Automatic repair loop

Hi, posting here as a last resort because I've spent 2 whole evenings after work trying to sort this out and the problem just keeps getting worse. I'll explain how it started off and my basic history.

So I had a HDD with two drives partitioned as windows 7 and windows 10, the latter of which I use, the former of which I kept after upgrading as a dual boot incase I ever wanted to go back. They were E:\ and C:\ drive respectively.

So 2 days ago I bought an SSD for increased performance. Now migrating files from the windows 10 was a problem because the SSD was 250gb and I had about 600GB worth of files on C:\. So genius me (or so I thought at the time) decided I'd play resize the C:\ and E:\ partitions and move things over to free up space so I could migrate straight over without having to buy an extra HDD to move the files or delete things.

I ran into a few mishaps because the unallocated space shown was less than what was supposed to be, and searching prompted me to run a chkdsk through right click drive > properties > error checking.

I did this, and computer restarted to fix errors and I had to rush out which I thought would be fine whilst I let it process.

However, on return I had a blue screen saying windows could not be fixed, and this was my first encounter with the Automatic start-up repair.

Since then, I have tried several solutions as listed below, through the cmd prompt

-bootrec rebuilding / FIXMBR / FIXBOOT
-chkdsk /r DRIVE:
-bootable usb with win 10 iso and ran repair from there with same commands
-diskpart reassigning volume letters as I noticed my e drive had become d
-I also set the e:\ through some guide suggestion as Active
-reset computer but keep files; this didn't let me and said it was unable to

I'm lost for options, hungry and stressed. I need help.. I'm even willing to pay!

After all that I did also buy a 1TB HDD in case.

Also, my windows 7 partition did work still but amongst the midst of it now that leads to a temporary login user profile when I load it, which doesn't load any drivers including internet, and doesn't even let me open anything including my computer

I really can't lose my files as I have literally my life on there.

Would reaaallllyyy appreciate any suggestions/help

dalchina said:

Hello, there are various threads where people have cloned a disk and found their PC won't boot such as
Cloned drive will not boot Solved - Windows 10 Forums
https://www.tenforums.com/installation-upgrade/24984-windows-10-clone-ssd-will-not-boot.html

Did you clone your disk? How did you create what's on your SSD?

AHCI - better performance for SSDs
If your BIOS supports AHCI, by far the easiest way to make use of that is to clean install with AHCI enabled. It is difficult otherwise.

Your data
From the sound of it you don't have backups, yet you are undertaking a major task.

I would strongly suggest your priority is to back up important data before anything else, as a priority.

We strongly and repeatedly recommend disk imaging both for system recovery and one form of complete backup. E.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + its boot disk and external medium for images.

I suggest using that you image the disks.

As your PC may not boot properly, you can download and use Kyhi's boot disk (top of the Software and Apps section here and referred to in the first link). There's a copy of Macrium on that.


A (much) better way to move 'C:' from one disk to another
1. Check space constraints and ensure everything will fit.
2. Create a disk image of your Windows partition
3. Install Win 10 on your new disk
4. Replace the new Windows partition by restoring your disk image to it
5. Run Startup repair by booting from a Windows bootable disk.

You might consider doing that, as it also allows you to then use AHCI if available.

Hi, oh no sorry I haven't even attempted to migrate to the SSD or caused any interaction with it other than hooking it up. This is purely problems with my HDD but stemed from buying an SSD which prompted me to do this ahead of setting it up.

Thank you a lot for the reply

dalchina said:

Ok, try Macrium Reflect's FIXBOOT utility.

Download Macrium Reflect (free); create its boot disk.

It includes a very useful Fixboot utility, which you can try running.
Fix Boot Problems
v5: How to fix Windows boot problems (Restore, Windows PE)


You may also wish to run a check on your disk.
For that you could use Kyhi's boot disk which includes HDTune, from the top of the Software and Apps section here. It also includes Macrium R.

Okay, And this is an alternate to the windows 10 official repair that will work for my windows 10 yes? Sorry it's just because my bootable USB contains the win 10 iso for repair so it will involve taking that off when I get home, and putting what you linked, which I'll do if it's going to function for it.

(At work currently)

dalchina said:

It's a pretty comprehensive one by a highly reputable company- most regular contributors here use Macrium Reflect to create disk images- which let you
a. back up everything in a disk/partition
b. let you recover your PC even if your disk fails.

Fixboot is quite regularly recommended in threads. Just search the forum. There's nothing magic about it- obviously it uses Windows tools, but in combination.

Will it work in your case? Well, sorry, my crystal ball's down for scheduled maintenance.

You can put Macrium R's boot disk on a CD or a small flash drive.

If you don't use disk imaging, I'll recommend that now- and Macrium's boot disk is useful if your PC is unbootable to restore the images too.

It's useful to have some bootable tools:
A current Windows disk
Macrium
A partition manager
Kyhi's boot disk (from the top of the Software and Apps section) - which includes a copy of Macrium R

Hey, I get these errors. Any idea on what to do?

dalchina said:

Ok, go back a step and check your disk.

You can do that using Kyhi's boot disk, which has HDTune on it; I also recommend Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) which you can download as a portable program.

Hi what else can I do with Hard Disk Sentinel relevant for my situation? I have the trial version but it only shows the status of my drives (healthy) and trying to run any scans says it need sactivation.

Im burning iso for kyhis boot disk currently and will give the hdtunes on it a shot.

Thank you so much again for your help.

dalchina said:

Ok, go back a step and check your disk.

You can do that using Kyhi's boot disk, which has HDTune on it; I also recommend Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) which you can download as a portable program.

HDtune error scan revealed no abnormalities.