New PC Bricked by Windows 10 Update - Again! 2nd Time in 6 months.

Hi Daniel. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP here to help you.

If you want to complain to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. But Microsoft will not even see it here because this is a tech forums where we are mostly volunteers trying to help solve your problems.

Windows Updates are software, which cannot harm hardware. Software can also always be repaired or else reinstalled. I'll give you all steps to do one or the other.

Here are steps to recover from failed Updates or Version Update install which causes Windows to fail to start or function:

1) Try whichever method works here to get into Advanced Startup Options to run System Restore if this is a Windows Update, or Go Back to Old Version if this is a version update. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc.... Easiest is to restart or force shutdown the PC 3 times.

If you are able to access System Restore or Go Back and it fails, skip to step 3.

2) If necessary create bootable installation media to access the repair options if not accessible by any other method: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... The bootable media is also the only method that doesn't require the password if you're stuck on that.

Boot media by powering up the PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

You may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup to turn off Fast Boot if it won't allow the Boot Menu key to interrupt starting Windows: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

Choose UEFI version of media if offered, browse to second screen to Repair Your Computer link, then Advanced Troubleshoot options to run System Restore to a point before the problem began, or choose More Options to Go Back to Old Version if this was a version Update.

If it rolls back then you can hide the Windows Updates and Version Upgrade responsible until they mature by installing and running immediately the Hide Updates tool: https://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent...

3) If this fails try a Startup Repair, or go back to Troubleshoot Options on the previous screen to Reset your PC which will save your files while reinstalling Windows.

4) If that fails you can use the booted media to Clean Install the latest version which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... The link compiles the best possible install of Windows 10 that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

There is a step to rescue files from the same bootable media: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Make sure during the booted install to follow the illustrated steps to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, then click Next to let it auto-create the needed partitions, format them and begin install - this makes it foolproof.

The media provided for the Clean Install is Version 1809 and normally the problems go away with the Clean Install, however if they don't you can find earlier version media to use here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php
Burn to DVD or create bootable 8+gb flash stick installer using this tool installed to Windows: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/detail...

Then once you're back in Windows 10, you can block the problem Windows or Version Update using one of these methods: https://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent...


I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

If you receive a popup asking if this solved your problem please ignore it, as it will remove my ability to help you and others may also not help. Please wait until after the issue is resolved to answer the popup or mark your question answered to help others.

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Hello Greg,

Thank you for your step-by-step troubleshooting guide - I will diligently attempt these solutions.

The previous time, the motherboard was replaced because the technician couldn't get the system to work again after last autumn's update - so, in that case, the hardware was irrecoverable.

I hope these suggestions will have better success. I will update this thread with the progress/result.

Daniel

Hello Greg,

I have attempted the 3 restart and force shutdown multiple times with no effect.

After some work, I've prepared a bootable media USB for Win 10, however, this doesn't really do anything when inserted because the screen is fixed at the boot up screen.

I did discover, however, that TAB key will bring me to a new screen that says: "Press <DEL> or <ESC> to enter setup." 

Upon which after pressing DEL or ESC, it will say "Entering setup..." and then do nothing beyond that forever.

PC is responding to usb keyboard (can restart with ctrl+alt+del) and the usb external dvd drive whirls the disc.

Giving us some info on your system may help.  The more info regarding components and configuration, the better.

If a system requests you enter the Bios setup, usually means something there needs to be adjusted.  If you were to have a bad drive it could lock up your system even if you were not using it to boot.

Have you ever checked the Event Viewer on your system when it was running normally to see if any errors show up consistently?

It's concerning that it will Enter Setup but not actually get there. That may require resetting the BIOS by another means if it can't be accessed via the Boot menu which is what you need to trigger to boot into the media by interrupting Windows failed attempt to boot.

So go back and follow the steps I gave exactly to trigger the boot menu key for your PC which is shown in the chart or on the BIOS splash screen. https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

Again this is different from the BIOS Setup key also shown in that chart which enters the BIOS/UEFI firmware settings. With a UEFI BIOS though we don't want to change the Boot Order there to your flash media, because Windows Boot Manager must always remain first to boot. Hence the BIOS Boot Menu key, aka BIOS Interrupt key.

Here's how to reset the BIOS by other means as a last resort if none of these functions will work: https://www.maketecheasier.com/how-to-reset-cmo...

As far as errors go, the event viewer did not show any errors other than once last week the external CD drive malfunctioned because the usb connector was not in firmly in place. Also there is no beeping from the motherboard when the PC loads up to logo screen.

I realized that I had not mentioned that this is an American Megatrends motherboard.

Also, it is one of those motherboards with a cmos battery wrapped in a yellow cover with wires sticking out connecting to the board.

See if unplugging the hard drives stops interference with being able to boot into Boot media and UEFI Setup.

Be sure to guard against static shock when reaching into case, by not working on carpet and touching the metal case before each time you reach in.

The hard drive is a rather small SSD card - a little more than about half the length of my index finger. 

I am wearing an anti-static guard clipped to the casing, I am working on a wooden table and a floor with no carpeting.

I removed the ssd card, the same thing occurs when pressing TAB and then DEL or ESC. "Entering setup..." yet nothing occurs. Ctrl+alt+del does not reset the computer at this point, only hard reboot.

I've tried many key pressings at boot up including all F keys, Del, Esc, and combinations of ctrl+shft+alt+fkey but only TAB has any effect.

I've attempted a CMOS reset with the little thingy that covers the prongs at the cmos reset area. But that did not effect any change. I'm not certain how to remove the wire connection of the cmos battery itself - it is rather tiny (but I do have some tiny tools at my disposal).