Stuck in Automatic Repair = inadvertently changed C: drive path?

@zbook- what I'm suggesting should resurrect the PC, provided what's left on the "C:" is at all viable - the clean install is just a step to that. Saves a lot of technical bits and time on our part.

sorry, took a while to clear up external drives so as to have enough space for a C: copy.

Made the C: copy

Started Clean Install Windows 10 Home (64) (Install Windows Only option)

German Install, because although I used English on it, the original will be in German because it is bought here in Germany

However, after 2nd stage (data is being prepared... = green install bar at bottom of screen) = the install just restarts and returns to the first Windows 10 install window (back to the install start window)

Not sure if I should have first Formatted the partition?

Answer to Zbook:

sorry just read what you wrote yesterday.

Answer: as you can see from what I just wrote. I have been busy preparing for copy of C: drive and then starting the Clean Install = which has just failed!

I am not too bothered about saving the data.

I would just like to not have to buy another Windows 10 Home key (the key = it is a pre-installed software = originally windows 8 = upgraded to Windows 10 = I don't have a software key). (I guess the key is also somehow pre-installed or recognised?)

The option that is the easiest and quickest is best for me = have spent enough time on this.

But a repair might not be possible since I have (2x) tried to do a clean install!

I'm not convinced you're doing the clean install correctly. That's to unallocated space not to an existing partition. Windows creates up to 4 partitions when being installed.


Clean Install Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

I would just like to not have to buy another Windows 10 Home key (the key = it is a pre-installed software = originally windows 8 = upgraded to Windows 10 = I don't have a software key). (I guess the key is also somehow pre-installed or recognised?)

You don't need to. Once Win 10 is installed, it is registered to that PC on MS's servers. You can reinstall the same edition as many times as you like.

The option that is the easiest and quickest is best for me = have spent enough time on this.

- and you'd still have to do a clean install.

If you're not prepared to spend time on this, best not ask more difficult questions which require that- you could use a computer repair shop.... or perhaps you know a friend who could help you.

Inevitably unfamiliar procedures like this will take you longer than it would me.

Hi, thanks, great it's booting again and you've completed a clean install.

You're doing brilliantly in a difficult situation- I can only imagine how it is from what I've seen from TV. Sorry to hear of your problems.

However I'm not sure that you have deleted the original partitions from what you say:

Since I misunderstood the Clean Install Instruction part = Step 12/Drive options (advanced) = unallocated = and did not delete the data on the old partition part = the installation process has placed this data in a separate folder (old.windows) = and has in fact done this twice (2x old. folders) since I had done two attempts at installing.

Please post a screenshot of Disk Management:
E.g. Windows key + X, click Disk Management

To post a screenshot please use the Insert Image icon above your post. Thanks.

If there are remaining old partitions, we can delete them, but it would probably be safest to do a proper clean install.

Hi, it looks good enough, I think - you have some extra Windows Recovery partitions (the smaller ones) and one- the last- I imagine is a factory reset partition. (Many PC's have at least one redundant Recovery partition).

I don't know what the 3rd one is.

If you really want to clean up, the simplest 'no-brainer' way would be to do another clean install, wiping everything. Else you could, with due caution, delete unnecessary partitions.

I think I recall Lenovo's have a slightly different partition arrangement, so I'd leave that to someone familiar with that to be safe.

Moving on: you then have two options:
After creating a disk image of what you have now (to start creating a new set of disk images)

a. Replace your new Windows partition with the image you saved before in the hope of recovering the PC as was.
The risk is that partition is unusable or unfixable.
b. Carry on and reinstall programs and configure your new installation.
(Note- you can mount the disk image previously created as another drive letter, and copy from it anything you need).

The choice is yours.
@zbook - from the previous post, it seems the PC is booting ok.

The first partition sounds as though it might also be important = something to do with Windows system (maybe something like drivers)?

The last is = I think = the Lenovo installed recovery of the original Windows 8 (would it be useful to re-use this partition for a backup/recovery of Windows 10? = since Lenovo has some kind of recovery system = which "might" explain some of the other partitions? = Maybe the partitions should not be removed?)

I have already removed all the games from C: = The only thing left worth saving on C: is the MS Office, but even then I see no reason not to just do a clean install (if this needed at all, when the partitions should be left in place?).

Sorry, but it still isn't clear to me how the partitions get removed (when doing the W10 install I saw the option to Format the partitions but to delete or remove?And if I delete one that is needed?)

So far I have found this information (although it is not directly for my type/model Computer):

https://support.lenovo.com/de/en/solutions/ht077144