Unable to boot into windows (even to safe mode)

wrenster · 24 Mar 2018

Hi all,
As the title describes. Attempted to turn on the computer about 1 week ago and it go stuck at the loading screen where the dots are circling. After leaving it for few hours, no change.
I've removed unnecessary usb devices and disconnected other HDDs (leaving only the drive with the windows installed on)

SrtTrail.txt from windows log are attached SrtTrail.txt

I think the most important part is:
Root cause found:
---------------------------
Unspecified changes to system configuration might have caused the problem.

Repair action:
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x32
Time taken = 578 ms

Repair action: System files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x57
Time taken = 1750 ms

I have attempted to reinstall windows with the media creation tool using the upgrade option (as I don't want to lose my stuff), but it says it's not available if I start the computer using windows installation media.

If anyone has any ideas to help sort this out without formatting and re-installing windows, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Caledon Ken · 24 Mar 2018

Hi wrenster. Welcome to the TenForums @wrenster

Sounds like you know the ins and outs but can I ask how you tried safe mode. Was it through the Windows detecting the false starts and it then invoke the Advance Startup Options.

Do you have access to a second machine where you could download and create a Macrium boot disk and then try their "Fix Windows boot". You would boot with this recover disk. Then pick up this at point 2.5

Use Macrium Reflect Rescue Media to Fix Windows Boot Issues

Macrium has a very good Knowledge article that should alos be referenced.

https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/di...+boot+problems

Ken

wrenster · 24 Mar 2018

Hi Ken, thanks for the reply.

I don't think I know too much, but I'm fairly good at following instructions.
Windows didn't actually detect the false starts directly. The Advance Startup Options only became available after I manually restarted the computer after the failed boots. And it's through this that I attempted to boot through the various boot options including safe mode unsuccessfuly.

I've attempted the Macrium Reflect Media to Fix Windows Boot Issues. Unfortunately it did not fix the issue. Window is still only booting to the logo with the loading dots.

If it is any help, I can hear my speakers make a noise (like it used to do during normal boot up) and the keyboard lights up momentarily.
Also I'm not sure on the relevancy, but the months prior I had issues with the graphics card (freezing and BSOD), so I had stopped using the computer for about 2-3 months. The GPU issues were fixed with a good cleaning of the dust + reinstallation of the driver (AMD card). There was about 2 weeks of normal use between issues.

Thanks in advance

Caledon Ken · 25 Mar 2018

Okay. Yes after two failed attempts windows is supposed to start the Advance Startup options.

So you power on, see the dots and hold power until it powers down. Repeat. On third attempt it should take you to the options.

While it wouldn't boot to safe did any other option work, like System Restore.

Lets see if another member joins in but I think what you want to avoid is your only way out, clean install. Should you wind up doing this I would run chkdsk against the volume to ensure you are not foighting a disk error. You don't want to spend a huge amount of time rebuilding on a shaky foundation. Not saying disk is bad, saying to check it.

At this point I would be ensuring your data is safe. You can boot with this disk and copy out.

Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk