[kennethcoburn]

A mains power failure during the PC shut down has caused major problems booting into Windows 10. The PC cycles through the Automatic Repair process and never gets to a sign-in desktop. I have tried to boot into Safe Mode:
1. Automatic Repair
2. Advanced Options
3. Trouble Shoot
4. Advanced Options
5. Startup Settings
6. Restart
7. F5 Enable Safe Mode with Networking
8. (restarts automatically)
9. Your computer ran into a problem and needs to restart
10. Preparing Automatic Repair
11. Diagnosing Your PC
12. (then back to 1 in a continuous loop)
I have carried out sfc /scannow which failed at 76%
I then ran chkdisk /r but that did not find any problems.

I am now a lost to get into Windows so that I can do a repair install, keeping apps and data. I have a USB that I can use boot to and install Windows but I will loose files and apps.

I have tried the HP support web site but not of the listed fixes got me into Windows.

HP PCs - Windows Safe Mode (Windows 10) | HP® Customer Support

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that enables you to use Windows with basic drivers. If you encounter problems in Windows, restarting in Safe Mode allows you to continue working and to troubleshoot the problem. The Safe Mode feature does not install any software.

support.hp.com

Can I do anything else to be able to do a repair install and keep apps and data?

 

[Corday]

As you were doing
2. Advanced Options
3. Trouble Shoot
Now Command Prompt
then run BOOTREC /FIXMBR

 

[spunk.funk]

A mains power failure during the PC shut down has caused major problems booting into Windows 10

The Power Surge may have caused damage to the Boot sector of the HDD/SSD.
Is this an HP Desktop or Laptop?
You can create a Linux Live Boot Flash drive, boot off of that and you can backup your personal C:\Users\[UserName] files to another USB HDD.
Or You can remove the HDD/SSD and attach it via a USB Adapter to another computer and backup to that computer before attempting any more repairs. Then replace the drive.
Boot off of the Windows Installer USB Flash drive. Select your Language, and then hold down Shift and press F10 to go directly to the Command Prompt.
Run the Command Prompt code in Post #2 to see if that repairs it.
If all else fails, Since you are backed up safely, you can do a Clean Install of Windows from the installer.

 

[kennethcoburn]

The Power Surge may have caused damage to the Boot sector of the HDD/SSD.
Is this an HP Desktop or Laptop?
You can create a Linux Live Boot Flash drive, boot off of that and you can backup your personal C:\Users\[UserName] files to another USB HDD.
Or You can remove the HDD/SSD and attach it via a USB Adapter to another computer and backup to that computer before attempting any more repairs. Then replace the drive.
Boot off of the Windows Installer USB Flash drive. Select your Language, and then hold down Shift and press F10 to go directly to the Command Prompt.
Run the Command Prompt code in Post #2 to see if that repairs it.
If all else fails, Since you are backed up safely, you can do a Clean Install of Windows from the installer.

Thanks for the quick responses. It is late evening and I will try your suggestions tomorrow.

 

[kennethcoburn]

Thanks for the quick responses. It is late evening and I will try your suggestions tomorrow.

The PC is a desktop. I have tried fixing the MBR but that did not work. I am still being shown the Automatic Repair screen after booting with the message "Your PC did not start correctly". I have copied the user documents, pictures and outlook files to an external hard drive from the command prompt. However, would prefer to get into Windows somehow and do an repair install. Any further suggestions?

 

[Stancestans]

I wouldn't spend any more time attempting a repair on the botched Windows installation. You may not think so, but it's better to just start afresh with a clean install and restore your files to their respective locations. A repair install will take time and inherit whatever else is broken under the hood, even if it appears to end well.

 

[kennethcoburn]

It looks like the only option left is to copy the user directory (files) to an external hard drive/USB drive and reinstall Windows 10. Once the computer is up and running normally, I will copy the user files back to the computer. Many thanks for those of you how have tried to help. One final question, the original OS was Windows 8 and so the WIndows 10 key is 'digital'. Will this be picked up when I reinstall Windows 10?

