX 850W
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian
    Cooling
    Thermalright
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50/50
    Browser
    firefox
@GMan: The laptop is only 2 months old and within the warranty period so I'm a bit apprehensive about opening it up. Also this being a business laptop (ProBook) there are no panels on the underside, infact no vents aswell.

I did try getting into Startup Repair by booting up from a Windows installation DVD but that errors out as it is unable to find a Windows installation.

@Calico: I'm able to get into the BIOS setup. The letter J is displayed soon after the prompt to enter the BIOS setup is displayed. However I did try the steps you've listed out but no luck!

Anything else I can try - please advice.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Easiest way is to reinstall Windows 7 from the DVD as a custom install. Otherwise, you'd be in for trying to fix the current install from the command prompt involving bcdedit command. Probably can be done, but I can't easily tell you how off the top of my head without the machine in front of me to play with. Calico may have a suggestion or two.

Win 7 can not easily be ran from a USB stick, as you were trying to do - just so ya know. If it is even possible, it would take hacks and tricks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
@GMan: The laptop is only 2 months old and within the warranty period so I'm a bit apprehensive about opening it up. Also this being a business laptop (ProBook) there are no panels on the underside, infact no vents aswell.

I did try getting into Startup Repair by booting up from a Windows installation DVD but that errors out as it is unable to find a Windows installation.

@Calico: I'm able to get into the BIOS setup. The letter J is displayed soon after the prompt to enter the BIOS setup is displayed. However I did try the steps you've listed out but no luck!

Anything else I can try - please advice.

Out of interest, does the BIOS detect the disk correctly?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate/Windows 8.1/Linux
    CPU
    FX-8350
    Motherboard
    GA-990XA-UD3
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD7860
    Sound Card
    Xonar Essence STX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Various
    PSU
    Corsair HX 850W
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian
    Cooling
    Thermalright
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50/50
    Browser
    firefox
@GMan: As you've suggested I got into the custom install option of Win7. The issue there is my entire harddisk is being displayed as a single partition "Disk 0 Partition 1". I had about 5 partitions on it. Does this mean the partition info has got messed up?

I do not mind losing the data from the Windows installation drive (C:) but I had a lot of data in the other partitions which I would like to retrieve.

If I go ahead with the custom install I guess the entire harddisk would get formatted?

I was trying to fix another netbook by using the USB Win7, but this WinToFlash has messed up my own system! :(

@Calico: I'm new to this HP's BIOS and I don't see the details of the harddisk displayed in the system information. Also there is no auto-detect harddisk option. There is a Memory & Harddisk (quick & comprehensive) Test available in the BIOS Setup both of which passed.

Thanks for your quick response!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
No, custom install makes C:\Windows.old folder with all the old files that were on the partition to begin with.

Clean install on the other hand, is the type of install that will wipe everything on the partition.

If x86, I recommend you install from this version with SP1 already part of the .iso: [link removed by admin]

You will then have to activate it with your own activation code.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate/Windows 8.1/Linux
    CPU
    FX-8350
    Motherboard
    GA-990XA-UD3
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD7860
    Sound Card
    Xonar Essence STX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Various
    PSU
    Corsair HX 850W
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian
    Cooling
    Thermalright
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50/50
    Browser
    firefox
@GMan: What about the data that was in my D, E & F drives, would that also be available in the Windows.old folder?

I would like to follow your recommendation but at the moment I do not have a DVD writer available on a functioning laptop to burn the .iso. So, is it okay to proceed without the SP1 version?

@Calico: I'll try to recover the partitions thought these options and revert.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
@GMan: What about the data that was in my D, E & F drives, would that also be available in the Windows.old folder?

I would like to follow your recommendation but at the moment I do not have a DVD writer available on a functioning laptop to burn the .iso. So, is it okay to proceed without the SP1 version?

@Calico: I'll try to recover the partitions thought these options and revert.

Of course. I then recommend you install SP1 from Windows Update, which will take a little time.

Your other partitions will not be affected when installing Windows to the partition you already had it on. They will be available immediately when getting back to Windows desktop, unless you've already done something to ruin them before while trying to make the USB.

