Repair Windows 10 using USB drive

Hi,

 

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I regret the inconvenience caused to you. Let me help you.

 

I suggest you to perform start up repair from Windows Recovery Environment. Follow the below procedure and check if it resolves the issue.

To get to Windows Startup Settings in the Windows Recovery Environment. You may follow the steps provided below and check if it helps to resolve the issue.

If you don't have a disk or USB, download the ISO from a working computer and try creating a bootable disk or USB.

• If you can't start your PC, follow these instructions to get to the Windows Recovery Environment.

• Start your computer from the installation media, Insert the DVD or USB flash drive and restart your computer.

   

• If you see a message asking you to “Press any key to boot from DVD,” do so. If you don’t see the message, you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB.

   

• When you see the Install Windows page, tap or click Repair your computer to start the Windows Recovery Environment.

• In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.

• Tap or click, advanced options and then click on Startup repair.

  
  After this complete the repair and see if you are able to boot in to your computer.
  
  Windows 10 ISO file Download:
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 

 

I hope the information helps. Please keep us posted on the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

 

Thank you.

I tried the steps above and could not complete the start up repair and I got an error that said drive where windows is installed is locked , unlock the drive and try again. How do I unlock the drive? 

Hi Edhoward,

 

Thank you for updating us. It must be unfortunate that you are still facing the same issue. Let me help you.

 

Please share the details.

• Which phase of the procedure gave you the error message?

• Do you see any error code along with the error message?

 

Please share the details and updated status of the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

 

Thank you.

I don't remember what the error code was but I started hearing a very loud clicking noise when I started the computer the last time so I pulled the drive and took  and sent it off to Seagate `to hopefully have the data removed from it before it gets further damaged from apparent failure. So I think the drive failing is not allowing me to complete the repair because it's shutting itself down after a few seconds and not even allowing me to boot back into Windows 7 which is still on it. However thanks for your help, I will keep you posted and I will file away what you've given me if I have any future issues and I owe you a beer!!

I am having the exact same issue. I tried to create a DVD but got error code 0x80004005 six times so I gave up on the DVD idea. Then I created a USB and it at least functions normally! However, I just tried the Start Up Repair. let it run and then tried to boot my system. Gets to a light blue screen with the White dotted circle turning and has been that way for hours. After almost a full day finally the opening Picture comes up. I click on the pic to send me to the sign in page, then sign in. Well it still does not load!

I have been dual booting with my system. I have an SSD with Windows 7 and a HDD with a version of Windows 10 Pro from the Insider Program. Since I knew windows 7 license owners are to get a free upgrade to windows 10 I did some asking around in Microsoft Community and was told by some monitors that I would be able to upgrade my Windows 7 and still be able to use the Windows 10 Pro on the other drive and dual boot. I was dual booting to begin with and this computer was running fantastic until I made that upgrade attempt. Now I am stuck with this issue that no one seems to know how to fix. What are my options here?  I believe one issue here is the fact that my internet will not connect since I can not get windows to load. I believe that is needed to actually fix this issue but I am not sure. For some reason that went away as well. I say that because the light blue screen with the circle I believe is the computer trying to access to update the Windows 10 Pro to get the load back. I have clue how to enter safe mode to see if I will be able to at least get the internet back up and running. Any clues??

If I must leave the Insider Program to resolve this I will need to know what all I must do to stop being a member and get my free copy of Windows 10 to replace the windows 7 if that is my only option. I do not want to stop but I need my PC back running as it was before this fiasco. Any help at all anyone can give me to get this fixed would be wonderful. I am stuck running windows 7 and time is running out. HELP!!!!! Getting real Frustrated over this mess!!

By the way I forgot to mention there have never been any error codes during the repair attempts. I also tried using the software in bedded within windows to fix itself with the same results. I also tried Reset option as well. Nothing works.

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I regret the inconvenience caused to you. Let me help you.

