Windows won't boot after a power outage

pacofernandez58 · 12 Feb 2018

Sorry for answering so late, I couldn't do it before. I've tried looking at the reliability history but it doesn't show anything, just things like 'Microsoft Excel stopped working'. Tomorrow I will try resetting the BIOS, run the log collector and run the Safe Mode with command prompt.

If nothing works, I will do the repair install in a couple of days because I'm a bit paranoic and I want to do a backup of everything before doing it. But I read the guide and it says that I can't do it while I am in Safe Mode. What should I do then?

Thank you so much.

EdTittel · 12 Feb 2018

Good plan! I think you will be well-served by it.
--Ed--

Steve C · 13 Feb 2018

I had this problem once which I fixed by setting the BIOS defaults as noted above. I would also run chkdsk either from safe mode or a repair disk to check / fix any disk errors on your system drive. Do this before trying the repair install.

pacofernandez58 · 14 Feb 2018

I've tried the two things but no results, so I guess I will have to do the repair install. The zip that the log collector created is attached too.

But I asked this before and I didn't get an answer: Can I make the repair install from Safe Mode? Because that is the only mode I can use.

Thank you

EdTittel · 14 Feb 2018

You should indeed be able to upgrade in safe mode. If you want to grab updates while you're upgrading, you'll want to use safe mode with networking instead. However, going with straight safe mode is probably (a) the safest thing for you to try and (b) the most likely to produce a successful upgrade. So try plain-vanilla safe mode first,
--Ed--

zbook · 14 Feb 2018

There were 2 BSOD mini dump files with bugchecks 7A and 139.
The bugcheck 139 when debugged displayed a misbehaving software driver.
This driver is part of AVG antivirus software.
To fix this uninstall the AVG software and turn on Windows defender:
How to uninstall AVG software | AVG Support

The other bugcheck was 7A.
This could be related to hardware problems.
If it is related to hardware the malfunctioning hardware is typically RAM or Drive.
It displayed error status 5 and that is not definitive.

The steps now are:
1) Uninstall AVG using the AVG uninstall tool
2) Check RAM / DIMM /MB using Memtest86+ version 5.01
3) Check the drive: These software are already installed:
HD Tune:
a) Health (SMART)
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan
Crystal Disk:
Health (SMART)
Benchmark

4) Run memtest86+ version 5.01 for at least 8 passes.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
This may take hours so plan to run it overnight.
a) Please make sure you use the Memtest86+ version 5.01 with the link below.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
The testing is done not by time but by passes.
The more passes the better.
There are a significant number of false negatives if fewer than 8 passes are made.
A false negative is a test pass when there is malfunctioning RAM.
There is 16 GB of RAM on the computer.
Memtest86+ version 5.01 testing takes approximately 1 - 2 hours /GB RAM
Just 1 error is a fail and you can abort testing.
Then test 1 RAM module at a time in the same DIMM each for 8 or more passes.
b) When Memtest86+ has completed 8 or more passes use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread.
Memory problems. - Microsoft Community
MemTest86+ - Test RAM | Windows 10 Tutorials

An in place upgrade repair cannot be done in safe mode:
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Windows 10 Tutorials
If you can boot into the windows recovery there should be options for reset with remove files (similar to clean install), reset with save files (applications are lost), startup options (safe mode, safe mode with command prompt, safe mode with networking), system restore, startup repair, and command prompt.

EdTittel · 14 Feb 2018

Zbook is right: My bad. I should've checked Brink's tutorial first, but went to a different (and apparently incorrect) source instead. Sounds like you'll have to make some repairs to do an in-place upgrade repair install. If those prove too difficult, you might want to consider a clean install instead. Before you do that, if you don't have a backup you will need access to another computer (I assume you have this, because you're posting here to the forums). You should install Macrium Reflect on the other PC, and then build a rescue disk. This is bootable, so you can use it to boot your problem PC and make a backup of that machine. That way, if you do have to perform the clean install, you'll still be able to access (at least some) files and information from that earlier installation.
HTH,
--Ed--

PS: By no coincidence, @Kari just wrote a Macrium Reflect tutorial wherein he explains how to add Reflect to the Windows boot menu and then use that option at boot time instead. See the Yellow TIP box after Part 2 Step 7: Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

Kari · 14 Feb 2018

EdTittel said:

You should install Macrium Reflect on the other PC, and then build a rescue disk. This is bootable, so you can use it to boot your problem PC and make a backup of that machine. That way, if you do have to perform the clean install, you'll still be able to access (at least some) files and information from that earlier installation.

That would be my approach, too. Capture what's there to capture to Macrium image when booted from Macrium Rescue USB, clean install Windows 10, install Macrium after installation is finished and mount the system image to get personal data extracted and moved to new installation.

EdTittel said:

By no coincidence, @Kari just wrote a Macrium Reflect tutorial wherein he explains how to add Reflect to the Windows boot menu and then use that option at boot time instead. See the Yellow TIP box after Part 2 Step 7: Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

Just to clarify, the tutorial is quite old but the tip still very much valid :)

Kari

pacofernandez58 · 16 Feb 2018

Finally I'm going to refresh Windows, I think it's the easiest way. I'm going to create the Macrium image but also I want to make a manual backup of the files.

But I have a problem: I'm trying to do a backup of my Windows Live Mail contacts, but if I copy the folder where there are stored to another computer, they aren't imported. Besides, I can't open WLM in Safe Mode. Do you know any way to open Windows Live Mail so I can export them? I mean, like a Windows live CD if it exists or something like that.

Thank you so much.

pacofernandez58 · 17 Feb 2018

So I refreshed Windows and now it boots without any problem! Thank you for all your advices :)