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Rebuilding my bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd - Unlike everyone else it found one installation on D:\ - Now what?

Anonymous
2022-08-24T23:49:33+00:00

Every other example of rebuilding the boot record here and on line give this first step of typing:

X:\windows\system32>bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

Please wait, since this may take a while... (and it did take a very long time)

However, unlike all the other examples I have found so far I got this answer...

Successfully scanned Windows installations.

Total identified Windows installations: 1

[1] D:\Windows

Add installations to boot list? Yes(Y)/No(N)/All(A): __

What do I answer here ? Y, N, or A ?

I am doing this to try and get out of the "Repairing your PC" infinite loop.

The next steps are to use:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr

then

bootrec.exe /fixboot

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-08-25T00:52:17+00:00

    Follow Up - I did find some similar instances here in support, but it was back in 2016, for Win 7.

    I did locate some on-line examples saying that the answer should be "Yes".

    The result was that it said:

    "The system can not find the file specified"

    I will continue on with the /fixmbr and /fixboot, much like the other people who got this far.

    From what I have seen, the prospects of success are low.

    Every other thread within help that I found with similar instances ended up unresolved.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-25T23:53:44+00:00

    Thanks Igor -

    I followed all those steps, even number 7. I don't know if you noticed but step 8 is missing!

    Anyway, I eventually made it to the point of chkdsk looking at and scan + fixing on my three drives. The one that I suspect was not working was in fact not, however, unlike Windows Explorer it was able to identify the disk name "Games".

    Chkdsk encountered two "An unspecified error occurred" with code line.

    It ended with "Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 6."

    The command line entry of /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwinddir=D:\windows returned that the details of the logged events after successfully repairing corrupt files.

    The restorehealth command had the operation complete successfully.

    I rebooted and was again back in "Repairing your PC" loop.

    I am now attempting to make a clean install of windows 10 off USB media installation.

    At this moment I am attempting to remove extra partitions, but it is taking a lengthy amount of time to remove each one. So far I am hopeful that I will get to the installing windows stage.

    The one amazing thing is how nearly every example on-line is NOT how my machine has acted. I feel I'm getting close to fully reinstalling Windows... but I still have my doubts.

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  3. Igor Leyko 110.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-08-25T21:47:38+00:00

    Please use Windows installation media and try recovery steps described at

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402603...

    Note, Step 7 may be faulty unfortunately.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-25T04:13:03+00:00

    Thanks Igor -

    I took your suggestion and followed the boot from media on USB and after reaching the command line I entered the command "BDCEdit" as per the instructions. at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402603...

    This is how Windows 10 replied:

    The boot configuration data store could not be opened.

    The requested system device cannot be identified due to multiple indistinguishable devices potentially matching the identification criteria.

    I've never seen this message before, or in any of the fix suggestions.

    • as it can not identify which disk (I have 3) I an unable to move to step 2 and run chkdsk on the appropriate disk.

    Not giving up I continued on the the next 9 steps using the D: drive as the target drive as this appears to be the one with the system files. It found just a few errors which were fixed.

    All the other steps competed with no errors. I finished and entered EXIT and "selected turn off".

    I removed the USB and rebooted. It gave the 'Repairing you PC" message and after a while went to a black screen with the HD light flickering slightly... it appears to be doing something.

    I will let it run this way into the night to see where it is in the morning.

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  5. Igor Leyko 110.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-08-25T00:45:29+00:00

    Hi,

    My name is Igor, I have 12 Microsoft MVP awards. It's a pleasure for me to help others and I'll do all my best to help you. I'm sorry you have a problems.

    Please answer Yes. Recovery environment may assign another letter to Windows disk, not C:, sometimes.

    And please look at recovery steps described at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402603...

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