M11x not recovering Windows 7

So my brother started using my M11x after he messed up his desktop. I don't know what the hell he does to computers but mine started acting up soon after he started using it. One day I'm browsing the web when my computer just resets for some reason. I figured windows update kicked in or something. When it moved past the giant alien head where it has the boot options it would remain in a black screen with a cursor flashing indefinitely. Luckily I backed up my stuff, and I tried to run a system restore using F8 but nothing would happen when I pressed F8. Since the m11x doesn't have a disk drive I then created a USB recovery disk using my buddy's laptop and the Alienware disk that came with the m11x. So I set it up to boot from USB first and the Windows installation starts normally. I then choose to format my hard drive to start with a fresh install of Windows and it does its thing. When it restarts however, it goes back to the USB recovery disk and only offers me the opportunity to install windows yet again, from the beginning, even though the hard drive shows that there is data on it so windows installed or at least began to install on it. I re formated and tried again to the same result. I even moved the hard drive back to the first boot option and simply chose the USB boot manually on startup to install windows 7. When I did that, even though I'd just gone through the installation process with the USB, I still get a blank black screen with a cursor. I'm at a loss at what to do about this and would greatly appreciate some help. I've only owned my m11x for about a year and a half.

 

You need to remove the USB after installing windows what is happening is that your boot option is set to boot into windows setup using the USB drive and so you are just going round in circles.

Insert USB install windows and when it reaches completion and counts down to restart in 12 seconds remove the USB drive.

If the flashing cursor problem remains does your brother have a habit of punching computers? It could well be a damaged HD and the HD is right below the touchpad area. Might be an idea to upgrade to a bulletproof SSD

 

Accurate as always! +1

Also, make sure you delete all partitions, then create a new one from the unallocated space. After so much reinstalling you definitely want to make sure you don't leave any corrupted files that may lead to another OSRI eventually.

Alienware Windows 7 Installation Guide

 

Way much easier to just select F12 on switch on then once windows 7 installs it does not look at the usb as a boot option.

Regards.

C.

(Ps just spent today reformatting and installing my P170EM and Acer Aspire One 722 using this method as l usually forget and get stuck into the boot loop)

 

I finally got a chance to read your replies (been working long days). The solution was so simple that now I feel silly. I took all the advice and deleted the partitions and installed fresh then removed the flash drive. Worked perfectly. I just was to humbly thank you guys for your help. Would have been stuck chasing my own tail if not for you guys. Cheers!

 

Don't feel silly I do it every time haha and everytime say in my head "whats going on here?" and then I remember