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Windows 10 Pro failing to boot - HP Z Book 17
HP Z Book 17 – Windows 10 fails to load:
I’ve probably caused a boot fail issue after installing and using Paragon Hard Disk Manager. However I was using it VERY carefully to ONLY copy one external USB drive to another USB external drive so not sure what (if anything) I did wrong. I was not copying or modifying my HP Z Book’s C:/windows folder or drive, and made sure those disks I was working with were ‘USB-ejected’ – not just yanked .
One thing I did do (which may have been responsible for the current problem?) was to label one of the USB drives as letter ‘X’. Having properly ejected disk ‘X’ after doing a full format I noticed that Windows still listed it as a connected drive. The drive could not be removed by right clicking again in File Explorer but after rebooting I was able to remove it. Well, the next reboot was when the problems started. Windows explorer would not work and a couple of reboots later I now cannot boot into Windows 10.
I can get to the Recovery screen after the typical 2 or 3 reboots.
From Troubleshooting> Advanced options> Startup Settings> Restart> I can select and boot to Safe Mode.
When in Safe Mode I can’t identify any obvious problems.
System Restore fails after a VERY long wait.
Startup Repair fails with a log report (attached) that includes a references to ‘E:\Windows’. I do have an ‘E:’ drive but it is my data file store and does not contain a ‘Windows’ folder. Windows 10 is installed on my C:\ drive.
Attached are the repair log files. It looks to me like my Z Book is trying to find Windows on the wrong drive??
I have been into Disk Management while in Safe Mode and all my installed drives are showing with correct identification and all healthy.
If anyone can throw a few clues, better still likely solutions I’d be really grateful. Thanks guys.