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#11
How do you boot to Command Prompt?
In the Windows Recovery Environment,(ie) x:\sources or x:\Windows the Windows OS directory may not be on the C: drive. First, lets find out which drive Windows is on.
At command prompt (x: sources) type this exactly as written:
bcdedit |find “osdevice” (Must inc ” and the |), the | before Find is the Upper case \ key) press enter. This will tell you what drive letter the OS is on. It may not be on the C: drive.
Now use the returned as the drive letter for OS, for this example, assume C: or whatever drive letter is the os device.
At the x sources type: chkdsk c: /r press enter, 5 stages of check disk will run. It will test the HDD for errors. it may take a while.
To get to C:\Windows\System32 from the X: drive. type C: and press Enter (ie) C:\> at this prompt type CD Windows and press enter (ie) C:\Windows> a this prompt type CD System32 and press enter (ie) C:\Windows\System32> now type runas /user:administrator cmd
When it first reboots it goes to a black prompt screen with this message: Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key_
If I keep trying to reboot I do get a recovery blue screen...but it says: Recovery Your PC/Device needs to be repaired
The application or operating system couldn't be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors.
File: \Windows.old.000\Windows\system32\winload.exe
Error code: 0xc000000f
You'll need to use recovery tools. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your PC adminstrator or PC//Device manufacturer.
Press Enter to try again
Press F8 for Startup Settings
Press F9 to use a different operating system
If I press enter...it just instantly reloads the same page
If I press F8...same thing
If I press F9 The windows logo pops up with the little rotating dots....but it never loads...It goes to a blue page with a message that says it has to restart. Then when it finally gets back to that Recovery page again...I press F9 again...then it goes to the Windows Logo and says Preparing Automatic Repair. Eventually it gets around to loading an options page and one of the options....the only one that does anything is Command Prompt.
Sounds like your HDD has lost it's MBR and Partitions.
If you want to try and save any files, you will have to use a recovery software.
First, on another computer, download Mini Partition Wizard and create a bootable USB or CD then try booting the computer into Partition Wizard and choosing Repair MBR on the left panel.
If that doesn't work you can try and recover your files using the free TestDisk Software. I have had the best luck with GetDataBack.
After safely backing up, you would need to reinstall Windows, and all your programs and backup.
Please use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images into the thread.
If you have any problems posting images please use one drive, drop box, or google share links.
1) Find a flash drive that you can format ( > or = 8 GB )
2) Create a bootable Windows 10 iso:
Download Windows 10
3) Temporarily modify the BIOS boot order so that you can boot to the external USB hard drive
4) Insert the flash drive into any USB port
5) power on the computer to the boot menu and boot to the external USB hard drive
6) It may take 5 - 10 minutes for the iso to load while viewing the Windows icon
7) Choose language, time, currency, and keyboard or click next
8) Do not click install
9) In the left lower corner click repair your computer
10) Click troubleshoot
11) Click command prompt > Administrator: X:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources:>
For these steps please use the camera or smart phone camera to take picture and post the results of the steps into the thread.
12) type: C:
13) type: dir
14) type: D:
15) type: dir
16) type: bcdedit /enum
17) type: bcdedit | find "osdevice"
18) type: diskpart
19) type: list disk
20) type: select disk 0
21) type: list volume
(look in the column Fs for any volume that displays RAW instead of NTFS)
22) type: list partition
23) type: exit
24) type: chkdsk /f /r G: (change G to the drive letter of the volume displaying RAW)
It may display "The first NTFS boot sector is unreadable or corrupt."
This may then convert the RAW volume to NTFS.
25) type: exit
26) reboot to open the Windows advanced troubleshooting menu > command prompt > Administrator: X:\windows\system32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources>
27) type: bootrec /rebuildbcd
It may display:
Scanning all disks for Windows installations.
Please wait, since this may take a while...
Successfully scanned Windows installations.
Total identified Windows installations: 1
[1] D:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? Yes(Y)/No(N)/ALL(A):
28) type: Y
The operation completed successfully.
X:\Windows>
29) type: exit
30) reboot
See if the boot problem was fixed.
If it is fixed:
31) Make a brand new restore point
32) Backup all files to another drive or to the cloud
33) Make a backup image using Macrium or Acronis:
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free
If you get this far then you are set.
If the problem was not fixed there are more troubleshooting steps that are based on the above results.
Please make sure to use a camera or smart phone camera to take multiple pictures as you perform the steps and post images into the thread.
If you download and create Kyhi's boot disk, available from the top of the Software and Apps section here, you can boot your PC into a familiar Win 10 environment.
You can then (e.g.)
- run Minitool Partition Wizard and post a screenshot of your partitions- assuming you can see them
- run HD Tune and check your disk
- perform data recovery and backup if needed
- there is a way of running SFC /SCANNOW offline - you'd need the exact command- another possibility.
- you can run Macrium Reflect, and use the Fixboot command
- you could restore the registry backup
- run any commands you need to run
etc.
In case you have inconsistent issues reaching the command prompt, try this
Forum 9230 Download Windows 10 ISO File
Download Windows 10 ISO File Installation Upgrade Tutorials
--- I was reminded of how I use that as one of my favorites per zbook’s recommendation in post 17.
In my case I use a USB flash drive.
Uncheck the "Use the recommended options for this PC".
Select correct architecture: x86, x64 or both. Personally in today's world, I use x64 only.
When the process is completed, bring the USB flash drive to your computer.
When the USB flash drive boots your computer and reaches the Windows Screen, press Shift+F10.
This will get you into the command prompt.