Changed boot settings in msconfig.exe and now Windows 7 doesn't boot

I have a HP-G62 B17S laptop, which has Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit.

I read on a blog about a setting in msconfig.exe (Windows System Configuration utility):

Boot > Advanced options > Number of Processors

This was showing 1 for me but I have a dual core AMD Turion, so I changed the setting to 2. Next to it was a Maximum Memory setting (which was unchecked). I checked it and made sure it was max 4096; my system has 4GB RAM.

After restarting the laptop, it now gives an error:

Windows Error Recovery
Windows failed to start

I can choose from two options:

1. Launch Startup Repair
2. Start Windows normally.

When I select Startup repair, it goes on to give another error:

Windows Boot Manager

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "repair your computer."

I do not have the Windows installation disc for this OS version - the manufacturer did not send it to me when I purchased the laptop.

If I try to start Windows normally it takes some time and then gives the same error message.

I tried inserting another installation disc of Windows 7 Professional Edition 64-bit (available from my other laptop), and restarting, but no repair menu comes up.

I also tried restarting the laptop, pressing F8 to enter Advanced Startup Options and selecting to boot with the Last known good configuration, or starting in safe mode - neither option gives any success. This time it gives a Blue Screen of Death with the following message:

A problem has been detected, and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer - BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO

It then does a crash dump of the memory and restarts with the same options of repairing or starting Windows normally as earlier.

1. What exactly seems to be the problem here and its cause?

2. What are my options now to restore/repair my Windows 7 OS to a working condition? Would the manufacturer send a recovery/repair disk for this if I called them? The laptop should be in warranty period - it was purchased six months ago.

3. I have a Ubuntu 10.04 bootable CD. Is there any way to boot into Ubuntu, and repair Windows from there?

4. Are there any other way to recover the OS? (I have an access to a working Windows Vista HP Laptop, if that helps)

EDIT Ok, it was able to boot through the Win-7 professional Installation disc, but even after doing Startup repair, and System restore, It still does not boot into the original Win-7.

You will need to edit the registry offline.

Navigate to this registry Key

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig

in the MSConfig key you will find some sub keys, .

.

Delete any entries in the "startupreg" sub key

Check the Key "state" it should appear like the screenshot below, if any of the dword data values are different, change them back to these defaults. .

Once the changes are made, see if it will boot normally.

Download and use PcRegedit here

In the command Prompt via recovery disc or in built in windows 10,

type 'bcdedit'

Look for the Windows Boot Loader entry that contains an item named 'truncatememory' Note the identifier for that entry, it may be {default} or {current}, or may be a long GUID like {8eea9b82-d5b1-11de-9d24-80972e3a13c7} Enter this command: 'bcdedit /deletevalue identifier truncatememory' replacing identifier with the correct one you noted for that entry.( 'default', 'current' or GUID value ).

Restart the computer

courtesy techguy.org