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Windows won’t boot after Reset This PC failed

Anonymous
2022-03-21T13:38:25+00:00

The computer was having major performance issues, to the point of almost being unusable. So I tried to perform a reset while keeping personal files. I don’t know if this is what caused things to go awry, but when it automatically initiated a restart after downloading Windows from the cloud, it said “Working on updates” on the restart screen. After it restarted, it went through the process of resetting until it got to 68%, where it got stuck for about an hour. After looking some things up, I got to this thread that said I should hard shut down the computer and turn it back on where it should continue resetting. When I did that, the computer goes to a screen where it asks me to choose from two Windows installations on “volume 4”, of which both are incomplete installations. Clicking on either one of them results in the computer trying to boot and then restarting. I’ve tried using Automatic Repair and Startup Repair and both fail. It’s really important that I get this computer back up and running as it is a computer my family uses and it has important files on it that aren’t backed up (we don’t have any external storage solutions). The computer is an HP 19-2113w that originally ran Windows 8.1.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Sumit D - IA 167K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-03-21T14:09:23+00:00

    Hi J,

    I am Sumit here to assist you with this question.

    As the system is in an unbootable state, you may require to do a clean install. Try some options below:

    Perform a hard shutdown two times during the Windows boot screen. On the third time, Windows should boot to the recovery environment, something like this.

    http://winre.azurewebsites.net

    If you are able to see Windows Recovery, go to Step 2.

    If you get a screen that says you would need to use Recovery tools, you would need to use another computer to create a recovery/installation media. You may also need to use Installation media if the Windows Recovery environment says your password is incorrect.

    How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

    Boot from the USB Flash drive-Make sure you have disabled Secure boot/Fast boot in BIOS Settings and changed the boot order if required.

    Disable Fast Boot in UEFI Firmware settings

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/21284-enabl...

    When you have successfully booted from the Installation media, click Repair your computer at the first screen after choosing keyboard layout.

    Step 2:

    1. Use Startup repair: The first option you can try is to use Startup repair, which automatically detects problems and fixes them. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may or may not be successful.

    2.Uninstall Updates

    The second step you can try is to uninstall the latest updates if Windows 10 fails to start after installing updates.

    Choose Uninstall Updates.

    Uninstall the update based on what was installed – a feature update or a quality update. Usually, the former is responsible.

    3.CHKDSK:

    If uninstalling did not help and is unrelated, the next step is to try using a Disk Check.

    Choose Command Prompt in the list of troubleshooting.

    Get the Current Windows Installation drive letter, which is either C, D, or E, Type BCDEDIT, and Press Enter. Note the letter.

    Enter the command given below:

    chkdsk X: /f /r (Replace X with the Current Windows Install Letter)

    When done, you would see the output and restart the PC to check.

    4.Another try you can give to fix is SFC SCANNOW through Offboot switch. For this follow the steps below:

    First, find the Windows Install drive letter using BCDEDIT command.

    Then, try entering the following command:

    sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

    After the scan completes you would see the results.

    You can also try using DISM: dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

    1. Reset this PC or clean install.

    The last Step is a Reset. The catch with Reset is, all applications would be removed and files would be kept(you would be presented with the option to erase everything). Also, for this step, A healthy Reset Image is required, which maybe would be affected by corruption. If you are using Installation media, you can do a clean install after rescuing your files.

    Rescue Files when Windows won't start

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

    The steps are in detail with pictures, here:

    https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2020/08/fix-wi...

    Content on the above blog is written by a Windows MVP so it is safe, however do watch out for ads.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. LightJack 05 2,575 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-03-21T18:20:03+00:00

    Hi,

    back up your files and then reinstall Windows from an installation media like this: LightJack - Installing Windows 10 (google.com)

    To back up your files you can use a Linux USB: LightJack - Rescuing your files with Linux (google.com)

    Regards,

    LightJack

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-03-21T14:04:10+00:00

    The computer was having major performance issues, to the point of almost being unusable. So I tried to perform a reset while keeping personal files. I don’t know if this is what caused things to go awry, but when it automatically initiated a restart after downloading Windows from the cloud, it said “Working on updates” on the restart screen. After it restarted, it went through the process of resetting until it got to 68%, where it got stuck for about an hour. After looking some things up, I got to this thread that said I should hard shut down the computer and turn it back on where it should continue resetting. When I did that, the computer goes to a screen where it asks me to choose from two Windows installations on “volume 4”, of which both are incomplete installations. Clicking on either one of them results in the computer trying to boot and then restarting. I’ve tried using Automatic Repair and Startup Repair and both fail. It’s really important that I get this computer back up and running as it is a computer my family uses and it has important files on it that aren’t backed up (we don’t have any external storage solutions). The computer is an HP 19-2113w that originally ran Windows 8.1.

    And after you do a restore point or if u have to reset your pc (update your drivers)

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-03-21T14:01:48+00:00

    Your going to have to do a system restore point and from there you should be good to go and question on what is your device specs. And if this doesn't work reset your PC.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-21T13:54:35+00:00

    Your going to have to do a system restore point and from there you should be good to go and question on what is your device specs. And if this doesn't work reset your PC.

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