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Windows is booting to blue screen

My laptop is running latest Windows 10 with updates as of 10/14/2019. Note that, it came with Windows 8 when I purchased it and it was upgraded to Windows 10 at the first opportunity. (I am not sure whether the backup of old OS is there any more).

Yesterday, I did the following sequence of events for a different issue:

1. I disabled all the non microsoft services in msconfig->services

2. Disabled all enabled items in Task manager->startup (around 5 of them)

3. Enabled safe mode (minimal) in msconfig->boot and restarted the laptop with no issues

4. Then I disabled the safe mode in msconfig->boot and went to General tab in msconfig

5. In general tab, as far as I remember, selective startup with only first two checkboxes were checked. I went ahead and selected normal startup and restarted the system

That's when I started getting the blue screen at boot.

1. This is the screen that I get when boot. Note that the line with "file" comes only when F8 is clicked.

Image

2. If I click f8 screen just flickers and stays there

3. If I click f1 I get the following screen

Image

4. If I click Troubleshoot I get

Image

5. If I click Startup repair I get (Note: I never see a Windows 10 option)

Image

6. When I click on it I get

Image

Now, I am able to access the command prompt and I can see that all my original Windows files and personal files are still there under C:. However, it apparently, created a small X: drive from where I suspect it might be booting.

How do I get back to Windows 10?

Hi cdm58
Greetings! I am Vijay, an Independent Advisor.

A. You should restore / repair/ reset your computer using Media Creation Tool. You will have to cut Media creation tool on another computer if you can't do this on your existing computer.

Recovery options in Windows 10 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/12415/...

Note - If you choose to do reset - You will get the option to keep your files during reset. But it will remove third party apps including Microsoft Office which will need to be reinstalled. Default Windows 10 apps will be automatically installed. But non-defaults Windows 10 apps will need to be reinstalled.

B. If A doesn't work - I would recommend that you should consider a clean install of your existing Windows 10. You can use below guide by Greg Carmack, MVP for this purpose. This is the best method to perform a clean install of Windows 10. (If you want to rescue your files, there is a section Rescue Files when Windows Won't Start)

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

If you want a very lightweight guide - Start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

Do let me know if you require any further help on this. Will be glad to help you.
Sincerely yours,
Vijay A. Verma | Blogging @ https://excelbianalytics.com | Linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/excelbi/

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Hi! It seems that you need to create bootable media to repair the operating system 

On a bootable device

> Download Media Creation Tool from this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Before you download the tool make sure you have:
  • An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
  • Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
  • A blank USB flash drive or DVD (and DVD burner) with at least 8 GB of space if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB or blank DVD, because any content on it will be deleted.
  • FAT32 format on either USB drive or CD/DVD.
  1. Select Download tool now, and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool.
  2. If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.
  3. On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

  4. Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10.

  5. Select which media you want to use:

    1. USB flash drive. Attach a blank USB flash drive with at least 4GB of space. Any content on the flash drive will be deleted.
    • ISO file. Save an ISO file to your PC, which you can use to create a DVD. After the file is downloaded, you can go to location where the file is saved, or select Open DVD burner, and follow the instructions to burn the file to a DVD. For more info about using an ISO file, see Additional methods for using the ISO file to install Windows 10 

    I hope it helps!

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So, there is no way to force the system to boot from Windows 10?

Also, I have a system image full backup from 2 weeks back on an external drive. Is there any way I can use that to restore?

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So, there is no way to force the system to boot from Windows 10?

Also, I have a system image full backup from 2 weeks back on an external drive. Is there any way I can use that to restore?

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So, there is no way to force the system to boot from Windows 10?

Also, I have a system image full backup from 2 weeks back on an external drive. Is there any way I can use that to restore?

Once you access the windows recovery options which is the blue screen please select restore image file, If this might not work you will need to create bootable media to repair the operating system or run custom installation, other option is if you can boot your device in safe mode 

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Try to boot into safe mode

Power ON your computer and as Windows / manufacturer's Logo appears, Power OFF - Repeat 3 times
Now your computer will go into Advanced Recovery Environment
Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart
Press 4 or F4 to enable Safe Mode (5 or F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking)
Log in once Windows starts in safe mode
See whether you able to login. If yes, come out of this and start normally.

If you are not able to boot like above, You will need to boot through a Bootable USB drive. You will need to create this on another computer which is working - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

How to Boot from a USB Flash Drive in Windows 10 - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/21756-boot-...

Disclaimer - This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.
Sincerely yours,
Vijay A. Verma | Blogging @ https://excelbianalytics.com | Linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/excelbi/

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Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart

Is this same as clicking F8 in the first screenshot that I have attached? If so, then the screen just flickers and stays in the same page.

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Srttrail.txt errors, in general, get solved through Clean Install only. Please go back to my first reply use that to come out of this situation.
Sincerely yours,
Vijay A. Verma | Blogging @ https://excelbianalytics.com | Linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/excelbi/

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Last updated February 7, 2025 Views 2,077 Applies to: