I cannot follow your instructions because Windows 10 will not run

The first BSOD I get is:

Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you.
For more information, see https://windows.com/stopcode. (When I go to this page, I get the error message: We are sorry, the page you requested cannot be found.)
Stopcode: Critical Process Died

Preparing Automatic Repair

Diagnosing your PC

Then, the second BSOD I get is:

Automatic Repair
Your PC did not start correctly.
Press "Restart" to restart...
[Restart] [Advanced Option]

Third BSOD:

Choose an option:
Continue (Restarts from the first entry above.)
Troubleshoot (I tried most options here.)
Turn off your PC (As it says.)

When I tried following Fix Critical Process Died in Windows 10 Error - gHacks Tech News, I could not start in Safe Mode and the error message "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart..." returned and I was at the beginning again.

Obviously, I could not "Open the start menu and type “msconfig.”"

I can run through each option I tried under Troubleshoot, but that might make this post unnecessarily long.

When I tried "Reset this PC", "Keep my files" results in the message "There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made."

I did not choose "Remove Everything".

When I tried a System Restore, despite having turned on System Restore previously, it said no restore to choose from.

Similar results were obtained when I tried to follow steps to resolve this problem

I have not idea what to do next.

Please help!

GFR

See if you can also test the drive:

SeaTools for DOS - Hard Drive Diagnostic
SeaTools | Seagate Support US


To restore windows.old:
How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10


The end result should be similar to a reset save files where drivers and applications need to be reinstalled.

No, I do not have a backup or image of my drive.

My copy of Windows 10 was installed through their free upgrade from Windows 7.

I am very good at maintaining a library of all of my software and I do not find a backup copy of Windows 10.

Now what do I do?

GFR

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Ztruker said:

If not, your best bet is to do what is called a Parallel install. This will install the same version of Windows 10, Home or Pro, along side your existing installation.
Once that's done you can then copy anything you want from the old install to your new install. Programs you will have to reinstall but all your data should be okay.

I have a compatible HDD. Does it make sense to disconnect my 2 HDD and 1 SSD, install the compatible HDD, load Windows 10, reconnect the other drives one at a time and collect all date that I want to save?

GFR

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Ztruker said:

Before you do that you can try KYHI's Rescue WinPE ISO. See here: Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk from KYHI. It uses an older version of Windows 10 as the base but it works fine.

Boot it, find your Windows 10 partition and see if C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP exists. If it does, copy it to the Rescue flash drive then copy it to another computer so you can zip it and upload to a file sharing site like OneDrive or Google Drive, then post a link in this thread to the uploaded file.

I'll download it and take a look at it and see if I can determine what is causing the BSOD. May be able to figure out what the cause is and fix it so you don't have to reinstall. Probably not but worth a try.

This sounds like a good next step.

GFR

zbook said:

See if you can also test the drive:

SeaTools for DOS - Hard Drive Diagnostic
SeaTools | Seagate Support US

The 2 HDDs are WD. Should I use WD's diagnostic software or Seagate's?

GFR

gfr said:

The 2 HDDs are WD. Should I use WD's diagnostic software or Seagate's?

GFR

The Sea Tools for Windows can be used on most drives so it's frequently used.

If you can use WD diagnostic software then post result images into the thread.

idgat said:

Install a MINIMAL clean version of Windows 10. You won't need to worry about the license key, that's now automatic from the original upgrade.

How do I do a MINIMAL clean version of Windows 10, if my license key is "locked" inside one of the HDD that was originally connect to the PC and the compatible HDD is formatted?

GFR