Windows update now PC won't boot :(

[TheCoconutCookie]

- I tried looking for other posts about similar issues but could find anything that worked here or elsewhere.

- So my computer would occasionally boot into Win10 but hit a a black screen, no big deal, just reboot and that would work every time. Until I got a Windows update and that glitch at the same time and had to force shutdown during an update. This resulted in my computer turning on and going straight from BIOS to black screen (permanently). Note: I don't seem to be able to boot into safe mode from BIOS

- I do have an external hard drive with system image but don't know how to use without an OS.

- Solutions I've attempted so far:

Boot off my old Win7 DVD and attempt a fresh install of windows to system image from my backup HDD. Windows 7 will not recognize my external HDD as a device to system image from

- Final note: I might be out a bit today but will do my best to stick around and troubleshoot! Otherwise last resort Geek Squad $150+

- Thank you <3

 

Cooler Master Storm Enforcer (w/ extra 200mm fan)
Asus P8Z68-V/GEN3
Intel i7 2600k
MSI AMD R9-390X
Corsair TX-850M
2 x 4 GB Corsair Vengence at 1600 MHz
Samsung 840 EVO 500 GB
WD Caviar Black 750 GB 7200rpm SATA III 6 Gb/s 64 MB cache
Asus 24x DVD Burner
Logitech G500; Das Keyboard Model 4 Ultimate; Steelseries QCK+
Sennheiser HD 558
Corsair SP2500
ASUS Xonar DGX
Microsoft Windows 10 Home Premium 64-bit

[Thx And Bye]

At first I'd try to download Windows 10 on a USB-Stick or DVD. If you can't do it at home ask a friend if he can help you.

If you start from that USB you have (before you click on install) the option to go to repair tools.

 

I personally wouldn't waste too much time trying to fugure out the problem, because a clean install (or "In-place Upgrade") would be faster in the end anyways.

 

You could even "upgrade" your system to keep all your files and settings but a new installation of Windows. (search gooogle for In-place Upgrade Windows 10 to find detailed instructions)

If you just clean install it without erasing the drive before you do it, you'll have a folder on C: with the name Windows.old with all the old files from that drive in it.

 

But it can't be wrong to safe all your files before you do it. Either via the repait tools or a seperate live linux.

Also if you decide to clean install: If you copy all three folders Roaming, Local and LocalLow to the new install, all your settings from the programs will be there if you reinstall them.

[TheCoconutCookie]

@Thx And Bye ok so your recommendation is to buy a copy of Win10 and do a fresh install on the SSD? Is there a way to just restore the computer from the system image on the external HDD, or is that not possible without first re-installing the OS?
Sucks because I have a Win7 install disk that I got a free upgrade to Win10 from, now I'll just have to spend 100$ on Win10 anyways, eh?

[Thx And Bye]

You can just download the Windows 10 files to a USB or the iso for a DVD via the media creation tool.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

No need to buy a new copy of Windows. If your Windows 10 was activated successfully and you can't figure it out with the Windows 10 repair tools, just skip the key during the installation and when connected to the internet it should be activated automatically.

(Unfortunately if not you have to contact the Microsoft support)

[TheCoconutCookie]

Gotcha (btw thank you very much for all the help, probably wouldn't have been able to do it alone).

Final question, I now have Win10 up and running, and I'll skip the system image and just go for a basic system restore from a backup HDD.

After having restored all my files, it appears nothing has changed and I can't find where the recovered files were placed. I chose to restore to "original location.

It gave some message about "files may have moved to another user" but I am the only user on the computer.
Sorry to bother but once this is figured out I should be good to go!

[corrado33]

33 minutes ago, TheCoconutCookie said:

Gotcha (btw thank you very much for all the help, probably wouldn't have been able to do it alone).

Final question, I now have Win10 up and running, and I'll skip the system image and just go for a basic system restore from a backup HDD.

After having restored all my files, it appears nothing has changed and I can't find where the recovered files were placed. I chose to restore to "original location.

It gave some message about "files may have moved to another user" but I am the only user on the computer.
Sorry to bother but once this is figured out I should be good to go!

It's possible that they were restored literally to another user account.

 

Go into settings, then user accounts and see if you are, in fact, the only user.

 

Otherwise go find the users folder (or is it documents and settings?) and see if you are the only folder there.

[TheCoconutCookie]

Thank you. Using these tips and a few other forums I was able to solve the issue <3