Windows 8 is stuck in an automatic repair loop

It seems so difficult for Microsoft to admit they have released an upgrade that renders computers useless.

If you work on a tablet or smartphone, it's SUCCESS. I hear great things about Windows 8.1 on these devices. But beware users of the laptop and pc, because you will be stuck in the endless loop that is PREPARING AUTOMATIC REPAIR / DIAGNOSING PC / SYSTEM REFRESH / SYSTEM RESTORE. IF you downloaded the Windows 8.1 upgrade.

So thank you Microsoft. Truly. Because after 5 days of this loop, and searching every forum imaginable JUST to get into the OS (because people seem to love to tell you, just go into Safe Mode and do a Clean Boot.) (These people cannot read that you are unable to BOOT up the PC in the first place to ACCESS any of these tools, so telling someone to do these simple fixes is like another level of **** being created.)

If your pc is experiencing problems booting up, who was the genius at Microsoft that said, well, have going into Safe Mode be a difficult, almost impossible feat should the system start looping and not be able to find the OS. Who was that person, or team of people. And dear Microsoft, if you sense my aggression and impatience with you in that last statement, it's only going to get worse. Because at this stage of trying to get my essentially brand new laptop to boot up, because a Windows 8.1 update rendered it useless, I don't care what I say about your company. I am faced with having to lose data of mine. That's the only choice I have.

Your Windows 8.1 update made my WD Elements 1TB ext HD invisible. It can't see it anymore, where last week it was working fine. Why is this a problem? Well, since I didn't get a chance to do my normal backup of files to this device, because Windows decided to install this update while I was in the shower, I am now set to have to sacrifice these files, just to go back to Windows 8 to get this operational again, to only get rid of it to go to Windows 7. And I cannot save a single important file of decent size that will not fit on a DVD-RW. How you can get away with this, I do not know. Why should I have to sacrifice my files and data, because you release updates that DON'T WORK. That render products and devices unusable. And if this was new and secular to my device, I'd say ok. BUT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW. The same issues. The same problems. And you do nothing.

My laptop just froze after trying to scan the device that is clearly hooked up to the laptop, but is shown in Hidden Devices. And if I try and update the software, Windows says no need to, it's up to date. THEN FIND IT IN THE USB PORT LIKE YOU DID LAST WEEK BEFORE THIS UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All I need to do is backup my files. A majority are on the EXT HD (which can be read fine in Windows XP, which is what I'm on now, an older pc) but it's whatever I didn't get chance to backup before the 21st January. And I cannot RESTORE to a previous point in the Windows 8 history where the EXT HD drive DID get recognised. I have tried and tried and tried. I downloaded WD firmware, I deleted Software Distribution folders, I've gone into DOS.

So thank you Microsoft. Truly. Great work.

Yes, Windows 8.1 is as reliable as Windows 98 and looks as good as Windows 3.1. I would go with Windows 7 if possible.

            [image of W8 "frownie" BSOD showing  "HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED"]       

@ Anish.DS

If you are looking for help it may be better if you would start your own thread with your own details.

Otherwise as your message suggests you could do a search.  For example, if you were installing W8 as a VM this might apply:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2814803/en-us 

(Microsoft search for

    hal_initialization_failed

)