Black Screen at Startup

DaFees said:

Ok, so I have created that image and I tried to do as that link you posted suggested but the very first command fails.

Code:

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Get-Appxpackage -AllusersGet-Appxpackage : Server execution failed
Server execution failed
At line:1 char:1
+ Get-Appxpackage -Allusers
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-AppxPackage], Exception
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.Exception,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageM
   anager.Commands.GetAppxPackageCommand

I tried researching this error but was coming up empty.

Image is done - good!

Hmm..this OS seems to be hopelessly crippled.
In File Explorer, do you see the hidden folder C:\Program Files\WindowsApps? If so, please try the other two commands (if not, can you create it?):

Elevated Powershell

Code:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

Elevated Powershell

Code:

Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore_2015.25.15.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppxManifest.XML'

The RED part is PackageFullName. Could be, and I'm not sure, that the PackageFamilyName might work, which would not include the 2015.25.15.0_x64__ and just be Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppxManifest.XML.

I doubt this will work, and I'm back to the repair install. But we need to be able to mount and run setup.exe from the v1607 ISO. If we can't get that to work, our only other option is a clean install. The user's files could be copied back from the Macrium image when finished, but all programs would need to be reinstalled.

DaFees said:

Ok, small clarification I had downloaded Macrium Reflect and when I started it up it asked me to make a recovery disk which I did but I'm thinking this isn't actually an image of the hard drive. Looking at the program though it seems as though to make an image of the hard drive would require 80+GB and I do not have a flash drive that large.

Yes, the Rescue ISO is for booting the system to the recovery environment (it uses WinPE). A Macrium image could be accessed and restored from that environment. An image is compressed, usually about 70% of existing space. So, if a drive had 100GB of data on it, imaged, it would be around 70GB.

DaFees said:

As for your suggested command it fails instantly because the file in question does not exist. The WindowsApps folder does exist but it is empty.

Ugh. I'm afraid a clean install is the only solution.
It didn't look like there were a ton of applications that would need to be reinstalled, so it's a matter of backing up his files, and locating any keys and install media for any "paid" programs before proceeding. You can print out and use the file from Ccleaner of installed programs as a guide.

A clean install of W10 will activate without the need to input a key, as it carries a digital license on the MS servers now. You can verify that with slmgr /xpr in an admin command prompt. In other words, you don't go back to W8 and re-upgrade. I would boot the system from W10 v1607 install media, select custom install, and delete all partitions until you have one completely unallocated drive. (Note: that will remove the Dell recovery partition, which you don't need anymore, since it's for W8, so might as well recover that space.) Tell Windows to install to that unallocated space, and it will create the partitions it needs, and install W10 clean. Once finished, you/he can install his programs and copy his data back over.

Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

I'm sorry; we did the best we could.

In the future, if he would get an external hard drive, and install Macrium Reflect Free, he could set up scheduled images, so when something goes wrong, it's just a matter of restoring an image and you're back in business. :) I usually set mine up to run weekly, and keep half a dozen images at any given time, in case one or two goes bad.

DaFees said:

Well it is unfortunate that it has come to this but I am not surprised. Either way I very much appreciate your help. I was not worried to much about Windows remaining active if I did a clean reinstall I was more worried about the copy of Office that is installed. I know my friend uses it and I wasn't sure if they still have their product key handy.

Yeah, I'm sorry. I just can't imagine what happened to cripple the system so severely - it just doesn't make sense to me.

If I remember correctly, that was Office 2013. Starting with 2013, you have to go online, sign into your MS account and download the installer to get it on your system. Your Office key is then registered/linked to your account, so even if you don't have it anymore, you can still get it, and reinstall. I'll have to look up the site address and instructions for you, but I know that's how it works - I've done it myself for a couple people. Let's do that before you start the clean install, just to make sure we have everything we need.

DaFees said:

Before I go off and reinstall Windows I have one more log that might be worth looking at. The sfc /scannow always fails but I did an sfc /verifyonly and noticed some interest results in the log. I noticed some hash mismatches. Since the log file is too large for me to attach I just filtered it down to only the lines with hash mismatches.

sfcverifyonly.txt

Generally, hash mismatches are nothing to worry about, and I always ignore them. If we could have just gotten the setup.exe to run from the v1607 ISO, everything would be fine. I can't understand why you get an error that Setup Cannot Start. I have never had that happen, in all the repair installs I have done, or had someone do. It just doesn't make sense to me. You should be able to mount the ISO, (in your case, CyberLink Virtual Drive), use File Explorer to navigate to setup.exe on the virtual drive and double-click it, and it should run! Simple as that. I just can't think what would prevent it from running (other than infection, which we've ruled out).

I'll go find the Office info and post it before I sign off for the night.

Okay, here are the instructions for reinstalling Office 2013.

Pay close attention when you get to this step (pictured below) - you want to choose the tiny little link that says Language and install options, then you should eventually get to a page which shows your keycode, and you should also be able to find another tiny link, additional install options, that allows you to download the Office ISO (offline installer). That's what you want, so you can reinstall again, in the future. I always print out the key, and make an install DVD for people when I install Office for them.

Download and install or reinstall Office 365, Office 2016, or Office 2013 on your PC - Office Support

.

Be sure to install the 32-bit version. Never install the 64-bit version; it's quite uncommon and only used in specific circumstances.

Any questions, please ask. Good luck. :)

Okay scratch everything above. I just had a look at the installed programs list and I see it's O2007. In this case, here's what you do:

Download and install Belarc Advisor (free). Run this program; you can skip the network check, and it opens in the default browser. Scroll down to the list of installed programs and keys. You will find the Office key there.

Next you have to go download the install media from MS, using the keycode:

Download Office 2007 | Word, Excel PowerPoint 2007

You want Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007




Sorry about that. I guess it's late and I need some sleep.


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