Windows 10 Creators Edition - automatic repair endless reboot

roytom

This CE went wrong all too quickly....

It seemed to be working but said a driver failed to install and so offered an automatic repair.

When it offered to reboot it now is in a constant loop that cannot be broken out of except to turn off the PC. But on restarting the whole loop re-engages again.

The Advanced Options offered don't do anything other than turn off the PC or re apply fix.... which always fails.

Any suggestions how to get out of this?

Lorian

What make and model?

Usually when I've seen this its a built in video camera causing the issue, but I'm sure other devices might do it too.

A quick way to get around it, if it is the camera, is to pop the machine open and disconnect the camera ribbon cable, if you are happy with opening it up, locating and disconnect the tiny ribbon cable.

grumpycrab

In Troubleshooting/Advance options open the command prompt and goto
Windows\system32\logfiles\srt (if it exists) and type srttrail.txt The end of this log should give the reason for failure.

If you were updating to Creators Edition, go back to previous build, hopefully an option in Advanced Options ->


Or, assuming you have backed up docs/pics. reinstall from media (USB/DVD).

roytom

Sorry, none of this works because I cannot escape the limited startup of Automatic Repair. This always fails with a loop back into Automatic Repair Restart (useless as it just reloops) and Troubleshoot (Reset this PC where I would either loose everything or all installed programs, no use) and Advance options.

In Advanced options System Restore and System Image Recovery cannot find any previous image or file to restore, Start-up Repair returns to the failing loop, Command Prompt - the folder suggested doesn't exist.

Change Startup - many options cascade from this including our old friend Safe Mode. This just re-loops to the the failing Automatic Repair.

The laptop PC is an ASUS X555L early 2016.

The problem started when the Win 10 Creators Ed couldn't find a driver for a Western Digital NAS White book, tried a repair, asked for reboot and then looped into an endless cycle as the repair always fails.

Anything further on Command Prompt I can do?

Any further help appreciated.

hans_2

One suggested solution is to Disable early launch anti-malware protection in Start up Settings then restart

roytom

Ta. Tried all the startup options but it reverts back to Automatic Repair.
Under Command Prompt in Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt
SrtTrail.txt shows:-

Root cause found:
Startup Repair has tried several times but still cannot determine the cause of the problem.

What I need is to turn off Strart Up Repair but booting into Safe Mode doesn't prevent this running.

I've also tried the old tricks of bcdedit but this doesn't work either...

grumpycrab

roytom wrote: »

Western Digital NAS White book

I assume you have disconnected this?

roytom

The White Book is connected to the network, not the laptop, but just in case it's been turned off. Result just the same. Automatic repair fails and Your PC did not start correctly, loop.

No going back to a previous windows version, roll back, or reverting to a Restore Point works as it claims there aren't any previous versions! I only allowed it to upgrade itself last night and did a manual System Restore point yesterday just in case.

If the option of going back to a previous version of windows option is selected it says..

We ran into a problem and won't be able to take you back to the previous version of Windows. Try resetting your PC instead (Troubleshoot > Reset this PC)

I think a reset will now be the only option - keeping my files but loosing all installed programs like Office etc. I'm sorely tempted to go back to Windows 8.1 when I've got all my data safely off it.

WAYT

I don't know if this will be too complicated for you

https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/27180-windows-10-recovery-tools-bootable-rescue-disk.html#post434613

https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/248-image-health/

If you have any troble with obtaining a Windows 10 image, let me know.

roytom

Thanks for all your effort on this but I think its now a last cause - I've copied my files off onto a USB hard drive using the command prompt and Xcopy and they seem ok.

Now how can I reinstall Windows from scratch? I made a USB boot drive when I first got the laptop but when I use this is just points to the Win 10 defective install on the hard drive and doesn't work.

What I need is to reinstall windows, prefereably 8.1, from scratch - but how can I do this please.

Just to be clear, neither Refresh your PC nor Reset your PC work - they both show an error and won't proceed.
Thanks again

grumpycrab

Get the latest W10 on media and give it a go... With a bit of luck a clean install may/should/could work.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

EDIT: or get a different ISO... https://heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool