Windows 10: Brand new Lenovo Y50 says automatic repair couldn't repair my PC

I just got a brand new Lenovo Y50 and for some reason when I turn it on it says "Automatic repair couldn't repair your PC; Press 'Advanced options' to try other options to repair your PC or 'Shut down' to turn off your PC.; Log file: C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt" The only options I'm given after that are to Shut down or to hit Advanced options. Also when I hit Advanced options I noticed one of the next options says "Continue; Exit and continue to Windows 8.1" when I don't even want Windows 8 and I'd like to know how to upgrade to Windows 10 after/while gaining access to this computer. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

:)

 

Automatic repair couldn't repair my PC

If none of the above work...

Go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.

Step 1: How to download official Windows 10 ISO files

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Step 2: How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...

If there are files on the drive you want to recover, see - How to: Perform a Custom install of Windows 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...

 

Automatic repair couldn't repair my PC

Hi Albert, since you are on Stage 4, it is safe to stop the process . . .

Press and hold the Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a hard shut down

Start your device and if check disk is starting again, press any key to skip the process

Once you get into Windows, open Command Prompt, run this command and hit Enter:

chkntfs /x C:

Then close Command Prompt

If the dirty bit was set on your hard drive in error, this will clear it

 

First port of call would be to return it. Did you get it from a reputable supplier?

Which OS is supposed to be installed? If Win 10 was specified, I'd be asking serious questions if you see Win 8. Free upgrade is no longer offered.

As it's brand new you could try the manufacturer's recovery procedure. The following seems to give methods both for systems which boot to Windows and those which don't.
Introduction to Lenovo OneKey Recovery 8.0 for Notebooks

 

I guess I can return it but I'd rather try and see if there's a way to fix it without sending it back. I got it from a retailer on Amazon that said the condition was like new. I'm pretty sure Windows 10 is supposed to be installed but that was only because I assumed it would be there since it is the latest version of Windows and and most brand new high-end computers seem to come pre-loaded with the latest version of their native operating systems, at least in my experience. I tried the recovery procedure but unfortunately that didn't work since I don't have a NOVO button on my device. If anyone could help me figure out how fix this computer so I can start using it that would be greatly appreciated. Upgrading it to Windows 10 isn't as big of an issue as I can always figure that out later.

 

1) Find a flash drive that you can format ( > or + 8 GB)
2) Make a bootable Windows 10 iso:
Download Windows 10
3) Insert the flash drive into any USB port
4) Power on the Lenovo notebook and repetitively click the F12 key to open the BIOS boot menu
5) select external USB hard drive
It may take 5 - 10 minutes for the Windows iso to load while viewing the Windows icon
6) Select language, time, currency, keyboard or click next
7) Look in the left lower corner and click on "repair your computer". (make sure you do not click on install as this is the method to perform a clean install)
8) Click troubleshoot
9) Click system restore and start with the oldest date and keep trying more recent dates. (System restore is likely to fail)
If system restore fails or if there are no restore points move to the next option
10) Click startup repair (startup repair is likely to fail)
If startup repair fails move to command prompt
11) Click command prompt > Administrator: X:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources>

Use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images of the progress/results.
Some of the command responses may fill the window so take multiple pictures.

12) type: bcdedit /enum all
Click enter to see (Firmware Boot Manager, Windows Boot Manager, Windows Boot Loader, Windows Boot Loader, Resume from Hibernate, Windows Memory Tester, EMS settings, Debugger Settings, RAM defects, Global Settings, Boot Loader Settings, Hypervisor Settings, Resume Loader Settings, Device Options)

13) type: bcdedit | find "osdevice"
Click enter to see (osdevice partition=C : (this could display D :

14) type: chkdsk /r C: (Use the drive letter that was displayed for the partition)
Click enter to see (The type of file system is NTFS, Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure, Stage 2: Examining file name linkage, State 3: Examining security descriptors, Stage 4: Looking for bad clusters in user file data, Stage 5: Looking for bad free clusters) This may take a while to complete)

15) type: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=G:\ /offwindir=G:\windows (Use the drive letter that was displayed in the partition for each letter G) (When typing this command there is a space between \ /)
Click enter to see (Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.)

