Windows Will Not Boot–Any way to Fix Without Losing Installed Softwaare

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I am using a new Dell desktop (installed two months ago) with Windows 10.  To correct a minor problem, I called up System Restore.  I asked it to revert to just before the latest Windows update).  The machine ran for two hours, but did not revert to the restore point.  Now Windows will not boot.  Diagnostics show that there is no hardware problem.  I had not done a backup yet.

Is there any way to reinstall Windows without losing all the software I had installed?  I cannot get to the Windows refresh option.  Windows will simply not boot at all.

I had already prepared Windows recovery media on a USB stick, using Macrium Reflect.  However, when I use it, the Macrium Reflect option to repair Windows boot problems will not work, and that throws me back into the internal Dell system repair software, which gets in a loop trying (unsuccessfully) to repair the problem.

If anybody here can show me how to get Windows to boot, without my losing all my hard work on software installation, I will gladly become a donating member of Ask Woody.

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Did you make an Image of your drive with Macrium? If so, you can just restore the boot partition. On a Dell with UEFI it will be the FAT32 (ESP) partition. You might also want to restore the small NTFS Primary partition at the end of your drive.

HTH 😎

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

1 user thanked author for this post.

Biiljoy

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[Alex5723]

Download (on another PC) a copy of Windows 10 .iso file (the same version or newer. The recommended is 1909).
Create on a bootable USB using the free portable Ventoy app.
Disconnect from the Internet.
Boot with the USB and install keeping your apps and data.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by Alex5723.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Mr. Austin, Biiljoy

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Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.  The problem I have is that the Dell BIOS does not let me put the USB in the boot sequence.  It doesn’t show the USB at all.

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[Alex5723]

Alex5723 wrote:

Download (on another PC) a copy of Windows 10 .iso file (the same version or newer. The recommended is 1909).
Create on a bootable USB using the free portable Ventoy app.
Disconnect from the Internet.
Boot with the USB and install keeping your apps and data.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by Alex5723.

Never used or heard of ventoy but I have done this same thing with rufus it will work.

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Ventoy is better then Rufus.
Ventoy doesn’t extract the .iso files.
Ventoy supports multi-boot option with multiple operating system images (windows, linux…) on the same USB device.
Ventoy added (beta) support for .IMG.
Ventoy supports MBR and GPT partition styles, UEFI secure boot, legacy and UEFI, and persistence (which is useful for Linux distributions that support it).

https://www.ghacks.net/2020/08/16/latest-ventoy-release-introduces-experimental-img-format-support/

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Ventoy is different to Rufus and it doesn’t work for every bootable image.
For most people, Rufus is enough.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

Microfix

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Try holding SHIFT key while starting to go into Safe Mode.

Autorepair trick: Start the computer using power button.  When you see windows logo and circling dots, immediately hold down power button until device turns off.  Repeat 2-3 times and you should go into auto repair tool, then into the blue repair, etc. screens if tool isn’t successful by itself.

If nothing seems to work, if you can get into a DOS prompt via blue screens, files can be moved to a USB drive as a last resort.  Not a bad idea anyway.  Programs will be trashed but your work can be saved.  There are also DOS boot discs that do the same if the only option after trying common ones is to lose all your data but that’s unlikely.

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I would like to thank all of you who responded to my dilemma.  After spending over eight hours on the phone with under-qualified Dell service representatives in India, I am still dead in the water on the bad computer (a Dell Inspiron 3670). The last call was to ask how I can get the BIOS to recognize booting from a USB stick.  I can get to the BIOS setup, but it does not have that as an option.

This is my first (and last) Dell computer.  It’s still not functionable.  Does anybody know how to get the Dell BIOS to recognize USB booting as an option?

PS  How can I thank AskWoody responders personally?

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• Turn your machine off.
• Insert your Bootable USB drive.
• Press the power button.
• Immediately start repeatedly pressing the F12 key, continue until  “F12 Boot Menu” is highlighted in the lower right of your screen.
• When the Boot menu appears select your USB drive.

