I used the Reset this PC option in Windows to completely wipe an older computer before selling it. The process appeared to finish, but now it briefly shows a Welcome screen, flashes a restarting message, shuts down, and repeats the cycle. How can I stop the loop and complete a clean Windows installation? I have access to another computer if needed, but I'm not very experienced with PC troubleshooting. The system has a Ryzen 7 3700X, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 2060.
2 Answers
The easiest fix is usually a clean installation from a Windows installation USB. On another working computer, download Microsoft’s Windows installation media and create a bootable USB drive—an 8 GB or larger drive is generally sufficient. Insert it into the problem PC, start it, and use the motherboard’s boot-menu or BIOS/UEFI key to select the USB drive. From the Windows setup screen, choose a custom installation, delete the partitions on the target Windows drive, and install Windows into the resulting unallocated space. Be very careful to select the correct drive, especially if the computer has a second storage drive, because deleting its partitions will erase it too.
Yes, booting from the USB bypasses the broken installation that is causing the loop. You’ll need another working computer, an empty USB drive, and an internet connection to create the installer. Enter the BIOS/UEFI or one-time boot menu during startup—your motherboard manual will show the correct key—then choose the USB. During setup, only remove partitions from the drive where Windows was installed. If you’re unsure which drive that is, disconnect the secondary drive temporarily before installing so you can’t accidentally wipe it.
So I can boot from the USB and reinstall Windows even while the computer is stuck in the restart loop? Do I need anything besides the USB drive, and will this affect my second storage device?