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  1. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #21

    Hi, click on the power button, press SHIFT and left click on restart. Navigate the lengthy set of prompts via a restart to Safe Mode and see if you can log in.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Version 1607 Build 14393.105
    Thread Starter
       #22

    Holding Shift and clicking restart does not seem to be any different than a normal restart... I can't seem to be able to find a way to boot in safe mode. I did boot in safe mode earlier today, by mistake (I think because I had set that in msconfig) Then I tried to boot normally, and this new problem started. Numerous reboots, still not working. I was gone today, and my brother found it working, but Word would not open. He restarted it, and now it will not work... F8 is supposed to be the key to open the screen where you can select safe mode, but on this computer it opens the boot sequence list.

    Would using the media creation tool to create a bootable USB reinstall Windows completely? All my programs lost? Could I use the Macrium image to recover my programs? Would it have been best if I had prepared a Rescue media?

    I'm still hoping I can get this Windows to work long enough for me to do the in-place upgrade once the new computer comes. If this problem is related to the others this PC has been having, it's just a temporary belly-ache. But I have doubts.......
    Last edited by Derek Zehr; 19 Sep 2016 at 19:54.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Version 1607 Build 14393.105
    Thread Starter
       #23

    @dalchina
    Can you give further suggestions? Attached is the screen that appears sometimes, and others times i try booting it, the lock screen comes, without the username, user picture, or password entry box. Sorry to seem impatient, I know you are very busy.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #24

    You could try booting from a win 10 boot medium, and navigating to select safe mode that way.
    Safe Mode - Start Windows 10 in - Windows 10 Forums
    Advanced Startup Options - Boot to in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
    and for future reference you may find this of interest:
    Safe Mode - Add to Boot Options in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

    Feel free to explore the many very practical, clear tutorials.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Version 1607 Build 14393.105
    Thread Starter
       #25

    Hi,
    After removing Avg, some of the problems have cleared up. Now since I still wanted a refresh, I tried the inplace upgrade that you recommended. This failed. I also tried the push button reset option, but that did not work since i could not use my mouse nor my keyboard at the screen "choose your keyboard layout. What do you think of all that?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #26

    If you have all your data backed up, time for a clean install.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Version 1607 Build 14393.105
    Thread Starter
       #27

    Hi dalchina

    I thought I'd come back to let you know that I did the clean install. Worked slick, spent a couple days setting up all my programs, and we're back to normal. Such an experience is always a great bother, but I learned a lot through it, almost more than I'll be able to remember.

    Thanks again for your willing help!

    Derek
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 564
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1
       #28

    I would have recommended a clean install myself, but looks like you got it sorted out. Good luck :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #29

    Hi, glad it works. Sometimes when you have not much installed and it's not much extra work to clean install, that is the quickest way.

    Unless you use disk imaging- which we strongly recommend. Here's how to consolidate your working state, and recover it quickly without technical help:
    Creating disk images lets you restore Windows and all your disks and partitions to a previous working state, quickly and probably without technical help.

    You can recover from:
    - a failed disk drive (restore to a new one)
    - ransomware (which encrypts your disk)
    - user error
    - unrecoverable problems from failed updates to problem programs
    - unbootable PC (hardware faults aside)

    Images also act as a full backup- you can extract files too.

    You can even use images to help you move more easily and quickly to a new PC.

    Imaging can even help you sleep at night knowing you have a second chance.

    Many here recommend Macrium Reflect (free) as a good robust solution and more reliable than some others. It’s
    - more feature rich
    - more flexible
    - more reliable
    than Windows Backup and Restore system images.

    It's well supported with videos, help and a responsive forum.

    There are other such programs, free/commercial, some with simpler interfaces, but Macrium R is one of the most robust and reliable.

    How long does it take?
    SSD+ USB3 - maybe 15 mins for the first system image, less thereafter
    HDD + USB2 - maybe 40-50 mins
    That’s with little personal data, few programs installed.
    - of course, depends how much you have on C:
    (You can and should image all your partitions and disks)

    Once you've created your first image, keep it updated with e.g. differential imaging- which images just changes from the first image, more quickly, and creates a smaller image file.
      My Computers


 

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