Hi folks,
I'm currently dealing with a frustrating boot loop issue on my Windows PC, always landing back at the blue recovery screen. Here's what I've done so far:
- Verified that the correct boot drive is selected in the BIOS.
- Utilized Command Prompt (bootrec, chkdsk, sfc, etc.) to attempt repairs.
- Tried startup repair and system restore, but I didn't have any restore points available.
This problem seems to have started after I attempted to use a potentially corrupted USB drive I ordered from Amazon to install or repair Windows.
The symptoms I'm facing are:
- When I boot up, I see the blue screen with the "Choose an option" menu (Continue, Troubleshoot, etc.).
- Selecting "Continue" just loops back to that same screen.
- I have no working restore points at my disposal.
- Any attempt at a system reset fails or loops endlessly.
My specs are around here somewhere - I'll update when I dig them up. I'm running [insert Windows version].
I'm really looking for a solution that doesn't involve a complete reinstall. If you need any logs or specific info, just let me know!
Thanks a ton for your help!
2 Answers
First off, if you can boot into Windows normally or into Safe Mode, check this folder: C:WindowsMinidump for any dump files from the blue screens. If you find any, zip them up and share them using a file-sharing site like catbox.moe or mediafire.com. Multiple dump files are really helpful for troubleshooting, so if you can, set the dump type to Small Memory Dump following that guide. This way, you won’t lose any info if more crashes happen.
I’d suggest getting a reliable branded USB drive. Make it bootable and then boot from that USB. Once you’re in the setup, choose to wipe the C: partition (be careful to pick the right one)! After that, you can go ahead and reinstall Windows from there. Just ensure your other partitions are safe and you should still have access to those files afterward.
Will I still be able to access files on the other partitions after wiping C:?