How can I reload the Windows.old files so that everything is back to normal? If I do "reload" it, will anything be different than before? (Game files, Windows settings, etc.)
Stuck in "Your PC did not start correctly"
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Anonymous
I have been having frequent crashes on my PC every since I built it. This time, after crashing, I lost Bluetooth functionality. So, I decided to just reload a restore point I had recently created.
Around two months before this, my computer started to crash whenever I tried to update it (shutdown/restart + update), it would start crashing. It later progressed to automatically attempting to update (and fail to do so and crash) when my computer would restart after crashing. So, the timeline of events was essentially: crash, attempt to update, crash, "Windows could not complete the change, undoing the changes," restart, back to normal (sometimes there would be an additional crash.
Anyways, back to me reloading a restore point. When I did so, after the actual restoration process went through, the computer started to restart. Unfortunately, this caused the computer to try and update, which kickstarted the previously described sequence of crashes and restarts. On the final restart, instead of booting into Windows, the Automatic Repair came up, and all the options (restart, continue to Windows 10, startup repair, etc.) do not work. They result in the computer restarting and going into Automatic Repair again. I am essentially stuck in a loop.
Under troubleshoot, advanced options, I tried the system restore option (as I have a recent restore point, and an even more recent one that Windows has automatically created), but when trying to reload any of the points, it brings me to the "Confirm disks to restore" screen. Here, it doesn't let me select the only option (my C: drive), as the status says that I "must enable system protection on this drive."
I'm basically stuck. Do I have to "Reset this PC?" If so, would that let me keep my files?
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update
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Anonymous
2025-04-10T23:28:09+00:00 -
Airbus A350 7,340 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-04-09T12:58:14+00:00 Hello,
You might have to reinstall Windows using a USB. To do this, you will need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of capacity.
If you have another computer, download the Media Creation Tool (click here for the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, and click here for the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool), and then run the file once it downloads. If you get a prompt asking if you want to allow the app to make changes to your device, simply push Yes. Once the MCT comes up, insert your USB flash drive, choose your architecture, language, and time/currency format, make sure to push "USB Flash Drive", as this will create a bootable USB. Let the MCT create the bootable USB and then eject the flash drive once it's done.
On the non-functioning computer, boot from the USB flash drive, and then once the Windows Installer comes up, push "Install Now". If you get a prompt asking if you want to do an Upgrade or a Custom Installation, push the Custom Installation. Then, when asked to select where to install Windows, select the Windows partition that you had Windows installed to (it is most likely the largest partition on there and has the label OS, Windows, or Local Disk), and then push Next. If you get a prompt telling you about moving previous Windows installations to a folder called Windows.old, simply push OK.
Let Windows install and after it finishes installing, complete the OOBE (Out-of-Box-Experience), and then you should be on your way.
If you don't have a second computer, ask a friend or family member.
Let me know how this goes.
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Airbus A350 7,340 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-04-09T00:33:10+00:00 Hello,
It seems as though you might have to reset your PC. However, this will allow you to keep your files.
From the "Your PC didn't start correctly" screen, push "See advanced options" then "Troubleshoot" then "Reset this PC", and then select "Keep my files" and "Local reinstall". You can choose cloud reinstall if you'd like, but that's going to use at least 4GB of data, so make sure you have a strong internet connection before continuing.
The "Keep my files" will keep your files but not your apps and settings, so make sure you know what you've installed on there.
Let me know how this goes.
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Anonymous
2025-04-09T13:17:41+00:00 I will try this, thanks. However, will all my files and information remain?
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Anonymous
2025-04-09T01:07:41+00:00 Whether I click the cloud or local reinstall option, it just says that it is "Unable to download. Please try using the [other option] option."