Took comp. for diagnosis...back, I can't open my files!!!

clam1952 said:

I'd be inclined not to go anywhere near the person who created this mess! doesn't look like he knows what he is doing. Wondering if he just did a repair install of Win10 on your disk in his PC rather than yours, which may account for the license issue.

Yes, I guess since he's so busy (one man operation) he might've done it without realizing. I'll email him a few of Mooly's and your paragraphs about those possibilities which may make him think about what he actually did. Of course I must be very careful how I word these possibilities not to insult his work. Don't know but I intend to try. Thanks so much!

P.S. Of course I won't mention your names or Windows 10 Help Forums, unless you and Mooly think it's ok?

Mooly said:

Something like that could be possible I suppose although I guess we'll never know for sure just what has happened here.

I think getting your files recovered has to be the priority. Does your search box at the bottom left work ? Can you type 'This PC' into it (without the quotes) and get it to open ?

Most definitely a priority! But none of the icons responded from day one from I brought it back. By now it shows on a light blue screen: "Your comp. ran into problems and we're trying to collect the errors and will restart the PC for you." "Preparing Automatic Repair." Then it reverts to the beginning where it offers:

1. Exit and continue with W10 (actually like a merry-go-round).
2. Troubleshooting: Reset your PC or see Advanced Options (I'm afraid to get into more trouble here).
3. Turn off your PC.

I remember something similar while I had the W10 in BETA version as I was one of the first to get it and this weird screen came from time to time. So I wonder if it's Windows doing (in part)?

Meantime, I express my deepest thanks for all yours and clam's help!!! :)

P.S. At this point, I wonder if my files would be saved by buying a casing, removing the HD and putting it like an extension to my laptop? I simply don't expect any help from the techie, except he may help by telling me which screws to remove, etc. Don't you think?

MrHudson said:

On Win 10, click on Settings, System, scroll down and click About, you will fill info in Device Information.
Win 10 you activate with a Microsoft Account instead of a product key.

Oh thank you, I'll try it right away...if the blocked icons permit me. I hope I remember my MS password! Also I was able to enter Settings until now with the new screen. But I'll certainly try it! :)

No...it just gives me the same 3 choices and by now no other possibilities at all just that beautiful blue screen. Too bad I didn't do it when Settings was available to me. Oh well, I thank you a lot. It's all good to know for any similar situation.

THANK YOU ALL WHO'VE BEEN SO KIND AND SO HELPFUL!!!

If you have access to another PC, a 8GB USB drive, you can download the Media Creation Tool, install Win 10 on that USB and do a clean install.

Adela said:

P.S. At this point, I wonder if my files would be saved by buying a casing, removing the HD and putting it like an extension to my laptop? I simply don't expect any help from the techie, except he may help by telling me which screws to remove, etc. Don't you think?

After reading thru this, I think that he simply reinstalled Windows with a unauthorized volume license which is why it's not activated and why your files are not there. But that's water under the bridge. The priority here is to get your personal files, then worry about getting the OS back up and running, for which I recommend a Clean install, as others have mentioned, or, at the very least, a Repair install.

There's no real need to remove the hard drive, if you're uncomfortable doing that. I have used this tool to recover files from unbootable PCs. Use another computer with internet and a small usb drive, go here, in TenForums - Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk

Most likely, you want to download this version - Win14393PESE_x64 ISO v170116
Then open the iso and copy all the files to a usb flash drive.

Now, go to your computer (turned off), plug in flash drive, turn on the computer and it will boot to the window in the link (you may need to change boot order - see Option 2 here - Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC or Option 1 if you can see the window shown).

You can now open the 'Users' folder in the folder tree on L and view all your files on your computer. Connect an external hard drive and copy all the files to it. Then you can do a clean install yourself ( Clean Install Windows 10 ) and start with a clean copy of Windows 10 and copy the files back to the folders.

Yes, this is a lot to take in, but carefully review the tutorials until you're comfortable with the processes. Good Luck

Adela said:

The man says all he did to diagnose it, was to remove my HD put in his and put back my own HD.

Can someone enlighten me on troubleshooting an installed OS by installing that HDD into another computer with a different motherboard?
--- Is that a realistic troubleshooting/fixing procedure?

Then I suspect that it's possible the Windows 10 activated product key on the original computer when that HDD was placed back in will not be recognized?

If that person created a system image backup before doing whatever he did it might make sense to recover that system image backup and then help Adela solve the computers problems with our help.

EDIT: Not sure if this is a possibility but in your C drive, is there a Windows.old folder?

Adela said:

P.S. At this point, I wonder if my files would be saved by buying a casing, removing the HD and putting it like an extension to my laptop? I simply don't expect any help from the techie, except he may help by telling me which screws to remove, etc. Don't you think?

It might be the safest way to see what is on the disk. If you already have portable USB drive (lots of people have) and assuming the one in the PC is a standard 2.5 inch drive then you should be able to swap it with the one in the portable USB one to temporarily access it.

Adela said:

I simply don't expect any help from the techie, except he may help by telling me which screws to remove, etc. Don't you think?

It sounds to me like you would like to know how to remove the HDD.
Go to Dell support website.
Click on Detect PC.
Click on manuals and documents.
Select the service guide for your model.
--- In my case it's an older Dell Inspiron 580 service manual PDF.
Find the page that explains how to remove the HDD.

My instructions might differ from what you will see, but hopefully you can access your service manual in order to see how to remove the HDD.

I STRONGLY Suggest You Stop using that OS Drive if your Data is valuable. If it's the original 10 year old drive that came with the Inspiron 560 I'd be willing to bet the drive is going bad. Use a Dock with another PC to recover what you can, but don't be surprised if anything is corrupted.

@Adela I just did an experiment on recovering my data as if I had a problem with my PC.
--- Unfortunately though don't be surprised if your data is missing due to whatever has happened to your system.

Anyway
Consider the following, on another PC go to Lazesoft Recovery Suite - Windows Recovery, Password Recovery, Data Recovery, System Recovery for Windows XP VISTA 7 8 10 2003 2008 2012 2016, Free for Home User and follow their Data Recovery instructions to burn their program to DVD or USB.
--- Then use it to boot into your PC and see if you can get into your documents folder or wherever your data is.
--- Save your data to external media.
--- I haven't used this exact process and it looks like it's a free trial but see what you think.

On my experiment, I used the Password Recovery process to burn the program to a DVD-R
--- The reason I used that process is because I already had it available and had used it to solve password problems for on a couple of computers earlier in the year.
--- And its completely free unless the rules have been changed.
--- Same as above, do that on another computer. That part could take a while to create, maybe about 1/2 hour.
--- Then use it to boot into your PC and see if you can get into your documents folder or wherever your data is. This part took me only about 10 minutes.
--- That part I'll be able to help you with if you decide to try it.
--- In order to potentially save your data with this method, once the password recovery screen starts up, close it out.
--- On the left side of the screen there are 2 icons available: I don't recall what they are but one of them brings up the ability to save your data.
--- You'll be able to search for the location of where your data is.
--- Once the data is found, there is a save icon in the top portion of the screen.
--- Hopefully it will allow you to save your data to an external USB.
--- I think it's worth finding out.
Good luck.

I saw Bat 1's recommendations and they are very important, in fact using a dock has also been mention by a few other responders.
--- If you prefer not to use my recommendations that's ok with me but I included them anyway because saving your data that way just in case it might come in handy.