Cannot enter safe mode

raymond1984 · 28 Mar 2017

Hi, My Asus laptop is stuck in a startup repair loop while trying to fix error 0x80070091, I've tried following things:
Use this guide: Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery - Windows 7 Help Forums
Use the option 'reset this pc' and tried to use 'system recovery' but all to no avail.
While in this startup repair loop it also seems impossible to enter safe mode. (I've tried to enter safe mode pressing F5 from the startup settings screen). I guess using the tweaking repair program will solve this error (0x80070091) but obviously I have to enter safe mode first. Any suggestions?

Thx!

Ray

essenbe · 28 Mar 2017

Check and see if there is anything in this Tutorial that can help you. Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 - Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

You may be able to boot into the USB/DVD you installed Windows from and select 'Repair this Computer' from the third screen (I believe). It should take you into the repair options.

dalchina · 28 Mar 2017

It is not easy to fix that system restore error. If you read the first 3 or 4 pages or so of this thread
System Restore fails: AppxStaging %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApp 0x80070091 - - Windows 10 Forums

you will eventually see that someone solved this by by renaming (or deleting) the WindowsApps folder.

Turning to what you are attempting to do - you are trying to restore the backup copy of the registry.
You could do that by first booting from an external bootable medium.

You could use Kyhi's bootable DVD/flash drive, which you can find at the top of the Software and Apps section of this forum, which gives you a Windows style environment.

Or you could boot from a Win 10 install medium, and use the command prompt.

iDamn · 28 Mar 2017

I had the same exact problem, where I had created a restore point and when my PC did mess up, I couldn't use the System Recovery because of that exact error. I was frustrated and wanted to boot into safemode. I got into the blue screen before the safemode, and I couldn't enter it because of BSOD.

So as a last resort, I just reset my PC and chose the selection to "Keep my files".

The other way to get to the advanced options screen is just to reboot again and again while it's still booting up. Until the Windows display "Preparing Automatic Startup Repair"

raymond1984 · 29 Mar 2017

Thanks for all the help so far :)

essenbe:

I've checked the tutorial and followed this instruction:

7. To Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

A) Type the command below into the command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 9 below.

bcdedit /set {identifier} safeboot network

The command was successful but after restarting, windows goes immediately to repair mode.

You may be able to boot into the USB/DVD you installed Windows from and select 'Repair this Computer' from the third screen (I believe). It should take you into the repair options.

I don't have a windows 10 usb/dvd. However I don't think it's gonna do much since normal repair doesn't work either?

dalchina:

I've tried to delete the WindowsApps folder but to no avail. It's only possible to delete the folder when in safe mode (because in normal mode the folder is in use)

I'll try using the Kyhi's bootable flash drive as you suggested :)

iDamn:

So as a last resort, I just reset my PC and chose the selection to "Keep my files".

I've tried this several times. It's takes a while and when finished Windows will tell me that 'there was a problem with resetting Windows'.

The other way to get to the advanced options screen is just to reboot again and again while it's still booting up. Until the Windows display "Preparing Automatic Startup Repair"

Every time I start my PC, Windows automatically prepares for automatic startup repair but without success

dalchina · 29 Mar 2017

What I think you should be aiming for is to restore the backup copy of your registry, having booted using a bootable medium such as Kyhi's disk, as I mentioned above.

Please see attached- if you use Kyhi's disk you can use file explorer.
Be very careful about the drive letter you are working with - it may not be C:

However, whatever you've tried to do mean time (resetting etc) might have invalidated this. I don't know.

Of course, if you had been using disk imaging routinely, you could have restored a previously created disk image. We strongly recommend this approach.

raymond1984 · 29 Mar 2017

I kept running into all sorts of problems trying to fix the problem so I just did a clean install. All good now!

Thanks for all the help! :)

Ray