Help! Ultra-Slow Or No Startup After Using WUA To Install 2004

When booting from cold I am experiencing ultra-slow startups, even lock-ups when selecting my main W10 OS where I have to power down, back up and try again and again and again. I had used Windows Update Assistant to get the 2004 update/ Since it installed things are crawling along. I have uninstalled all A/V except Defender.
I knew something was wrong when first trying to start when the intro to Windows 10 came on. That suggests a problem with the installer of WUA and/or build 2004.
I notice the F8 choices include Startup analysis in the 1st 2 choices.
Do you recommend I try that? I can still use my system after 8 or 9 attempts to get to my OS choices screen.
BTW there are NO System Restore points and no go back since I deleted all that bloat to help with things, or so I thought.

Have you shut off Windows Fast Startup.

Easy way, command prompt or power shell (either one has to be admin)

powercfg -h off


I would recommend you look into a product like Macrium to Image your device prior to such endeavours. I image weekly and keep multiple copies. It saves a huge amount of grief.

Yes I have turned off Fast Startup but then my computer went into an endless repair loop.
Am going through 7 ways of fixing it using cmd prompt
It should be noted that this update not only disabled and even uninstalled some software I use, it wiped out all traces of restore points.
Really MS are becoming so slapdash.

It always deletes restore points when doing a "Feature" update. You can't use restore points form 1909 in 2004 and restore points can't don't carry the entire Windows environment.

You have to use an Imaging Tool.


Did you go into Updates and Security > Recovery

You are supposed to be able to go back for 10 days assuming you did not delete Windows.old


Try shutting off hibernation with that command please.

Right now I’ve managed to stop the auto repair loop and have re-established that my boot device is C: ( it had mysteriously been changed to F: ) but now I’m back to the original problem in that the boot goes as far as the Windows image and the rotating dots which only rotated about 4 times before seizing up....that’s where I’ve got thus far, not sure what to do next. BTW this system was originally Win 7 upgraded and I do regular maintenance.

BTW: Doing this typing on my iPad!

If you see the dots power down by holding power switch

Then power on again and as soon as you see dots power off by holding switch.

On the third attempt it should start Advance Startup options.

Down the troubleshooting path, advance options there should be option to uninstall updates.

That and the other options have all failed. I think it’s because I used the MUA early in the release. For some reason it screwed up everything leaving me with both drives unbootable.
I’ve tried all I can do without a full 2004 included release DVD. A neighbour is coming to the rescue there, today, hopefully. Until then I can’t do anything as that machine was “Peter Central” - I rely on it for everything. Typing this on an iPad is not my idea of “ideal” as my eyesight can only just make out what I’m doing.
Thanks so much for your help.

Do you Image your machine?

If not I strongly recommend investigating. Software is free.


Is your data backed up?

My last image was January so not very viable now as I had made other changes. When I get hands on a full DVD I’ll be able to an in-place upgrade to repair my C drive.

Nope.

In place repair only works from a running copy of Windows.


January may very well be a better than a clean. Of course get your data off so that is not overwritten.


You or your neighbour should be able to get a USB or DVD with the media creation tool but it will contain 2004. If you want an older one we can post link.