"Overflowed stack-based buffer" error in login UI

Question

Windows (appears to have) force updated sometime today. I booted my computer up while out and about, and encountered a "stack overflow error" with explorer.EXE. 

I followed the following guide (https://www.google.com/amp/s/theitbros.com/how-to-fix-windows-10-flashing-screen/amp/) which appears to have caused the error to corrupt the logon UI, an obvious issue. I have tried many things, up to trying to reset windows, and even this fails. I am able to bring up the windows recovery menu with some finagling, however.

I am not able to run any programs on the computer itself due to the worsening of the issue. This also prevents starting in safe mode, at least in the conventional manner i tried.

I am stumped. Could someone assist me?

Answer 1

Even a recovery drive fails. Would physically replacing the hard drive work, or is the operating system stored elsewhere

Answer 2

Windows is on the hard drive. If you want to replace it I'd replace the hard drive with an SSD which is the best upgrade you can give your PC - lightning fast, better than a new higher end PC without one - swap it in and do the Clean Install in the link above.

You can also pull the hard drive out and slave it to another PC to copy files out, then wipe it with Diskpart Clean Command:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/85819-erase...

Then return it to the other PC to boot the media to install, or it might even autostart.

Answer 3

I apologize for the time I have taken, but the hard drive i ordered was delayed only just came in the male today. I am going to attempt to create a clean install now.