Corrupted Windows 10 OS? Stuck on the troubleshooting screen, getting error messages with any option, including booting from a recovery USB drive (unable to recover PC, system drive is too small)

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Corrupted Windows 10 OS? Stuck on the troubleshooting screen, getting error messages with any option, including booting from a recovery USB drive (unable to recover PC, system drive is too small)

Anonymous

Hello

I am having trouble booting up a Windows 10 computer. It's a Lenovo ideapad previously loaded with Windows 10.

Booting the computer brings me to the Select Keyboard>Troubleshooting menu, with the options:

System Restore, which gives the error "To use system restore, you must specify which windows installation to restore. Restart this computer, select an operating system, and then select system restore"

Start-up Repair, which brings up the Lenovo splash screen, then the error "Startup repair couldn't repair your PC. Press advanced options to try other options to repair your PC, or shut down to turn off your PC." Clicking advanced options returns to the previous menu.

Go back to the Previous Version, which produced the error message "we ran into a problem and won't be able to take you back to the previous version of Windows. Try resetting your PC instead (Troubleshoot, Reset this PC)"

System Image Recovery, which produces the error message "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer. Attach the backup hard disk or insert the final DVD from a backup set and click retry. Alternatively, close this dialog for more options." Closing the dialogue and clicking next produces a screen with "select the location of the backup for the computer you want to restore," and a blank grid with no system image options listed.

UEFI Firmware settings, which opens BIOS options.

And command prompt, which opens the Command Prompt.

When I insert a USB windows 10 backup drive (formatted to Fat32), an additional option appears: Recover from a Drive. This screen has two options: Just remove my files, and Fully clean the drive. Both options result in the error message "unable to recover your PC. the system drive is too small."

The backup drive is a 64gb SanDisk cruzer dial flashdrive and the laptop should have between 0.50 and 1.00 TB of space.

I'm not sure what to do. I don't know if I can back up any of the files on the PC. I hoped the backup drive would help, but the error message about the drive being too small doesn't make sense.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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2 additional answers

Answer 1

Hi John. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

Did you save a System Image backup previously to an external or another hard drive? If not then that is not an option.

I will give you steps to access the Repair Mode to try all repairs to get Windows started, and if not to do the automated Reset or the superior Clean Install after rescuing your files. These steps don't cover possible hardware failure which might become apparent while performing the steps, so please report back as you go:

Use whichever method works in this link to access Advanced Startup Options: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc.... Easiest may be to restart PC three times to trigger the Startup Options.
If none of the other methods work it may be necessary to Create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, then on second screen choose Repair Your Computer. If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

In the Advanced Troubleshooting options try to System Restore to a point before the problems began, Startup Repair, then if necessary from Startup Settings try to get into Safe Mode with Networking, or lastly Safe Mode.

If Startup Settings aren't available you can force Safe Mode from Command Prompt following Step 5 here: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf..., or using the command to unhide F8 Advanced Boot Options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/22455-enabl... where you can also try the old reliable Last Known Good Configuration.

From Safe Mode w/Networking work through the Windows 10 Install Integrity Checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get donehttp://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-performance/windows-10-performance-and-install-integrity/75529fd4-fac7-4653-893a-dd8cd4b4db00: If it doesn’t fix Windows enough to start it normally, then try a Windows 10 Refresh: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

Update your drivers from the PC's Support Downloads web page. Compare the latest drivers with the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu. Make sure you have the latest BIOS, Chipset, Display (Video), Sound, USB3, Bluetooth, Network and all other drivers, or else download and install the latest now.

If Safe Mode doesn’t work or help stabilize things then return to Advanced Troubleshoot options. Next try Command Prompt to run through Windows 10 Install Integrity Checklist (above link) repair commands including sfc /scannow, DISM, a full Disk Check, or return to Troubleshoot options to Reset Your Windows 10 PC.
Better yet do the vastly superior Clean Install Windows 10 following the steps in this link to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...
There is a step to Rescue Files from the booted media Command Prompt first: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

These steps are excerpted from my tutorial that compiles everything possible for Troubleshooting Windows 10 Failure to Start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki.... You can continue with the other steps there.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer There are links to a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 2

Anonymous

Thanks! Nothing worked, including Safe Mode from the command prompt, so I backed up the files and reinstalled Windows as per your instructions.

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Answer 3

A recovery drive an only perform a clean install only.

Click Reset this PC

Click Keep my files

Choose your account

Enter your password

Click Continue

Click Reset

If that does not work.

Go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.

	Step 1: How to download official Windows 10 ISO files 

	[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-download-official-windows-10-iso-files/35cde7ec-5b6f-481c-a02d-dadf465df326)



	Step 2: How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10

	[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-10/aef0ae63-2117-41ee-a8ea-4a3181625b08)



If there are files on the drive you want to recover, see -  How to: Perform a Custom install of Windows 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...

Step 4: how to recover your files from Windows.old:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

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Corrupted Windows 10 OS? Stuck on the troubleshooting screen, getting error messages with any option, including booting from a recovery USB drive (unable to recover PC, system drive is too small)

2 additional answers