Windows not starting, startup repair not responding

The notebook we're trying to get running again is an Asus K50IJ with Windows 7 64 bit.

The problem started with Windows refusing to boot, just a black screen, flashing white cursor bar at upper left of screen.
(At least, I think this was it. It's actually my husband's ex-wife's notebook we're trying to fix, so I'm not sure if anything was done to it to cause this!)

Tried resetting BIOS to manufacture defaults settings. No change.
Leaving it to run on black screen eventually gets screen to Launch Startup Repair or Start Windows normally

Both lead to this:
Windows is loading files, then screen comes up with Windows Boot Manager
Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device connected to your computer. This error can be caused by unplugging a removable storage device such as an external USB drive while the device is in use, or by faulty hardware such as a hard drive or CD-ROM dive that is failing. Make sure any removable storage is properly connected and then restart your computer.
Status: 0xc00000e9
Info: An unexpected I/O error has occurred.

With Windows 7 backup disk in CD drive, and BIOS set to boot from CD, get:
CHECK CABLE CONNECTION !
PXE M0F: EXITING INTEL PXE ROM

The BIOS is recognizing both hard drive and CD drive, but as all indications were that the hard drive was at least sick, we got a new one to try. Can't do anything to even start installing Windows on it, it just comes up with the same error
CHECK CABLE CONNECTION !
PXE M0F: EXITING INTEL PXE ROM
and asks me to insert boot device and press any key. When I put in a bootable CD, it runs through the same thing again.

I've taken the back off and reseated anything I could find to reseat, dusted it and put the back on again, and now I'm worried that it's the motherboard that has croaked. But I'm hoping someone here can tell me some simple thing I need to do to boost it all up again, or how to get hte new hard drive going.

Asus support wants me to send it interstate for someone to repair it, but I'd rather avoid that if possible, and they won't be drawn on what the problem might be.

Thanks for your help . . .

 

Since Asus is willing to repair it for you, they should be your first port of call before attempting to repair it yourself, since it saves you the hassle of diagnosis and buying replacement parts.

 

I wouldn't say willing, exactly! it's out of warranty by one month, of course, so I'd be up for shipping interstate as well as their fee and all parts, with no guarantee of anything. I actually asked them which replacement drive would suit the model as I was at the stage of thinking that was the problem, and they didn't even answer that, just gave a copy and paste answer suggesting I send it to them.

 

Have you tried running memtest86+ on it ( bootable USB stick)? I believe half of the RAM is soldered so you might try taking out the one stick that isn't.

Have you tried removing the optical drive to see if that makes any difference?

It could be a genuine problem with the I/O controller on the board, too.

 

remove battery and hold power button for 30 seconds. then power on.

 

I've tried the battery / power button thing, which sadly didn't work, but I haven't tried the memtest. I'll give it a go tomorrow when I'm fresh. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Can you make absolutely sure you are booting from the CD/DVD? There should be a boot device selection when you start up, it's probably F10 or something. Select your optical disc drive. It sounds like it never gave the chance to boot from it.

When you get that PXE/cable disconnection error it means it's trying to boot from the ethernet port, a last resort if it can't find a hard drive or CD to boot from. This means that your bootloader (code on a hard drive to let an operating system start up) for Windows is shot.

Assuming your hardware is actually working fine for whatever reason, you can fix all this by just reinstalling Windows from the DVD drive.

 

she said she already tried setting cdrom as 1st boot device.
still gave the pxe error.

If it is trying to boot from the ethernet port........ I wonder if you can just hook up a cat5 crossover cable to a second pc or router, and let it error out, then try booting from cd if it lets you

better yet, if possible, disable network booting

 

Okay, I tried the memtest thing making a bootable USB , still got me to a Windows Boot Manager error. On this occasion, I had set removable device as 1st boot option, CD drive as 2nd boot option, hard disk as 3rd, and disabled the network option.

The CD drive makes start up sounds when it's its turn, and I can hear it spinning up, but after about ten seconds I get back to error messages.

Starting to fear the worst even more . . .

Do you guys reckon it's most likely to be the motherboard, or might there be a smaller part malfunctioning?

 

Do you mean you successfully ran memtest86+, or that you tried to boot it and got a windows error message instead?

If you can't boot off the USB stick, try hitting ESC as you first turn on the computer to get the popup boot menu.

 

I tried to boot it, but got an error message saying Windows failed to start, then it tried to go into System repair again, and ended up with the Windows Boot Manager saying Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device connected to your computer. etc.
Status:0xc00000e9
info: An unexpected I/O error has occured.
Had this before.

I get the option of Enter to continue and Esc to exit. Both take me back to the Windows error recovery screen where it tries to launch Startup Repair, and ends up back at the same screen. (I do get an option to start Windows normally rather than launch Startup Repair, but that also takes me to the exact same Boot Manager window.)

So despite going into the BIOS and earlier trying CD/DVD drive as first boot option, and this time putting removable device as first boot (both times with Network boot disabled) I'm still not getting anything to boot off any device; hard drive, CD/DVD or removable device.

 

Have you tried hitting ESC a few times as you first turn on the computer to get the pop-up boot menu?

 

if the escape trick doesnt work. Try hitting ALT + F8 and selecting the boot device. I am also thinking it could be your hard drive.

 

I've had no problem selecting boot start order, it's just that none of them work. And I'd already tried putting in a new hard drive, which was what I initially hoped it was, as it's easier to replace.

Yesterday I got someone to test a couple of things on it, and bascially I have to get a new motherboard which was what I was hoping to avoid.

Ah well . . .

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions.