Win 7 boot loop

[ehgit]

I am trying to fix a friends Dell Inspiron 1545 that is on a boot loop. None of the normal tricks seem to work. It will not boot to safe mode or any other of the common diagnostic options. When I get to Edit Boot Options this is what I see:

Edit Windows boot options for: Windows 7

Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

Partition: 3
Hard Disk: 86f8f0b

[ /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN ]

The laptop came with all software pre-loaded and there is no repair disk for me to use.
If this was set up by the user, which I don't think it was, what should I do to fix it? I've seen, after some searching, that by changing this Windows will boot but it will be necessary to do this each time. Is there a permanent fix? Thanks!

 

[mcaustin1]

Where did he buy it? If from some previous user it may have some malware that he activated to the loop.

 

[ehgit]

It was purchased new. Can combofix be run from the boot menu?

 

[mcaustin1]

It was purchased new. Can combofix be run from the boot menu?

I don't know what combofix is but try purchasing a restore disk off the internet. That may do the trick!

 

[ehgit]

Can that be downloaded from a mac to usb?