Windows 10 doesn't boot, cant access recovery mode, can't change boot priority

[9TPigs]

Full context:

I was playing minecraft yesterday and switching between different versions of fabric (mod loader for shaders) for different worlds, when suddenly it wouldn't launch and I'd get the error code "01". Now a few times in the past when I've had this problem, I would just restart my PC and it would fix it, however this time when I restarted I was stuck on the Windows logo loading screen for around 10 minutes.

 

So then I turned my PC off again, same issue. The third time I was sent to a blue screen saying this. (only my error code was 0xc0000001)

 

From this page trying again would just send me back to the Windows loading limbo, Recovery Environment would send me to the Windows recovery limbo, and any options in the Startup settings would send me to the Windows loading limbo, the only think working being the UEFI Firmware settings taking me to BIOS. Now just as the above screen mentions, most internet searches I could find would say I need to use recovery tools like a USB with windows installed on it, so I reached out to a friend from work who I knew would have one I could borrow.

 

However before I've had the chance to pick it up, today, I realised I still had windows installed on my old SSD still in my PC, because 5 months ago my PC broke so I got needed upgraded build and installed a new windows on my new M.2. So in the BIOS I booted from that drive instead, which actually booted, and I was confronted with my old desktop from 5 months ago. Having read online that if I Could boot up windows from a USB I might be able to then go the Recovery Environment, and try some of the many possible fixes I was reading online. I tried it on my old drive, and to my surprise it worked! and I got to this screen.

 

Though that wasn't the fix I was hoping for, because then when I restarted my PC after choosing any option from that menu (except UEI Firmware), I would still be put back into the Windows loading limbo. So I went into BIOS and made sure to change the priority boot to my old SSD, however each time I restarted, my M.2 would seemingly still have priority. A few times when manually booting on my old SSD it would ask me to insert a password on a screen with my name and email on it, plus whatever advance option I last tried (Repair, Command Prompt, Restore). I assumed this was my Microsoft account password but that would not work, nor any other password I could possibly think I had created.

 

I'm not very knowledgeable with computing, so as far as I'm aware, even if I did get any of these advance options to boot on my old SSD and got the password right, they'd be running on my old SSD and not on my M.2 that needs it. Now I can still access my M.2 and the files on it but I'd but prefer to also boot from it, and not have to reinstall all my games that steam etc now don't recognise as being installed.

 

So unless I can find this mysterious password, I'm lost on what I can do, any advice is appreciated :)

[Mumintroll]

Mysterious password?

Could it be that the drive is somehow encrypted with Bitlocker and it asks you for the recovery key?

Did it look like something in the pictures in this link https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

 

Or could that drive be infected with a virus, and it will hijack any username and password you type in?

In that case immediatly change the passwords.

[9TPigs]

12 minutes ago, Mumintroll said:

Mysterious password?

Could it be that the drive is somehow encrypted with Bitlocker and it asks you for the recovery key?

Did it look like something in the pictures in this link https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-bitlocker-recovery-key-6b71ad27-0b89-ea08-f143-056f5ab347d6

 

Or could that drive be infected with a virus, and it will hijack any username and password you type in?

In that case immediatly change the passwords.

Sorry should have provided an image, it looks like this, though obviously this is just from a youtube video

I tried my Microsoft password but it doesn't work

[Mumintroll]

10 hours ago, 9TPigs said:

Sorry should have provided an image, it looks like this, though obviously this is just from a youtube video

I tried my Microsoft password but it doesn't work

 

Did you use the online Microsoft account or could it be a local account?

You might have used a local account which has a different password than your Microsoft account.

[Sawa Takahashi]

19 hours ago, 9TPigs said:

So unless I can find this mysterious password, I'm lost on what I can do, any advice is appreciated

First thing to do is backup your important data before something happens (like a drive crash or reinstall windows).

Using a Linux USB live stick can do the trick as well as connecting your drive to another PC. You may skip this step if you already keep backups like everyone should do....

In case you can't fix your windows, your best way to go is a complete wipe and reinstall. 

Good luck !

[Mark Kaine]

The description makes me think you need to change BBS boot priority.

The errors presented make me think I have no idea and this is probably much worse... But you could still try (BBS is a BIOS setting fyi)

[9TPigs]

9 hours ago, Mumintroll said:

 

Did you use the online Microsoft account or could it be a local account?

You might have used a local account which has a different password than your Microsoft account.

Maybe, but I note down all my passwords for everything I have an account with, so I should have also wrote down that, but none of them have worked. 

[9TPigs]

1 hour ago, Sawa Takahashi said:

First thing to do is backup your important data before something happens (like a drive crash or reinstall windows).

Using a Linux USB live stick can do the trick as well as connecting your drive to another PC. You may skip this step if you already keep backups like everyone should do....

In case you can't fix your windows, your best way to go is a complete wipe and reinstall. 

Good luck !

I'll keep this in mind thanks!

[9TPigs]

56 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

The description makes me think you need to change BBS boot priority.

The errors presented make me think I have no idea and this is probably much worse... But you could still try (BBS is a BIOS setting fyi)

So far today, my PC has been booting on my old SSD automatically, so I think me trying to swap it a bunch yesterday finally worked. Only problem now is I can't find the password to use any of the advance options in recovery mode (Repair, Command Prompt, Restore). Because it's definitely not my Microsoft password