Startup Hangs on "Starting Windows" - Windows 7

I recently tried installing a tv tuner card in my PC, and decided I didn't want it so I removed it. However, in my stupidity, I removed the card before uninstalling it in windows, or uninstalling the programs. Now, when I turn on the PC it hangs at the "Starting Windows" screen. The little dots that form the microsoft logo never show up and I'm forced to restart. When I restart, it goes to the problem with start up screen, and I can either try and fix the problem, or start windows normally. Interestingly, if I choose to start windows normally, it usually works. If I try to repair the problem, it says no problem found.

I have tried uninstalling the drivers in windows, and more drastically, done a system image restore to a few weeks before I installed the card. There is now no trace of the tuner in the registry or HDDs, but the problem still persists. I can get into safe mode and get into regular windows if I select it on the startup error screen, but I cannot get into windows normally from a cold boot. I tried clearing the CMOS in addition to restoring the C: Drive to an older image, but I'm still hanging at "Starting Windows."

I really don't want to reinstall windows and lose everything on the C: drive, is there anything else I can do to fix this?

BTW, I found a thread which is pretty similar to my problem, but I haven't been able to find a clear cut solution.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com...f/thread/e39d152d-d5e8-4b88-a7f8-9fc83203ce58

I dunno, but it may be a bad HDD. Sorry.

Bad HDDs can do strange things. They can look good in tests, but cause Windows to fail.

try installing ccleaner and run it, then do the registry cleaning. it may help.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

I had this same problem but with a wireless adapter. All I did was install then uninstall with the card still in the slot then a shutdown to remove the card and waalaa. Try it and see it worked. Also run CCleaner's registry tool what Wathnix suggested.