Cannot boot Windows 10

Question

I started a full, updated Kaspersky Internet Security Scan on a Lenovo Win10 PC (built in Oct. 2016). It seized at 1%, so I hit 'stop' and closed the computer. After restart, the Kaspersky scan automatically resumed, but somewhere around 40%, the system crashed to a blue screen. The error message was: 'Bad_System_Config_Info'.

I restarted the PC, which initiated an automatic diagnosis and repair, but it failed. From the blue screen, attempts to 'Restore' to an earlier version failed. 'Reset' from the machine also failed. The Windows version was shown on the blue screen as 10.0.19041.1. On another PC, I set up a Rufus Bootable USB for Win10, with: 20H1 (=Win10 version) with English International boot selection, standard windows installation, GPT partition scheme, UEFI (non CSM) target and NTFS file system (GPT & UEFI were suggested as right for this late 2016 PC). 'Secure Boot' was disabled in BIOS, as instructed by Rufus.

I inserted the USB into the blue screen PC and selected 'Use a Device' (e.g. USB) rather than 'Continue' or other options. The USB options were: 'UEFI IPv6 Realtek PCIe GBE family controller', 'UEFI IPv6 Realtek PCIe GBE family controller' or 'Generic USB Device'. I selected 'Generic USB Device'. A black screen with a series of 'UEFI:NTFS (x64)' [info] lines were then displayed including 'Opening target NTFS partition'. A Windows 'Set-up' box then appeared. The 'English United Kingdom' choice was displayed. I accepted that and hit 'next'. The next box displayed 'Install now' and a link to 'Repair your computer'. I hit 'Repair your computer' and was taken back to the blue screen showing 'Continue', 'Use a Device' and other options. 'Use a Device' now included an extra option - 'UEFI USB Disk 2.0 PMAP, Partition 2'. Whether choosing 'Continue' or 'Use a Device' (this time using 'UEFI USB Disk 2.0 PMAP, Partition 2'), it didn't matter. Either way, the system led back to the box showing 'Install now' and a link to 'Repair your computer'.

So, I selected 'Install now' this time and then accepted the Licence agreement. I was given 2 options 'Update or 'Custom'. I selected 'Update', but received a message saying 'The upgrade isn't available if you start your machine using Windows installation media'. So... now what? I tried 'Custom' and 6 Drive 0 Partitions were displayed. I was referred to this site (by Rufus I think): https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-installing-using-the-mbr-or-gpt-partition-style, in case it might help. I'm not sure what to do, or if this is relevant. One line (4) under 'Reformatting the drive...' it states "On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, select each of the partitions on the drive, and select Delete. The drive will show a single area of unallocated space." If this is what I need to do, 'Delete' warns you that you may delete important files (!), so I cancelled in each case (Microsoft doesn't address this warning!). I'm now at a loss... Some personal files on that PC were not backed up by the user, so I'm trying to at least regain access, if not to fully restore the Win10 system.

If anyone has a suggestion on how I can get Windows 10 operating again, please tell me ASAP!! BTW, despite a lot of effort, we CANNOT find the Windows 10 licence key for that PC - sold with Win10 installed (receipt lost). I don't think that device appears in any Microsoft Account here, only one old computer.

(BTW, How to simply register a new PC on a Microsoft Account? - hopeless lack of explanation by Microsoft!)

David

Answer 1

Thank you for your detailed reply Greg. There is a lot to digest.

I did originally create a boot USB using the 'Media Creation Tool'. But, an IT friend suggested it would be better to use Rufus because he felt that a bootable USB for a Win10 repair should be loaded with the same Win10 build (20H1) as exists on the blue screen PC. He thought that a USB generated using the Media Creation Tool would have the latest build, which might not match. What do you think? Does it matter? If not and I use the Media Creation Tool, how should I access it from the blue screen?

You said: "The Generic USB device wasn't labeled UEFI which means it's not usable on the modern UEFI interface which replaced BIOS. This can be due to using Rufus which has to be specially set to create UEFI bootable media."