16) type: bootrec /fixmbr
Click enter to see (The operation completed successfully)

17) type: bootrec /fixboot
Click enter to see (The operation completed successfully)

18) type: bootrec /scanos
Click enter to see (Scanning all disks for Windows installations; Please wait, since this may take a while.........Successfully scanned Windows installations. Total identified Windows installations: 0; The operation completed successfully) (This may display 0 or 1)

19) type: bootrec /rebuildbcd
Click enter to see (Scanning all disks for Windows installations; Please wait, since this may take a while.........Successfully scanned Windows installations. Total identified Windows installations: 0; The operation completed successfully) (This may display 0 or 1)

20) type: exit
21) Click Turn off your PC
22) Power on
23) Make a brand new restore point
24) Make a backup image using Macrium:
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free
25) Save the backup image to another drive or to the cloud.

 

Your money is at stake here- be careful. Before trying to fix it, check whether indeed your machine has Win 10 or Win 8 installed on it.

If you have Win 8, and it can be persuaded to work, then you face buying a license for Win 10 if you wish to use that. If your supplier sold it as having Win 10, but it doesn't, you've been done. If you bought it without the OS being specified, then I guess you've no fallback, except that it's not working.

Now, if it has Win 8 installed AND you get that working, you don't really have a basis for complaint. So be careful what you do.

To find out what's installed:
Create a boot disk e.g. Kyhi's, available from the top of the Software and Apps section here.
Boot your PC from it.
You can then use file explorer as normal.
Identify the Windows partition on your PC (it may well not be C: in this view).
Browse to C:\Windows\explorer.exe, rt click on it, click Properties, Details.




That's what I see- note the 10.

 

Unfortunately I wasn't the one who bought the computer, so I have no way of finding out which OS was specified to be installed. Right now CMD is in the middle of a chkdsk scan, if you think it best I could cancel that scan and try and find out exactly what's installed and let you know what I find.

 

Bear in mind anything that fixes your PC reduces your potential basis for returning it as non-functional.

You could, for example, leave chkdksk running while you follow my post above and prepare Kyhi's boot disk which lets you check what is installed. I'd guess it's unlikely chkdsk will resolve the technical problem, but worth doing of course.

- might be a good idea to find out where it came from and examine the advert closely. You'd need to know the detail if considering returning it. (Strictly the right to return vests with the purchaser).

Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
This includes one way to create a bootable disk (but use Kyhi's iso of course):
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

When did the free upgrade to Windows 10 stop working? I haven't seen any posts here yet that verifies it has stopped working yet.

 

- It's supposed to have... but others have mentioned testing the application of the letter of the law... or at least the published last free upgrade date.. maybe we're living in Never Never Land after all..?

 

I know what I would do if it were my computer. Make a combination Windows 10 installaion/Kyhi's Recovery Tools USB flash drive:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Use Macrium Reflect to back up the current HDD (or SSD) onto an external HDD or NAS.

Wipe the current HDD (or SSD) and do a clean install of Windows 10 to it, which should activate from the Windows 8 product key stored in BIOS/UEFI.

If that doesn't work and activate, then restore the backup image I created to the HDD (or SSD) and return the laptop for a refund.

 

It sounds like a refurb machine , which they reset to fix it and it has loaded Win 8.1 from the NOVO backup partition but is still stuck , which means it's a few years old I'd assume..... it may have a bad HDD or something? but I'd say the Vendor lied as it wasn't tested thoroughly.

I'd also goto Lenovo and check out my Warranty status etc ...

You sometimes have to look real close for the Novo "Button" it is sometimes just a hole for a paperclip , with an upside down U next to it usually.

Officially the update to Win10 is no longer free , but YMMV , especially if it once had Win10 on it , then it will already have a valid Digital License and activate with no issues.

The Assistive technologies Free Upgrade (Loophole) Officially ends Jan 16th 2018 too....

Windows 10 upgrade for assistive technology users