Windows 10 stuck in an infinite boot loop, perhaps caused by the updates KB5039865 and/or KB5039299

DK 0 Reputation points
2024-07-03T10:10:40.37+00:00

Windows 10 on my computer (Asus H81M-PLUS) can't reboot anymore. This failure has begun after installing updates KB5039865 and/or KB5039299 released June 26, 2024, however I cleaned also the registry with the Wise Registry Cleaner and the Norton Utilities Ultimate (trial), and moved (successfully) the WinRE partition directly after the OS partition from the beginning of the disk (following https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5028997-instructions-to-manually-resize-your-partition-to-install-the-winre-update-400faa27-9343-461c-ada9-24c8229763bf ). This allowed to enlarge it and finally install the KB5034441 update requiring larger WinRE, what was impossible since few months.

I also removed few programs from the Startup using the Norton Utilities Ultimate, like Cloud.

Windows 10 reboot is looping just at the end of BIOS. So no Windows at all. The monitor displays "No signal". But a TV SET connected to the computer displays such final BIOS text menu allowing to reboot to last known working configuration, or safe mode etc. However that not works.

Fortunately the Windows Moot Manager in BIOS works (on the primary monitor), so I was able to run Windows. However it takes much more time then normal reboot.

WinRE can't see any problems. But it runs only with the manually started (from the BIOS level) Windows Boot Manager (after restarting Winows with Shift + Power > Restart), not itself alone, so maybe this is the reason.

BIOS Version/Data: American Megatrends Inc. 2205, 2015-05-26SMBIOS Version: 2.7


Edited later:

And one more thing, maybe crucial. This computer has 2 physical disks:

  1. PATA - i.e. D: with Windows XP
  2. SATA - i.e. C: with Windows 10

BIOS Settings for Windows 10 / XP: SATA mode selection: AHCI / IDE OS Type: Windows UEFI Mode / Other OS and appropriate disk is selected.

By default AHCI and UEFI Mode are set to run Windows 10. Windows XP could not boot too after installing those updates, but reboot to last known working configuration fixed something and now it runs normally. But Windows 10 still only through BIOS Boot Menu - Windows Boot Manager (P2: WDC WD20EZRX-00D8PB0).

SrtTrail.txt (WinRE? log after Windows 10 reboot using Windows Boot Manager):

Startup Repair diagnosis and repair log


Last successful boot time: ‎26/‎06/‎2024 21:55:02 (GMT)

Number of repair attempts: 1

Session details


System Disk = \Device\Harddisk1Windows directory = D:\WINDOWS (this part is very disturbing !) AutoChk Run = 0 Number of root causes = 1 (...)

Maybe since those updates computer is attempting to run Windows XP instead of 10, but it is unsuccessful because AHCI and UEFI Mode are chosen ?

And all options from the BIOS Boot Manager:

  • P4:ASUS DRW-24F1ST a
  • Windows Boot Manager (P2: WDC WD20EZRX-00D8PB0) - this one boots Windows 10 !!
  • P1: ST500DM002-1BD142 (476940MB)
  • P2: WDC WD20EZRX-00D8PB0 (1907729MB)
Windows 10
Windows 10
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  1. Wesley Li 11,010 Reputation points
    2024-07-08T09:15:59.82+00:00

    Hello

    Are you dual boot windows XP and Windows 10 with two disk?

    It is confusing about the present information with Windows XP part.

    If you are dual boot Window XP and Windows 10, have we tried to remove the Windows XP option. There may be boot manager issue with these two boot options.

    'Fortunately theWindows Moot Manager in BIOSworks (on the primary monitor), so I was able to run Windows. However it takes much more time then normal reboot.'

    I noticed it is available to boot normally with this method. We may try to remove the suspicious boot option.

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  2. DK 0 Reputation points
    2024-07-08T09:29:58.1133333+00:00

    Yes, with two separate physical disks - ATA and SATA. It's been working several years. I am not going to uninstall Windows XP. Moreover, it is difficult to predict whether it would improve anything.

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  3. DK 0 Reputation points
    2024-07-10T10:44:00.85+00:00

    O my God, this is fixed !!! Today OS was updated (KB5040427 and KB5041019) and I restarted the computer. It was looping as usually, but I noticed in BIOS, that boot priority is incorrect:

    P1 (Windows XP) --> Windows Boot Manager (UEFI, Windows 10) --> P4

    instead of:

    Windows Boot Manager --> P1 --> P4

    So I switched it to second one as above and everything works.

    Certainly I did not change boot priority during attempting to restart after KB5039865 and KB5039299, because did not even open BIOS that time. It was restarting simply itself after pressing option Restart in Windows 10, and then falling into loop.

    Windows XP could not boot so easily that time too, what is described in the first message of this thread.

    I think, that I did not change boot priority looking for reason of that looping, because forgot how to change that, because I run Windows XP very rarely. But I am not sure of that.

    So there are two possibilites:

    1. KB5039865 and KB5039299 changed boot priority in BIOS
    2. KB5039865 and KB5039299 changed something else and LATER I coincidentally changed boot priority attempting to restart Windows 10, Windows XP, Windows 10 and that "something else" was fixed today by KB5040427 or KB5041019
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