My Windows 8.1 is stuck in an automatic repair loop, how can I fix this?

Anonymous
2014-01-02T16:49:35+00:00

my laptop will not boot at all, when I turn it on the screen shows 'preparing automatic repair' then 'diagnosing your PC'. After this, the screen shows 'your PC did not start correctly' and it doesn't work when I restart it so I selected advanced options. After this, if I click continue the repair screen appears again and I am redirected back to the same page. I can't access my desktop at all and an administrator hasn't been set on my laptop, so after clicking troubleshoot I can't refresh or reset my PC.After this I clicked on advanced settings and I cannot choose system restore, command prompt, system image recovery or startup repair because they either don't work or need an administrator and I haven't set one as I mentioned before. My last resort was startup settings which requires restarting the PC. 9 options are to choose from and I tried almost all and it won't boot up in safe mode. Help!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2014-04-02T19:25:00+00:00

I've inserted the System Recovery disc 1 that came with the computer. No change.

Usually that means that that device is not higher than the hard drive in the boot device order.  You would probably need to get into your BIOS screen to change that.  See your User Guide or contact HP for more information.  Post your product id (e.g. what details you need to use HP's site to find your particular documentation and downloads but not your serial number) if you need someone to help interpret your user documentation.  In W7 HP had a nice tool that gave me those details.  I never found anything analogous from W8, except in bits and pieces.

HTH

Robert Aldwinckle


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  1. Anonymous
    2016-06-13T13:03:59+00:00

    How do I know which drive and partition I should format?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-13T09:35:36+00:00

    Hello Sarah,

    Thank you for responding.

    You may try following steps to backup files.

    a. When computer shows "Install Now" screen before entering product key, click repair your computer.

    b. Click command prompt.

    c. Type notepad in command prompt and press Enter.

    d. In notepad, click file and then click "Save as".

    e. Windows explorer should open. You may easily browse all drives and folders.

    Afterwards, you may copy files onto an external USB drive.

    Now, you may perform clean installation.

    Refer:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/clean-install

    Note: You need to reinstall all programs and drivers after clean install.

    Thank you

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-06-13T09:30:16+00:00

    I have followed the custom advanced installation, but PC does not allow install to drive 0 partitions 1-5. When selecting drive 1 partition 1 I recieve error message, we couldnt install windows in the location you chose, 0x80300024. What do you suggest next.  Thank you Sarah x

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-06-13T09:12:38+00:00

    Thank you for your reply. On the subject of backing up my files, how do I do this when I cannot access anything except the blue screens. 

    Also, my PC is allowing me to type in the product key and then will not allow me to progress any further with installation

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