BSOD Windows 8

hardtimes

Hi
Really going mad here! My laptop yesterday has now the bsod with the error message critical process died. I tried shift f8 but this does not work on Win 8, I have to use a Windows 8 installation disc,but I do not have one as I downloaded Win 8.
I cannot do anything as Windows is not loading
I need to get to safe mode to repair,but cannot access it without the disc.
I contacted Microsoft and they can fix for 99 dollars plus tax!
Anyone any ideas?

Lum

F8 should work, maybe not shift+F8 (first I've heard of using shift+F8). I find it most effective to just repeatedly hammer it starting from towards the end of the BIOS screen and give up once you see the Windows logo.

Dirty trick of last resort: if you let it start booting, and then turn the power off and back on, it will think it failed during boot and take you straight to the repair options next time.

You then have a bunch of new options, the most drastic of which is "Refresh" which is almost a full reinstall, reverts it to stock, removes your software, but keeps your data.

Jivesinger

Lum wrote: »

You then have a bunch of new options, the most drastic of which is "Refresh" which is almost a full reinstall, reverts it to stock, removes your software, but keeps your data.

I think the most drastic option is "Reset" which deletes your files too.

Also in there is the System Restore option which is probably worth a try.

Lum

Jivesinger wrote: »

I think the most drastic option is "Reset" which deletes your files too.

Also in there is the System Restore option which is probably worth a try.

I must have missed that one

Agree that system restore is the best place to start.

hardtimes

Hi no luck with f8 just keeps trying to load,how else can I get into safe mode without disc?

Jivesinger

What's the make and model of laptop?

Did it come with Windows 8 pre-installed or did you upgrade it? Edit: ignore that - I just saw that you upgraded it.

I think that sometimes models have their own specific instructions on how to get to the BIOS.

Also, what does happen when you start it up? Does it display anything or does it go straight to a BSOD?

Pikeyp

I just found this on another (private) forum , I can't test it myself since I'm on holiday ...

While in Windows go to 'command prompt' type in the following ...

bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

Now press enter ... you should see a message that the operation completed successfully , you might need admin privileges if it doesn't work properly , not sure about that!

F8 will work as usual the next time you boot into Windows 8.

Lum

I think the OP can't boot windows.

Did you try my other suggestion, that of killing the power while on the black loading screen? That usually does it.

hardtimes

Jivesinger wrote: »

What's the make and model of laptop?

Did it come with Windows 8 pre-installed or did you upgrade it? Edit: ignore that - I just saw that you upgraded it.

I think that sometimes models have their own specific instructions on how to get to the BIOS.

Also, what does happen when you start it up? Does it display anything or does it go straight to a BSOD?

It is Acer Aspire 5733 when I switch it on it gives the option of hitting f2 then it tries to load Windows then bsod with critical process died

closed

is that all the bsod says, what security software is installed

Pikeyp

Do you know anyone else with a PC you can use temporarily , with internet access and a DVD burner would be good!

If so , you could download the windows 8.1 preview and boot from that to get to the repair options.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/preview-download