Well, as mentioned before, I did set the Rufus bootable USB to create a UEFI bootable media. But I chose 'Generic USB device' from the blue screen to access it. The other options were 'UEFI IPv6 Realtek PCIe GBE family controller' or 'UEFI IPv4 Realtek PCIe GBE family controller' (sorry, I put IPv6 twice before), neither of which I used. But later, I had 'UEFI USB Disk 2.0 PMAP, Partition 2' available, which I did use. Neither the Generic USB nor UEFI Disk 2 access options led to a useful outcome. Are you suggesting I try 'UEFI IPv6 Realtek PCIe GBE family controller' or 'UEFI IPv4 Realtek PCIe GBE?

I'll go through your other suggestions and advice piece by piece and get back to you?

Answer 2

hope it may solve your problem

Answer 3

Thank you Varun.

I have your reply and another good one, so I'll work through the options and see what I get.

Then I'll post a reply. It might take a while, I'm not an IT specialist.

David

Answer 4

Hi David. I'm Greg, an Independent Advisor.

The Generic USB device wasn't labeled UEFI which means it's not usable on the modern UEFI interface which replaced BIOS. This can be due to using Rufus which has to be specially set to create UEFI bootable media. For this reason I would only use Media Creation Tool which makes combination UEFI/Legacy media, following the steps toward the bottom of the download page here in the section "Using the tool to create installation media:"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/software-downlo...

If you need to back up files because they were not backed up, then use this method to rescue files when WIndows cannot start:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Preinstalled WIndows has the Product Key embedded in the UEFI chip on motherboard at the factory which should activate itself as long as you install the correct Version which is almost always Home.. You can confirm this key is present by running ProducKey from http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey-x64.zip and look for the OEM-BIOS key.

I will give you all possible steps to troubleshoot Windows installation failure which work in about 90% of cases. If not we'll go from there:

Follow the illustrated Clean Install steps in this tutorial which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Make sure all other drives and peripherals are unplugged. Update the BIOS or UEFI firmware to latest, or reset to Defaults, making sure (if you have it) UEFI is enabled, CSM or Legacy BIOS disabled, Windows Boot Manager set first to boot, if necessary disable Secure and Fast Boot until after install, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit. Access BIOS/UEFI Setup as shown here: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

Create the latest Windows 10 Installation Media by installing Media Creation Tool and following the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... If you're using another PC to do this uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first. If you can start Windows enter UEFI firmware here: http://www.isunshare.com/windows-password/four-...

The media may also be bad, so confirm it boots and queues up per these steps in another PC, or else recreate it. You can also try a DVD, or the alternate download site from MS TechBench here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php. Burn to DVD using WIndows Image Burner or create bootable flash using one of the options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt, type the following commands, each followed by Enter key:

DISKPART

LIST DISK

SEL DIS # (replace # with the disk # of the Windows disk from list in previous command)

CLEAN

EXIT

Close Command Box, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen choose Unallocated Space, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

Make sure to follow the setup steps in the first link tutorial to complete your install. Drivers are important enough that those steps are printed in red. If installation stalls or won't complete, try disconnecting from the internet.

You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the first linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC.

If all else fails you can move the hard drive to another PC to do the install with it plugged in alone. Windows 10 is remarkably adaptive to new hardware without needing adaptive restore. If it will start it will swap out all drivers requiring several restarts. You can also try applying a same-version System Image to the intact SSD/hard drive.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 5

well if you are getting the error Bad_System_Config_Info it means that the registry and system files are corrupted

so go to the blue screen recovery mode and go to advanced option and open command prompt and type

bcdedit/deletevalue {default} numproc

bcdedit/deletevalue {default} truncatememory

after try if you can boot again into your windows 10 if failed again opem cmd and now type

bootrec /repairbcd

bootrec /osscan

bootrec /repairmbr (this command deletes Master Boot Records and recreates them*)*

NOW TRY TO BOOT INTO YOUR SYSTEM

and then type all these commands one by one

cd C:\Windows\System32\config
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\DEFAULT DEFAULT.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM SAM.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SECURITY SECURITY.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE SOFTWARE.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM SYSTEM.old

*and then these *

*copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\DEFAULT C:\Windows\System32\config*
*copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SAM C:\Windows\System32\config*
*copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SECURITY C:\Windows\System32\config*
*copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SYSTEM C:\Windows\System32\config*
*copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SOFTWARE C:\Windows\System32\config*

AGAIN TRY TO BOOT..

if this also not works try using system restore it may help and if that also doesn't help you you need to delete the original windows and then need to clean install windows 10...