HTH

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Thanks for your efforts on my behalf.  The USB drive never shows up in the boot menu.  This Dell does not do things like other computers do.  Dell technical support people in India are not sufficiently trained to deal with this problem, and they have no way to elevate it to someone who can.  I am very disappointed with Dell.

Are there any Dell users on AskAndy?

 

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I have 5 dells and that procedure works on all of them, one going back 10 years! My guess is as mentioned below by another that either your USB is not bootable, test in another machine, or try another USB slot, I’d recommend the ones on the back of the machine.

HTH

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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There is good news and bad.  I was able to boot the machine and have it recognize the existence of the USB stick.  The stick was part of the problem.

The bad news is that after I loaded the Windows iso file and tried to reboot using the Windows on the hard drive, I got an error message saying that it could not boot because the ntoskrnl.exe is missing or contains errors.  I looked, and that file is in the \windows\syst32\ntoskrnl.exe place as it should be.  That file might be corrupted somehow.

I was, however, able to retrieve my Windows Product Key, so that I can easily activate my Windows, if I can ever get it to boot.

Any ideas?

Ken

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On USB/booting – any help here?
3670 Documentation.

See the Service Manual, either:
as a PDF. See pages 63, 64, 67.
– or –
on screen. Scroll down left side to near bottom: “System setup”.

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Maybe go to bios and turn off secure boot.  If f12 doesn’t work try the other function keys.  Make sure to try each usb jack and use at least usb3.0 drive.  And of course make sure the drive has the windows setup and it’s bootable.  Just copying the files isn’t enough.

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Kenneth Stephens wrote:

This Dell does not do things like other computers do

They do things the same way, that’s why there are lots of them out there.

Are you sure the USB is bootable? Can you test it on another machine – ask a friend.

cheers, Paul

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Great suggestions!  I had tried all of them.  See the message I just left Retired Geek in this string of messages.  I am close, but the Windows will not boot.  I am disappointed with the Dell documentation and customer support.  Their people say that my only choice is to wipe everything clean and write off all data files, etc.  That is NOT the case, according to numerous people.  A full reinstall of Windows and losing everything already on the machine is my last resort.

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Kenneth Stephens wrote:

Thanks for your efforts on my behalf.  The USB drive never shows up in the boot menu.

If your Dell allows it try this:  Unplug it, and (assuming it’s a laptop/notebook) remove the battery for 5 -10 seconds.

Put the battery back in, plug it in and then try to access the F 12 boot menu.

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One way to continue is to buy a hard drive or SSD of a size you would like to use that is compatible, since you have a desktop you may have many options for types of drive and may need mounting brackets and screws.  Take out the old drive that should have your data, and hold onto it to attempt data recovery later.  Install the new drive, and use a bootable USB of Windows to clean install windows.  Because of how product activation works, usually Windows will automatically activate.

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WE HAVE TOTAL SUCCESS.  This problem is solved.

Thank you to all of you and your good ideas.  By the time I was getting the ideas from you regarding Rufus, etc., I had purchased the recovery software from Lazesoft (for $27.95).  Today, I overcame the last hurdle, and the Lazesoft program allowed me to repair the corrupt Windows, without losing any installed apps or any of my files.  Windows even told me that my System Restore (of six days ago, which caused this super-crash) was unsuccessful. <grin>

Without your support and encouragement, I would have probably given up and done what Dell told me to do:  wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows (and lose all apps and all my files).

Miracles do happen.

Ken

1 user thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth

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Ken,

Now! Immediately! Create a Macrium Reflect Recovery USB key. Then test it to make sure you can boot from it. Then make a full Image backup and keep it up to date to prevent this kind of frustration in the future.

HTH

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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The free home edition of Windows recovery appears to do the same thing, but what cost your data – mine is worth a lot to me so I backup regularly?

cheers, Paul

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