Windows 8 automatic repair loop, won't boot to dvd or usb bootable

1) Trying to figure this one out myself... I disabled system restore since Im using an SSD hard drive but you should see if you have a restore point using "advanced options" and then "troubleshoot". There isn't a fix as of yet if system restore, refresh, etc all fail. I would imagine, at least in my scenario, there is a way to remove the boot flag for the automatic repair from the command prompt but there is no information on this as of yet. This is definetly a problem with Windows 8 but cant really complain overall, there is always bound to be something..... I basically just created another Windows 8 installation USB flash drive and reinstalled the OS which renamed my orignal installation to "Windows.old" so at least I can recover my personal data.

2) As far as getting Windows 8 again you simply need to sign in to your account.

https://www.mswos.com/

You should have recieved an email with your order number, license, etc. If you don't have this information you should call Microsoft and they can pull up your account info. Do not purchase it again if you already paid for it.

1) Trying to figure this one out myself... There isn't a fix as of yet ...

 

Oh YES! there is. Windows 8 is obviously corrupting on my computer, and telephone support many times remarked they know how to set my computer back to Windows 7.

 

Question is ... really

BIG

question is, why hasn't Microsoft let Users know how to do what Microsoft Support techies are so confident doing? Scoping "Pay-for-removal" scams? Seriously! Try Stardock's Start8, wee little catch being you'll need the $49 version to recapture the joy of boot control.

 

[is anyone else getting frustrated]

 

re:

"2) As far as getting Windows 8 again you simply need to sign in to your account.

https://www.mswos.com/ ..."

 

That much is real slick. When I just click but then close browser and reboot, half an hour later, there are the Assistant and the ISO side-by-side in Downloads! 360 days to Halloween, eh!

 

But seriously folks, we are kinda tech saavy here. I can think of no better box for my kids than Windows 8. Safe, or wHat! WHERE"S MY BOOT PROMPT?

I am having the same problem on my desktop.  I have a Windows 8 USB but need to burn to a DVD, but it sounds like that does not work either.  So are we all screwed or what?  I hope I can back up my files from my C drive at least.  I think Microsoft needs to help!!!  This is totally unacceptable!

Adi,

UEFI IS NOT THE ISSUE!

You are making life difficult, perhaps. I put that "perhaps" there becuase I have found that some editions of "Release" status Windows 8 on the first week of Microsoft market deployment, are almost impossible to remove (requiring fancy boots to win7-win8 DVD's in correct order, etc.). But let's assume you are a few weeks down the road now, with your Windows 8 Updates and what-all, to a point where the new Windows 8 system is BOOT-Stable.

UEFI is not the focus here. BIOS is the tool you deploy to remove Windows 8. When (and if) Windows 7 requires BIOS or UEFI, it should be there regardless of the OS you install, and UEFI will naturally be deployed by whatever OS you install, according to that OS's specifications for UEFI. A decent new motherboard defaults to it's UEFI functionality. Don't worry about UEFI, today.

Reboot, and on your boot-up press the key (s) to enter your BIOS menu. In your BIOS menu (consult your motherboard manual, please) disable the disk where windows is installed IN THE BOOT PROCESS ONLY, and direct BOOT to your DVD containing Windows 7 Setup. Save and exit to your Windows 7 setup DVD.

IMPORTANT for SSD Installations! If you are installing Windows 7 or 8 onto an SSD you MUST RUN DISKPART if any OS has been or is installed on your Windows disk. You cannot maintain a Windwos Partition, diskpart wipes the entire disk. At the first setup screen press SHIFT-F10. At the command prompt type DISKPART and press ENTER » then type and enter SELECT DISK » select the disk you think is your Windows drive and SELECT DISK 0, or the appropriate disk number » then DETAIL DISK (make sure you see an empty disk with the characterisitics of your Windows disk. When you have selected the correct disk from the LIST DISK output, enter CLEAN ALL. Diskpart will take some time to remove OS and Format dirt [residue] from your system disk. Make yourself a warm drink and relax. When DISKPART has completed CLEAN ALL, then you must EXIT diskpart and EXIT the command prompt. To review diskpart: SHIFT-F10, DISKPART, LIST DISK, SELECT DISK, DETAIL DISK...  CLEAN ALL, EXIT, EXIT [8 steps]. Now continue Windows 7 Setup.

IMPORTANT for All Installations! You will pass through a small number of screens requesting information before you arrive at "Where do you want to install Windows?" Your formatted (and possibly diskpart treated) disk used by Windows 8 will be displayed, even though it is currently disabled from Boot access. Select your Windows 8 disk (usually C) and, then New if you ran diskpart, to create a Windows disk Partition. Or go straight to format for old fashioned IDE drives. Format will prepare your disk surface for your OS of choice (in this case Windows 7). You've gone far enough!

Now reboot and re-open your BIOS menu. Re-Enable Boot to the Windows disk you disabled. Make certain that the BOOT SEQUENCE RUNS FROM DVD TO WINDOWS DISK (remember, your Windows disk is now empty).

Boot to Windows 7 DVD and reinstall Windows 7. To recap, use BIOS to disable boot to your current OS, use "Where do you want to install Windows" to terminate the current OS, return to BIOS and re-enable boot to OS disk but MAKE CERTAIN boot goes first to your Windows 7 DVD, and setup Windows 7.

I am having the same problem on my desktop.  I have a Windows 8 USB but need to burn to a DVD, but it sounds like that does not work either.  So are we all screwed or what?  I hope I can back up my files from my C drive at least.  I think Microsoft needs to help!!!  This is totally unacceptable!

 

Sherman, Read my post above, in reply to Adi. It reads to me like you and Adi, are both sounding-off over a battle with device media, which is not the issue with Windows 8 style "simple" take-over of system boot. In a big way, Windows 8 lodges itself just like those early Trojans (minus the disk destruction, naturally). Regardless, bootup manipulation is a useful approach. I only know the BIOS method.

And wow! Today is 121112 and it is 2112. Time to go HTH! AFAIK that's all there is to tell.          

I had a similar issue with Windows 2012 going in a loop at startup and automatic repair. Plus, I also had Bitlocker enabled and had to keep reentering the unlock key. I was able to resolve it and boot to the login screen, and here is what I did:

From the repair menu, choose Advanced Boot options, and it will boot again and present you the options like Safe Boot, Safe Boot with Networking etc, Normal boot.

I just chose Safe Boot, and it rebooted, and after I entered my Bitlocker PIN, I was expecting the loop again, it just took me to the login screen. It took a long time to process the login, and the user profile service did it's things, applied user settings etc, and then I was able to login finally and all was well.