Windows 10: PC reset during possible Win10 install, and now PC won't boot

Hi all,

Hoping somebody can help. I think my PC was trying to install Windows 10 when I did some Windows Updates recently. I use the word "think" because I never signed up for the free upgrade and I never agreed for Windows 10 to be installed on my PC and I don't recall seeing anything about Windows 10 in the Windows Updates that were being installed... but, from some Googling, I've learned that Microsoft is apparently getting more persistent and sneakier about this. Great. =/

So, I install these updates and when my PC restarts, I see what looks like the log-in screen for a second, along with some text that's not usually there that I think says "System Event Manager" or something like that before the screen goes black. I can still see my mouse, though, but it doesn't look like it normally does - instead appearing in the bigger version that suggests my graphics have been disabled or reset. Doing some more Googling after the fact, I've learned that this is a common problem with Windows 10. Unfortunately, when it happened, I had no idea that I was potentially installing Windows 10, so after I few minutes, I force shut my computer off. When I tried to restart after, I get the following error message: "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key". If I go into my Bios, everything's still in the proper boot sequence, but manually choosing my SSD (that should have my OS on it) to boot from leads to the same error. If I try to use my Windows 7 disc to repair, I get this error message: "This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible with this version of Windows."

It seems to me that, thanks to my interruption of an installation I didn't know was going on, my PC might now be stuck somewhere between Windows 7 and Windows 10. Is this possible? If so, might I be able to use a Windows 10 iso download to complete/repair the installation in the same manner I used to be able to go into the Recovery Console via my Windows 7 disc? I'm trying to avoid having to wipe my SSD and start fresh with Windows 7 again, if at all possible.

Thanks for reading!

:)

 

Product Key for Windows 10 Didn't Work

Fix:

again I did not choose anything...

windows offers: (standard win installation (language/keyboard)

[next]

now it is a familiar installation screen.

I chose: "repair"

OK

down to "Reset this PC"

I'm choosing- "All Drives"

>fully clean the drive

>reset this PC

..."resetting this PC"

Keep in mind:

I've not done anything except install Win7x64ult w/sp1, and then reboot into the Win10 .

I got the new Win7x64ult installed & then as soon as that, I booted into the USB (via BIOS) which had the win10 (USB). I'm trying to do as "clean" an install as possible.

Still the bobbles circle around nothing...

I'm keeping posted

 

Windows Defender Offline

Then you didn't do a "clean install of WIN10 when if first came out."

FYI...

Windows 10 now won't boot, won't recover, won't reset

Windows 10 now won't boot, won't recover, won't reset, won't repair

What You Should Do If Windows 10 Failed to Start

What You Should Do If Windows 10 Failed to Start - Make Tech Easier

How can I fix my PC when Windows 10 won’t boot?

How can I fix my PC when Windows 10 won’t boot?

Good luck! That's all I got...

 

Hi Sara82 and welcome to Tenforums.

You can download the W10 ISO from MSTechBench.
Booting from that, you may be able to attempt a repair.

Advanced Startup Options - Boot to in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Startup Repair - Run in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Hope this helps!

 

Hi, simrick! Thanks for the links! I'm waiting on a USB drive to show up tomorrow, and then I'm going to give Easy Recovery Essentials a try first. If that doesn't get me anywhere, this will be my next step in the hopes that I can finish whatever install I might have interrupted and get my computer up and running again.

 

Good luck! *Smile

 

Easy Recovery Essentials to the rescue, thank goodness! Able to boot into Windows 7 again, and all of my stuff is still intact. Hooray! *Smile

 

Hi Sara, good to hear. Now, back up all your data, grab your keys for any paid software, and write down your W7 keycode. Then just download the W10 ISO from MSTechBench and do a clean install of W10, using your W7 keycode to activate. Much easier! Good luck!