Windows 10 Boot Loop !!!

The issue:

I had to downgrade Windows 10 to 8 on an offline computer. As I installed all the software... one of them required the internet... so, I connected it so that it could get itself the software it needed. At one point, the computer was forced into a restart. After it came back up, the PC became stuck in a boot loop.

I managed to successfully upgrade/install 8.1 from a 16 GB USB flash drive (same language version, so the "Windows" folder became "Windows.OLD") that was formatted with the Windows 8.1 ISO (using Rufus). So, all my documents & software apps are STILL THERE, just under this new "Windows.OLD" folder. I have, since, moved all the non-app files back into the "Windows" folder & continued installing apps. The last effort I made was RE-upgrading back up to Windows 10. It was fine upon ONE restart, but after that... same boot loop.

Currently, am trying to access files through EXPLORER via the USB boot drive's "Repair Your Computer" link (which leads to the WinRE). I'm using DaRT to access EXLORER. The computer is 64-bit ASUS Essentio Series 6870 CF / Intel Core i7 3770 (3.40 GHz) / 16 GB DDR3 w/ an NVIDIA GeForce GT 620 2GB Graphics Card.

Am frustrated here. Can ANYONE please help me get out of this boot loop hell? I've been working on this computer for weeks now. I am not sure what the boot order should be now. Any ideas on what the BIOS boot settings should be (if that's what it is)? Been trying to figure this out for days now. I think this is where the issue lies.


Thanks in advance.

At this point I consider your Windows are beyond fixing. I reccommend downloading the Windows PE ISO, burn it on DVD or use Rufus to create a bootable USB Flash drive. Then go to your hard disk, folder Windows.old (or similar), USERS, your_user_name, to see and backup your files. Once you have a full backup, format the disk and do a clean Windows 8.1 or 10 installation.

Download link, see this thread: Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

spapakons said:

At this point I consider your Windows are beyond fixing. I reccommend downloading the Windows PE ISO, burn it on DVD or use Rufus to create a bootable USB Flash drive. Then go to your hard disk, folder Windows.old (or similar), USERS, your_user_name, to see and backup your files. Once you have a full backup, format the disk and do a clean Windows 8.1 or 10 installation.

Download link, see this thread: Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

I tried this already. That was the gist of my post.

Caledon Ken said:

Can I ask why you revert to 8 to install software. Was there a limitation we are unaware of?

Just tried different things to get OUT of this situation. Windows 10 is what it has on the PC now.

Identify the update causing the problem and hide it using the "Show/Hide" tool.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...driver-updates

Ben

Ben Myers said:

Identify the update causing the problem and hide it using the "Show/Hide" tool.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...driver-updates

Ben

Hey, Ben.

Can I run this from an external drive? I cannot boot at the moment. I am stuck in the WinRE and the DaRT screens. FYI, the computer is OFFLINE and does not connect to the Internet at all. It is a work PC, so it has to remain off the web. No updates come through when the Internet is not detected (my XP).

Ben Myers said:

Identify the update causing the problem and hide it using the "Show/Hide" tool.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...driver-updates

Ben

I like this! Thanks!!!! It didn't help my problem, but it helped with those crazy updates which cause lots of issues on my other computers. Appreciated!!!!!

Caledon Ken said:

Vanna, have you been able to create Kyhi's recovery disk and copy your data out?

I created several USB drives. One was W10... then W8... then 8.1... and back to W10. A Windows.old file was created and- after the upgrade, I moved those Windows.old files back into the current Windows folder.

Is re-doing this going to create not only an installer, but also a bootable USB drive? What is going to change if I do this particular one? I ask because I keep having booting issues regardless.

Is it not the BIOS which has to be tweaked?