 

[Stancestans]

By the way, you can do a fresh Windows install without deleting or formatting the existing Windows partition. The current Windows installation (including the user directory) will get moved to a Windows.old folder at the root of drive C. Restoring the user directory is a quick and simple matter of opening Windows.old > user directory, cut everything that exists there, that is Desktop, Documents etc (excluding hidden files/folders which shouldn't be visible by default anyway) then paste them in the new C:\Users\<user directory>, skipping anything that already exists in the new user directory. This takes seconds compared to copying back files from an external (separate) drive because the source and destination is on the same Drive C. The Windows.old folder can then be deleted using the Disk Cleanup utility or via the Windows 10 Settings app.

Yes, the digital license will be picked up as soon as you get online, as long as you install the same edition (Home or Pro) of Windows 10 that has a digital license associated with your computer.

 

[kennethcoburn]

Thanks, I'll give that a go.

 

[kennethcoburn]

I tried to install Window 10 using a USB WIndows10 Installation media. It booted to the Windows 10 installation but I got the following message when asked where I wanted to install Windows.:

Windows cannot install on this disc. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed on GPT disks.

There are 4 partitions listed:

Drive 0 Partition 1: SYSTEM
Drive 0 Partition 2: OS
Drive 0 Partition 3: DATA
Drive 0 Partition 4: HP_RECOVERY

 

[Corday]

MBR can be converted to GBT. Of course the warning could mean your HD is kaput.

 

[kennethcoburn]

Can I convert a disk to GBT without loosing the original Windows OS? I will need that to ensure that I can use the existing 'digital' key when I boot into the new installation because the original key was for Windows 8 before upgrading to Windows 10.

 

[kennethcoburn]

I have a MBR2GBT file on another Windows 10 PC. Can I copy this to the Windows 10 installation USB and run this on the other PC from a command prompt and retain the existing Windows 10 installation?

 

[spunk.funk]

Your Windows Activation key is saved to your Bios, or on Microsoft servers for your Microsoft Account, you do not need to type it in. You should also have the Windows 8 product key on a sticker on the top of your HP Desktop.
When you boot off of the Installer, Choose your Language then hold the Shift key and press F10 to enter the Command Prompt. Convert your Disk to GPT
Using Diskpart to Initialize Disk into MBR/GPT Format

To do a Clean Install, Once converted, boot of the installer , choose your language in Where Do You Want to Install Windows? Select each partition and Delete it until all of the drive is Unallocated Space, (if it isn't already) then press Next. Windows will create partitions and format them during the install. If it asks for a product key, type in the one on the sticker, or click I do not have a key at this time. It will activate once you use your Microsoft Account to login.

 

[Stancestans]

I tried to install Window 10 using a USB WIndows10 Installation media. It booted to the Windows 10 installation but I got the following message when asked where I wanted to install Windows.:

Windows cannot install on this disc. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed on GPT disks.

There are 4 partitions listed:

Drive 0 Partition 1: SYSTEM
Drive 0 Partition 2: OS
Drive 0 Partition 3: DATA
Drive 0 Partition 4: HP_RECOVERY

Recreate the Windows installation media for Legacy Boot (MBR) instead of UEFI Boot (GPT). You can use Rufus to download Windows 10 iso and burn it on the flash drive. See rufus.akeo.ie

Can I convert a disk to GBT without loosing the original Windows OS? I will need that to ensure that I can use the existing 'digital' key when I boot into the new installation because the original key was for Windows 8 before upgrading to Windows 10.

You don't need to convert the disk to GPT for the digital license to take effect.

 

[kennethcoburn]

Recreate the Windows installation media for Legacy Boot (MBR) instead of UEFI Boot (GPT). You can use Rufus to download Windows 10 iso and burn it on the flash drive. See rufus.akeo.ie


You don't need to convert the disk to GBT for the digital license to take effect.

Good - but why does the WIndows 10 iso file (see my comment above).

 

[kennethcoburn]

I have given up trying to resurrect the 'old' computer and have attempted to convert a spare computer to a new user. When I try to sign in to a Microsoft account it asks for the account name and password but I have forgotten the password. When I tried to reset the password I used the code emailed to me by Microsoft but that took me to the the user account name and then sign-in asking for the existing password - instead of a means of resetting the password. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Stancestans]

why does the WIndows 10 iso file (see my comment above).

Why does the Windows 10 iso file do what?

 

[spunk.funk]

On an internet device (ie) another computer, Laptop, Smart phone etc, login to your Microsoft Account Sign in to your account If that fails, you can choose Sign In Options and then Forgot Password and it will ask you a series of questions or send a code to your phone to reset your password.