How can I force Windows 10 Startup Repair to fix a non-default OS?


  1. Posts : 112
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro 1909
       #1

    How can I force Windows 10 Startup Repair to fix a non-default OS?


    Hi, folks! All my computers are multi-boot / multi-OS. They all can boot either Windows 7 or Windows 10, and since I always simply clone the entire boot partition to make live backups, I usually have more than one "version" of each OS present. To avoid the inherent confusion latent in this situation, I've always used Terabyte's magnificent BootIt Bare Metal, which very, very easily allows me to boot whichever OS and "version" I choose. It also allows me to view and edit not only the main BCD stores for each OS, but also all the secondary BCD entries, such as those for the Windows Boot Manager, Resume and recovery environment, etc.

    Right now, I have one Windows 10 installation/partition that almost boots correctly: It gets all the way to the final login screen where it usually allows you to enter your login credentials, but doesn't quite get that far -- it just sits there with no prompt.

    I've already confirmed and re-confirmed that check disk reports no problems. I've also confirmed and re-confirmed that an offline SFC /SCANNOW reports no corrupt files or other errors. I've also confirmed and re-confirmed that the partition I want to boot is assigned to drive letter C: (BootIt BM does this magically, but just in case that procedure fails, it provides a powerful script to force any drive letter to any partition).

    But still, it just won't let me log in.

    Over and over, Windows tells me to boot to an installation drive (a flash drive in my case) and perform a startup repair. BUT every single time I do this it ONLY allows me to try to repair the WRONG Windows 10 partition! And I can find no way whatsoever to force it to try to fix a different installation!

    Windows 7 boot repair allows this, but not the horrifically stupid Windows 10 repair tool, which was clearly designed for the least knowledgeable user.

    But maybe I'm being too harsh: IS there any way to force it to try to fix a different Windows 10 installation / partition? From the command line, maybe?

    Please help me. Thanks!
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 43,012
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    You might try Macrium Reflect's Fix boot utility available on its boot medium. This apparently offers a choice of OS: see (3)
    How can I force Windows 10 Startup Repair to fix a non-default OS?-1.jpg

    However how that relates to a dual boot config I've no idea I'm afraid.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 112
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro 1909
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hey, Thanks, dalchina! I'll give that a try.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 112
    64-bit Windows 10 Pro 1909
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Well, I'm still very grateful for your reply, dalchina, but although that product seems extremely powerful -and- definitely has the desired ability to repair any Windows installation anywhere on any partition , in this instance it not only didn't fix my problem, it messed things up a little worse than they were. Even after what Macrium did, the Windows 10 installation in question still refused to boot.

    But I'm not going to blame Macrium Reflect's boot repair tool, because it provided so many options that I blindly chose all of them, which is most probably what made things worse. But the main thing it messed up was to destroy BootIt Bare Metal on every and disk and replace them with the Windows 10 boot loader everywhere, including on my Windows 7 partitions.

    Anyway, now that I've corrected that, I'm still left exactly where I was to begin with: I still can't get to the login prompt, although no error messages show up anywhere.

    BUT I'm going to close this particular thread and open a new one that better reflects my situation...


      My Computers


  5. Posts : 43,012
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    Ok, I did warn you about the multi-boot potential problem.

    I'd guess that your problem now lies within the Windows partition- you might try a restore point, and check the integrity of that partition (chkdsk, SFC /SCANNOW etc).
      My Computers


 

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