You can boot to GParted to have a look at how your partitions currently are, but for that, you'd need to also make a USB or CD installer.

-----

And to be clear about something before: You can put Windows 7 on USB to install from, but you can't install it to a USB stick and use it like a hard drive to run Windows normally.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
I had 5 partitions on my 320GB drive before this happened but now when I got into the Win 7 installation's Command Prompt only a single ~320GB partition of type RAW is being displayed. While trying to do a custom install aswell only a single partition is being displayed. Hence I'm a bit concerned if those partitions are still available.

Does this mean the partitions are no longer available/corrupted?

The Bootable Flash Drive suggested by @calico seems to be available only on the paid enterprise edition of the Partition Wizard!

Am in the process of dowloading GParted...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Unfortunately, your partitions are all messed up. You can likely recover/restore them somehow, but I haven't needed to do anything like that in a real long time so I can't make any suggestions how.

Some 3rd party software will be able to do it. GParted might even be able to do it, but don't quote me on that one.

In the worst case scenario though, yes, it is possible that they can not even be recovered, even with tools that can do so. If the data is important to you, I would clone the drive before doing any commands to it at all. This way, you have a backup to try with after (after then backing THAT up.)

You can put the drive in a desktop and boot to Clonezilla to clone it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
If you're unable to create a boot CD, It's still possible to mount the iso on USB and boot from it, you'll just need a little preparation.

1. Download RMPrepUSB
2. Install and run
3. When the dialogue opens, choose 'Prepare Drive'
4. Set the parameters as seen in the image
5. Select Install Grub4Dos
6. Open the USB/Grub folder
7. Edit Menu.lst with a text editor
6. Add the following at the bottom of the file

title Partition Wizard
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /pwhe7.iso
map --mem /pwhe7.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

7. Download the Bootable CD
8. Copy the ISO to the root of the USB (not the Grub folder)
9. Boot from the USB and select Partition Wizard
 

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Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate/Windows 8.1/Linux
    CPU
    FX-8350
    Motherboard
    GA-990XA-UD3
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD7860
    Sound Card
    Xonar Essence STX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Various
    PSU
    Corsair HX 850W
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian
    Cooling
    Thermalright
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    50/50
    Browser
    firefox
The issue has been resolved. This is the sequence of steps that I had followed-


1. Created a bootable USB following the steps outlined at
Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive) » www.hiren.info


2. Copied all the applications from Hiren's CD onto the USB
Hiren's BootCD 15.1 - All in one Bootable CD » www.hiren.info


3. Booted the troubled system into Mini XP using the bootable USB


4. Used Partition Wizard (bundled into Hiren's CD) to recover the partitions


5. Ran Win 7 installation DVD's Startup Repair twice to restore/fix the boot sector


The system is now back to normalacy with all the data intact. :)


Thanks calico, GMan and all others who have contributed to this forum for your help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Awesome. Very glad to hear it. You know what the funny thing is? About 2 minutes before your post just now, I was reviewing the thread for the heck of it - and then I see your post now like magic.

haha great - enjoy! And excellent job, Calico too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
The issue has been resolved. This is the sequence of steps that I had followed-


1. Created a bootable USB following the steps outlined at
Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive) » www.hiren.info


2. Copied all the applications from Hiren's CD onto the USB
Hiren's BootCD 15.1 - All in one Bootable CD » www.hiren.info


3. Booted the troubled system into Mini XP using the bootable USB


4. Used Partition Wizard (bundled into Hiren's CD) to recover the partitions


5. Ran Win 7 installation DVD's Startup Repair twice to restore/fix the boot sector


The system is now back to normalacy with all the data intact. :)


Thanks calico, GMan and all others who have contributed to this forum for your help!


Well, that sounds like something useful to have around at all times!!! Off to make one.....

+1
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIN7 Home Premium 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I7 920
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T-Se
    Memory
    6Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD5770
    Sound Card
    On-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VW246H, Samsing Syncmaster 2233, Samsung Syncmaster T200HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500Gb
    PSU
    Coolermaster Silent Pro M700
    Case
    NOX
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble
    Internet Speed
    10Mbps
    Other Info
    Dell Inspiron 1501 with Win 8 CP 32 Bit - flying along!
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