Windows 10: Stuck in Limbo between 8.1 and 10!

I had something go wrong with my 10 (probably my error), so after many attempts, I thought going back to 8.1 would at least get me running.
I am stuck in Limbo. My 8.1 files are not starting either......freezes up either on sign in or while starting up
I have 8.1 on Disc, tried repair, with no luck, cannot get into safe mode (just freezes)
I am thinking my next move is the more advanced reset with the disc (essentially a clean install), but then I lose all my junk......
I cannot see going and getting a 10 disc, when the download is free...is it possible to download the 10 files on disc from 1 PC, then use it to restore mine? my wife's pc is doing well......

:)

 

Crashed on Windows 10 now stuck in limbo between 10 and 7.

Hi Harry,

Thank you for being a part of Windows 10.

I appreciate you for providing details about the issue and your effort towards resolving it.

If you have a recovery bootable media of your previous Operating System then, I suggest you to roll back to your pervious Operating System.

Once you have rolled back to your pervious Operating System. You can download and upgrade the Windows 10 through ISO.

Reference: Refer to the following Microsoft article to
download Windows 10 Insider Preview ISO and check if it helps.

Download Windows 10

Reference: Refer to the following Microsoft article on Windows 10 FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions: Windows 10

Kindly let us know if you need any further assistance with Windows. We are glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

Crashed on Windows 10 now stuck in limbo between 10 and 7.

I was working just fine with windows 10 this afternoon when I suddenly got the blue screen of death again first time since update though.

The error code was: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

So I thought ok I'll check it out online and see what the solution might be. But then the computer wouldn't boot up, it would start and get stuck at a black screen past the bios page.

So I tried a few more times to only get the same problem only this time, I got prompted with a windows repair option. So I tired that instead which didn't work at all, because it was a recent update/install I figured there would be a system restore point
maybe instead. No such luck. So I thought I'll just go back to good ol' windows 7 which was fine before this update. Now I'm stuck with a winload.exe error and nothing is working here either. I've tried system repairs with and without the discs to no avail.
Beginning to think that a fresh install would be the only option though. Any suggestions would be fab tho..

 

Windows 10

 

You can boot from a linux live cd to remove your files, before going down the clean install rout.

 

He can also make a Macrium Reflect Rescue disk from the operating computer - boot with that on the broken computer and make an image of his current hard drive which will give him access to his data files after a clean install.

 

Before doing a clean installation you must have done an upgrade first from either 7 or 8 to 10 . You can NOT do a clean installation until you upgrade the computer first . Afterwards you can do what ever you like . In your case you say there 2 computer your and the wife, each needs to be upgrade to 10 and if they are the same windows versions , like windows 10 pro 64 bit on both then you can create a single windows 10 pro 64 disk and use it on both computers ... But don't forget the upgrade must first be done on both .

 

My question still remains, is it possible to get Windows 10 on floppy disks?

 

What is this macrium thingy, and how do I get it, and use it to retrieve the files on the bad drive?

 

Humor?

I'll play it straight:

The installer is over 3GB in size. That'd be more than 2000 1.44 MB 3.5 inch floppies.

 

Depending on your skill level ...

I'd say you should try:

Getting your files if possible.
Fresh 8.1 install/reset
Then run the update from the media creation tool, choosing to upgrade the PC.

But besides all that, you really haven't gone into what occurred on your attempts to upgrade, perhaps there is something connected that is causing the issue, etc.

 

Macrium Reflect Free


The plan would be: create a bootable Macrium Reflect drive. (CD, DVD or USB thumb drive. I'd recommend the thumb drive, but the others would work.)

You'd also need an external drive (or a separate internal hard disk) large enough to save the image of the messed-up C: drive to.

You boot from the Macrium rescue disk, and image the C: drive, errors and all.

I use Acronis True Image (not free) myself, so I'm not familar with Macrium. True Image allows a drive image to be mounted as a virtual drive, which would allow you to copy off all of your files at your leisure. I suppose that Macrium does the same; it's a pretty basic function. (You won't be able to copy out any programs that needed installation. Not all programs require installation, but most do, and make a lot of entries in the Windows Registry that would be difficult to move to a new copy of Windows by hand.)

I know that's not a detailed explanation, but I hope that it's an adequate start. The main point is to secure a copy of your files before you do anything that would delete them (like clean installing an operating system on you hard drive). To do that, you need to run the PC from something other than your broken operating system.

Once you have a backup drive, you can use it in the future to keep backups of your critical files, like Microsoft should have clearly suggested that you do before proceeding with anything as major as an operating system upgrade. (That criticism is directed at MS, not you.)

 

All right...different approach from my angle.....I am loading 8.1 onto a "spare" drive.(disconnected all other drives....). When that is up and running, I intend to upgrade it to 10, then transfer my files, as best I can.......THEN, when that is all done...my thought is to transfer everything back onto the SSD. Sound plausible? I just wont transfer windows system files....

 

If I were you I would install windows 8.1 on your spare drive make sure your windows 8.1 is activated . Then upgrade to 10 afterwards again make sure that the 10 is activated . Then load you data / files what ever you need on your spare drive from the SSD . Then afterwards create a Windows 10 disk . Once you have removed everything off the SSD drive formated so its a clean drive . Then remove your spare drive and have just the SSD drive and use your windows 10 disk and do a clean installation . Once that is good transfer back your data or files or what ever you want to do with the spare drive . Then create a back up image of your SSD drive onto your spare drive by using the Macrium Reflect back up image software .... Does it sound confusing ? It really isn't ... Thats what I would do if I were you

 

I would do a combination of both olblindman and sn00ker 's suggestions.

Remove SSD. Install 8.1 onto the spare drive, with only it installed. Check for activation. Upgrade that to Windows 10. Check for activation. Install Macrium Reflect Free. Attach SSD and make an image file from the SSD to the spare drive.

Disconnect the spare drive and make the SSD the primary drive. Do clean install of Windows 10 onto SSD, check for activation. Install Macrium Reflect Free. Attach spare drive and mount the previously saved image to retrieve the files you want.

That way if something goes wrong you have two backups - the OS still installed on the spare drive and the image file with the data on it as well.

or if you have an operating computer you can install Macrium Reflect on it, create a rescue disk/USB. Boot the broken computer with the Macrium Rescue Disk/USB and image the SSD to the spare drive, then remove the spare drive and install Win 8.1 to the SSD then upgrade to Windows 10.