Windows 10 won't boot and Automatic Repair just loops


  1. Ian777
    Posts : 3
    windows 10
       New #1

    Windows 10 won't boot and Automatic Repair just loops


    Hi,

    I'm new here and not very technical

    My computer crashed for the umpteenth time, Windows won't load and I get the following error message:

    Recovery

    Your PC/Device needs to be repaired

    A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed

    Error code: 0xc0000185

    You'll need to use recovery tools. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your PC administrator or PC/Device manufacturer.

    Press ENTER to try again
    Press F1 to enter Recovery Environment
    Press F8 to enter Startup Settings

    The problem is:

    Pressing F1 doesn't enter Recovery Environment, it just loops
    Pressing F8 enters Startup Settings about once every 10 attempts, but then pressing keys like 4 or F4 doesn't take me to safe mode, it just loops

    I have windows 10 installation media on a USB drive but no way to access it.
      My Computer
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  3. Samuria
    Posts : 8,111
    windows 10
       New #2

    Welcome to the form you should be able to boot from the install usb by changing boot order then try repair from there
    Windows 10 Automatic Repair From USB [Troubleshoot] - YouTube
      My Computer
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  4. Ian777
    Posts : 3
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    My system won't allow me to access the drive with the USB or any other drives
      My Computer
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  6. spunk
    Posts : 4,801
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       New #4

    My system won't allow me to access the drive with the USB or any other drives
    What is the Make and Model # of your Computer or Motherboard?

    Make sure your Windows 10 USB Flash drive is bootable. Test it on another computer.
    If this is an HP computer, you would press the F9 key at bootup for the Boot menu, All other brands would be F12 and select the Flash drive to boot from.
    Here, choose your language, and then on the next page, click Repair Your Computer.
    This will bring up the Troubleshooting menu. Choose Advanced. there are several options here.

    Chances are great the HDD/SSD is failing or has already failed. If these steps don't work, then you can remove the Drive from the computer and attach it to a working computer via a USB Adapter with a Power Adapter.
    If the computer recognizes it, it will come up as another drive on the computer. Here you can copy the files off the drive to that computer. You can further diagnose the drive with software, or just replace the drive with an SSD.
      My Computer
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  7. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #5

    Ian777 said:
    My system won't allow me to access the drive with the USB or any other drives
    Can you boot into the USB flash drive and get to the Install Windows screens? If yes and you cannot access any other drives then:
    1. You need the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver (IRST) in order to access the other drives or
    2. Your drive(s) have failed or
    3. Your motherboard has failed or
    4. If other than M.2 drives it is possible to have bad SATA data or power cables or connections.
      My Computer
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  8. Ian777
    Posts : 3
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Spunk,

    It's an ASUS K53U Series.

    I tested the Windows 10 USB Flash drive on another computer and it's bootable.

    F12 doesn't do anything on this computer

    I'll need to order a USB Adapter with a Power Adapter from Amazon and report back

    - - - Updated - - -

    NavyLCDR,

    I can not boot into the USB flash drive and get to the Install Windows screens

    I just swopped HDDs with an older computer that had different startup problems and was running an older version of Windows (not sure which version)

    I'm able to get to a Windows Error Recovery screen and when I try to enter Safe Mode, it loads Window Files but then loops back to the Windows Error Recovery screen

    I also tried entering Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode with Command Prompt but it still loops back to the Windows Error Recovery screen
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. FreeBooter
    Posts : 5,330
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       New #7

    In this video, i will guide you on how to fix "A Required Device Isn't Connected or Can't Be Accessed" error on Windows.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. spunk
    Posts : 4,801
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       New #8

    For your ASUS laptop, Press the ESC key and select USB Flash drive [Notebook/Desktop/AIO] How to boot the system from USB flash drive/CD-ROM | Official Support | ASUS Global
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

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