Huge Windows 8.1 Issue

[AmandaRose]

Ok so last night i switched the laptop off and everything was fine went to switch it on today and it keeps coming up with a blue screen that says someting like windows could not start attempting to repair. It then says repair could not fix the issue. It then brings up a menu with advanced options. So i brought up comand prompt and tried to run check disc this failed saying it could not run due to a pending system restore. So next tried to boot into safe mode this also failed. Next i tried to refresh the system this also failed. So now i am here looking for help.

 

[Gizametalman]

Tssssss.... that's the worst thing it could happen to any Windows User.
From this onwards, any attempt witll end up in an endless loop.
I've had this problem before. And I couldn't fix it easily. Actually it was mere luck.

Try to boot to the BIOS and see if you can work it out from there.

 

[AmandaRose]

Tssssss.... that's the worst thing it could happen to any Windows User.
From this onwards, any attempt witll end up in an endless loop.
I've had this problem before. And I couldn't fix it easily. Actually it was mere luck.

Try to boot to the BIOS and see if you can work it out from there.

Ok had a look in bios everything seems fine so dont know what to do next.

 

[JordenNixNix]

I also got this problem before (except it was Windows 10 pro).
There isn't much you can do.

I would suggest you to copy all important data to an external HDD/SDD via command line and completely reinstall Windows again.
You don't need access to an account to perform this. You can find a terminal in Advanced Options.
example:
copy "C:\Users\YourUserName\Documents\*.*" "D:\Win8_Backup"

By a completely reinstall, I mean installing Windows from scratch via a USB pen drive.
In other words, you will format your drive and will lose everything.

You can use cd.. to go out of an exciting folder or you can choose cd"name" to go a folder deeper. (cd = change directory)
example:
Right now I am in "c:\Users\MyUserName" and I want to go to the "Documents" folder:
cd "Documents"

I strongly suggest to make a copy of your Windows serial key if you're using a pro/enterprise/education edition.
If I remember correctly, this is the command:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Write your key down on a piece of paper, just to be sure.

I know how frustrating it is but that's the only solution.
I really feel your pain.


You can get a Windows 8/10 iso from the official Microsoft website.
After downloading the iso you can use a program called usb Rufus to make an installable USB pen drive. (Not Windows to go, that's a portable Windows).


And an extra tip:
When your problem is solved look for portable editions of your programs.
So you can easy copy them over to a USB device. (portable means, It doesn't need to be installed)

 

[Gizametalman]

Ok had a look in bios everything seems fine so dont know what to do next.

Check everything, the disk, its partitions, and files.
Having acces to the BIOS is a life saver.
Yoy could boot another copy of Windows out of a USB Drive, an External Hard Drive, or even from a CD-DVD.
You could also run a syscheck from the BIOS.
And you can log in to the system in SafeMode.

SafeMode will be your best option here. Also, try to identify if any of your drivers are causing the trouble. Again, within the Bios.

 

[AmandaRose]

Check everything, the disk, its partitions, and files.
Having acces to the BIOS is a life saver.
Yoy could boot another copy of Windows out of a USB Drive, an External Hard Drive, or even from a CD-DVD.
You could also run a syscheck from the BIOS.
And you can log in to the system in SafeMode.

SafeMode will be your best option here. Also, try to identify if any of your drivers are causing the trouble. Again, within the Bios.

The problem is safe mode does not even work it just says safe mode could not start.

 

[Gizametalman]

The problem is safe mode does not even work it just says safe mode could not start.

Perhaps this?
PS: If you quote me and I dont answer back, is not because I don't want to, but because I've fall asleep

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Ok so last night i switched the laptop off and everything was fine went to switch it on today and it keeps coming up with a blue screen that says someting like windows could not start attempting to repair. It then says repair could not fix the issue. It then brings up a menu with advanced options. So i brought up comand prompt and tried to run check disc this failed saying it could not run due to a pending system restore. So next tried to boot into safe mode this also failed. Next i tried to refresh the system this also failed. So now i am here looking for help.

Try a system restore (it should let you do it from the startup repair) if you have any restore points available.
You could try a reset from the advanced options. It will restore Windows to "factory fresh" but without deleting any of your data. Works about as well as a reinstall would but without all the hassle.
If that doesn't help you can try reinstalling it from scratch. Sometimes this is the only option. As long as you don't format the drive you won't lose any data (old Program Files/AppData and so on will be moved to Windows.old)

 

[JordenNixNix]

If BIOS works, try to make a Windows to go usb stick with another pc.
Download Windows 8 iso and use Rufus, choose for Windows to go.

Now on your other pc, try to set the bios settings to launch from usb.
When the usb drive boots, you can use Windows.
I strongly suggest to make a backup of all your files then.

Otherwise I suggest to do what I told you before.

 

[AmandaRose]

Try a system restore (it should let you do it from the startup repair) if you have any restore points available.
You could try a reset from the advanced options. It will restore Windows to "factory fresh" but without deleting any of your data. Works about as well as a reinstall would but without all the hassle.
If that doesn't help you can try reinstalling it from scratch. Sometimes this is the only option. As long as you don't format the drive you won't lose any data (old Program Files/AppData and so on will be moved to Windows.old)

Any system restore i have still ends up with the same issue and trying to refresh to factory just brings an error saying refresh could not be completed.

 

[Gizametalman]

Any system restore i have still ends up with the same issue and trying to refresh to factory just brings an error saying refresh could not be completed.

Then it must be non other than your hard drive.
I honestly can't think of anything else

Perhaps a Virus?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Any system restore i have still ends up with the same issue and trying to refresh to factory just brings an error saying refresh could not be completed.

Reset, not refresh

 

[Zoloco]

When in BIOS, check your SATA configuration. Try setting it to either AHCI or RAID. Losing this configuration can lead to windows not booting.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

When in BIOS, check your SATA configuration. Try setting it to either AHCI or RAID. Losing this configuration can lead to windows not booting.

On the other hand, if they don't already have the driver installed, setting it to AHCI/RAID will just break things even further.

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

Another reason why I use Windows 10, and especially Linux (Solus).

I don't run into many issues though.

Also try using MedicatUSB (Created by a fellow Temper)

This utility is a bootable Windows 10, Linux, etc Environment with tons of Utilities.
If you have a USB Drive, consider using it! Especially run a Checkdisk using it, and some HardDisk diagnostics.

EDIT:

Also, have you installed any Drivers or new software before the issue?
If so, consider using MediCatUSB and attempt to get rid of it.

 

[AmandaRose]

Thanks everyone for the help after trying suggestions here and from the net i came to the conclusion it could not be rescued so went ahead and wiped the hd and reinstalled windows and its up and running again

 

[Futurdreamz]

if you can plug the drive into another computer witht he same OS you should be able to run DISM repair, where it manually checks the integrity of the OS installation.