I suggest you to perform start up repair from Windows Recovery Environment. Follow the below procedure and check if it resolves the issue.

To get to Windows Startup Settings in the Windows Recovery Environment. You may follow the steps provided below and check if it helps to resolve the issue.

If you don't have a disk or USB, download the ISO from a working computer and try creating a bootable disk or USB.

• If you can't start your PC, follow these instructions to get to the Windows Recovery Environment.

• Start your computer from the installation media, Insert the DVD or USB flash drive and restart your computer.

• If you see a message asking you to “Press any key to boot from DVD,” do so. If you don’t see the message, you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB.

• When you see the Install Windows page, tap or click Repair your computer to start the Windows Recovery Environment.

• In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.

• Tap or click, advanced options and then click on Startup repair.

  
  After this complete the repair and see if you are able to boot in to your computer.
  
  Windows 10 ISO file Download:
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 

I hope the information helps. Please keep us posted on the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

Thank you.

You say above that:

"you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB."

As I understand it, you now have to access the BIOS, or UEFI, THROUGH Windows 10.  But how do you do that, to change the boot order, if you're doing this because Windows 10 won't start in the first place?  I'm not seeing the point of a recovery usb in that case.

You used to be able to hold some key down when starting or restarting to get to the BIOS menu.  And, yes, you still can with SOME pc's, but it's a hodgepodge of which manufacturer's allow doing that or not.  I got the impression this change was supposed to make it easier and more standard to get to the BIOS.

Just to be clear, my question is, how do you change the boot order if you can no longer get into the boot menu (by pressing various keys) and Windows won't start?

Please, I know I'm missing something. Could you tell me what?

Thank you,

Stan

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I regret the inconvenience caused to you. Let me help you.

I suggest you to perform start up repair from Windows Recovery Environment. Follow the below procedure and check if it resolves the issue.

To get to Windows Startup Settings in the Windows Recovery Environment. You may follow the steps provided below and check if it helps to resolve the issue.

If you don't have a disk or USB, download the ISO from a working computer and try creating a bootable disk or USB.

• If you can't start your PC, follow these instructions to get to the Windows Recovery Environment.

• Start your computer from the installation media, Insert the DVD or USB flash drive and restart your computer.

• If you see a message asking you to “Press any key to boot from DVD,” do so. If you don’t see the message, you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB.

• When you see the Install Windows page, tap or click Repair your computer to start the Windows Recovery Environment.

• In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.

• Tap or click, advanced options and then click on Startup repair.

  
  After this complete the repair and see if you are able to boot in to your computer.
  
  Windows 10 ISO file Download:
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 

I hope the information helps. Please keep us posted on the issue. We will be happy to assist you accordingly.

Thank you.

You say above that:

"you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB."

As I understand it, you now have to access the BIOS, or UEFI, THROUGH Windows 10.  But how do you do that, to change the boot order, if you're doing this because Windows 10 won't start in the first place?  I'm not seeing the point of a recovery usb in that case.

You used to be able to hold some key down when starting or restarting to get to the BIOS menu.  And, yes, you still can with SOME pc's, but it's a hodgepodge of which manufacturer's allow doing that or not.  I got the impression this change was supposed to make it easier and more standard to get to the BIOS.

Just to be clear, my question is, how do you change the boot order if you can no longer get into the boot menu (by pressing various keys) and Windows won't start?

Please, I know I'm missing something. Could you tell me what?

Thank you,

Stan

Hi Stan,

You will have to look on you PC / Laptop documentation for the key press when you first turn on the device.  Usually, it is the DEL key or the F2 key.  On my HP Laptop, it is a combination press ESC + F10, for example.

When you do this immediately when you power on the device, you will be taken to the system BIOS options. Most devices will have a Configuration section in the BIOS that describes instructions for Boot Order.  You do not need Windows working in order to set the Boot Order - this is a function of the BIOS.

Hope that this helps you out.

Juan