Automatic Repair Boot Loop

Question

Hi there!

I am experiencing essentially the same things that took place inthis thread. I have so far tried doing the same things but am currently stuck being unable to boot from Windows 10 Installation Media via USB. I have tried multiple different USB sticks, creating the tool through Windows' support portal, through rufus and a Win10 ISO, clearing CMOS (via removing the battery & via reset button on MOBO), and have tried booting both as UEFI and as Legacy. The furthest this has gotten me is another spinning circle after booting from USB (and a black screen after Logo screen when booed via Legacy). I am unsure of what to do next. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Thank you for the response! I will work my way through the list and respond as i follow your steps:

(1)https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Download Windows 10 - This is always the latest finalized Windows version, currently 21H2.

Download MediaCreationTool21H2.exe & run it to make a Windows 10 Installation USB drive or burn an .iso to DVD. Follow the instructions under "Using the tool to create installation media". As it says, match it to the Language, & Architecture(x64/64-bit or x86/32-bit) of the computer on which it will be used. The Windows Editionto take is "Windows 10", which includes both Home & Pro.

R(1) I downloaded MediaCreationTool21H2.exe to make the USB drive, created the installation media, matched it to the architecture (x64), and selected Win10.

(2) Then, to boot it...

You need to press an F-key during boot to get to the BIOS Boot Menu. If you don't know it...

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/threads/get-access-to-bios-settings-boot-menu-f-keys-hotkeys-by-system-manufacturer-oem.23010/

Get access to BIOS settings & Boot Menu: F-keys/Hotkeys by System Manufacturer (OEM)

Note: That is an informative 3rd-party site. But I know nothing (bad or good) of any downloads or links that are there.

(a) Insert the DVD or plug in the USB Installation media.

(b) Bootor reboot the computer.

(c) Press & hold the F-key at the manufacturer's logo (or at the black screen just before the logo).

     If the key was pressed in time, mine shows activity at the bottom of the screen,

     & the BIOS Boot menu soon shows up.

(d) From the BIOS Boot Menu, choose the "UEFI" option for the media, if offered.

     Mine names the device brand & precedes it with "UEFI:".

(e) If it were a DVD inserted, you get a message to "Press any key" to boot it.

     If not pressed in time, the DVD will be bypassed & Windows will try to boot.

(f) When the Installation media boots, select "Repair your computer" instead of to install.

     The computer will reboot to the Recovery Environment at the "Choose an Option" screen.

R(2) It was F11 for me. I restored defaults on via my BIOS (MSI Click BIOS 5). (a) Did so via a USB3 port (b) rebooted (c) loaded menu (d) chose the UEFI option (in my case UEFI: General UDisk 5.00 Partition 1). Unfortunately, that just brings up a smaller version of the basic loadscreen and the circle of dots just spins forever.

(3)

(a) Do you know whether you've got a UEFI or Legacy install?

(b) Which was BIOS set for after you reset it to defaults?

(c) Did you try turning off Fast Boot or Fast Startup as Greg suggested?

(d) Are the USB ports enabled in BIOS (if it's got that setting)?

(e) Is SATA set to AHCI, especially if a Legacy install?

R(3)

a: I am not sure but I have tried both options both in terms of BIOS settings as well as in terms of setup options (on rufus mbr/gpt)
b: after resetting to defaults it says UEFI & Lefacy

c: Fast boot and fast startup are disabled

d: I did not enable it in BIOS but its detected in the boot menu so I assume it works (i think but im not sure)

e: SATA is set to AHCI, i also tried RAID in one of my attempts but that didnt fix it either.

Answer 2

The person was smart enough to try other bootable media and is able to use the BIOS so I'm thinking its not a question of knowing how to use a boot menu here :-)

Its not rocket science. Something should have booted by now.

And now I see clearing the CMOS was already tried too lol. Everything was tried.

@ RyanT89 Maybe its some weird BIOS setting only with that board. Some crazy idea their programmers had. That's the last thing I can think of.

Though some silly chance, try removing power for 10 seconds if you didn't already, then give it power and try again. That allows things to boot for me sometimes but that's normally when it won't even get to the BIOS POST screen.

Also try a different USB drive if not already just to throw everything at it.

Answer 3

Thanks for the response! I've tried waiting it out on multiple occasions. I started troubleshooting this 12 hours ago and had a few tries in which i waited for an hour+. Unfortunately time does not seem to be the contributing factor here :(

Answer 4

If only Rob_850 had continued with Greg in that thread, I'm sure the answer would be known. The USB media made at the Microsoft site is best as it would be good for both UEFI & Legacy. But did you match it to the Language & Architecture of the broken computer...?...

(1)https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Download Windows 10 - This is always the latest finalized Windows version, currently 21H2.

Download MediaCreationTool21H2.exe & run it to make a Windows 10 Installation USB drive (or make then burn an .iso to DVD). Follow the instructions under "Using the tool to create installation media". As it says, match it to the Language, & Architecture(x64/64-bit or x86/32-bit) of the computer on which it will be used. The Windows Editionto take is "Windows 10", which includes both Home & Pro.

(2) Then, to boot it...

You need to press an F-key during boot to get to the BIOS Boot Menu. If you don't know it...

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/threads/get-access-to-bios-settings-boot-menu-f-keys-hotkeys-by-system-manufacturer-oem.23010/

Get access to BIOS settings & Boot Menu: F-keys/Hotkeys by System Manufacturer (OEM)

Note: That is an informative 3rd-party site. But I know nothing (bad or good) of any downloads or links that are there.

(a) Insert the DVD or plug in the USB Installation media.

(b) Bootor reboot the computer.

(c) Press & hold the F-key at the manufacturer's logo (or at the black screen just before the logo).

     If the key was pressed in time, mine shows activity at the bottom of the screen,

     & the BIOS Boot menu soon shows up.

(d) From the BIOS Boot Menu, choose the "UEFI" option for the media, if offered.

     Mine names the device brand & precedes it with "UEFI:".

(e) If it were a DVD inserted, you get a message to "Press any key" to boot it.

     If not pressed in time, the DVD will be bypassed & Windows will try to boot.

(f) When the Installation media boots, select "Repair your computer" instead of to install.

     The computer will reboot to the Recovery Environment at the "Choose an Option" screen.

(3)

(a) Do you know whether you've got a UEFI or Legacy install?

(b) Which was BIOS set for after you reset it to defaults?

(c) Did you try turning off Fast Boot or Fast Startup as Greg suggested?

(d) Are the USB ports enabled in BIOS (if it's got that setting)?

(e) Is SATA set to AHCI, especially if a Legacy install?

Answer 5

How long did you wait? Some slow computers could take some time to get to the Windows installer.

Even installation media done wrong can often get into the installer so I'd go with its either a booting/computer issue or a waiting issue. Not waiting long enough would be the likeliest cause.

Outside of that, it should have worked by now. Though maybe there's a hardware issue in there.

You can test further by making a bootable usb of something else that's bootable. There's various things such as disk tools, other OS's, NAS OS's, and more. If they work or not will tell you if the Windows installer will work. But, try waiting up to 1 hour first while attempting to boot the Windows installation - that includes extra time to make sure its not a waiting issue - if you didn't already do so.

Edit - oh I see from the other that it won't boot into other things. So its likely some weird hardware issue. It should absolutely boot something if it's working properly.

You could try resetting the CMOS if possible and then try booting after that. Look to see if there's a BIOS update also. The BIOS could definitely do something like this. Past that, I feel like new hardware is necessary. You might find something but something should have already booted.