Hi Phil, Sorry to hear you're having trouble with your startup. Do you recall much about the MS update in Feb? Uninstalling it would be the first step. If the System Restore didn't help, I'd recommend running the System File Checker tool to detect and repair Win7 system files. More here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/9... A repair installation of Windows is the next best option to restore missing system files. If the startup continues to take ages, download a tool called AutoRuns to look through your list of startup apps, services and more and turn off ones that you don't need. More startup diagnostic options here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-system-configuration#1TC=windows-8 Let us know how you go. Good luck, James

Hi Phil, Do you still have your Windows 7 installation disk? I would recommend trying to boot from that disk and follow the prompts to perform an OS Repair. Another option that seems to have some success is to install Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 2007 as it installs the same font set as Windows 7. You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6 Mark

Hi Phil,

Since an update has caused the problem and system restore is not working, you can take the safe route of running the system file check.

Run SFC (system file checker) scan to fix any corrupt system files
The system file checker (SFC) utility allows administrators to perform a scan of all protected resources to verify that they are the correct version. If SFC should find any incorrect versions in any of these protected resources, SFC will replace them with the correct versions.
You can always run a SFC scan on the windows 7 computer.


To run a SFC scan follow the steps below:

• Click on start and in the start search bar type cmd, right click on the command prompt icon in the programs area and then click on run as administrator.
• At the command prompt type sfc /scannow and then press enter.

Wait for its completion.

Another method is trying the clean boot environment:

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.
2. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System Configuration utility.
   Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or provide confirmation.
3. On the General tab, click the Selective startup option, and then click to clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)
4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable all.
5. Click OK, and then click Restart.

After the computer is restarted, you will have a clean boot environment.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Lokesh