Windows 10: Windows 10 won't boot, and automatic repair won't work

I can't get to safe mode, without a win 10 boot disk. The one from the link you gave me would not convert to DVD. Do you have any other links for a win10 boot disk?

 

@fanob5, this 'missing sign-in' problem has been a recurring theme on this forum, with no obvious solution offered yet - until, that is, this new poster joined today just to share their fix...
No login prompt at login screen

I haven't been able to recreate the problem, so don't know if this fix works. Worth a try - let us know if it works for you (and if it does, give them a Rep *Smile )

 

@Bree - thanks, I quoted that link in #25.

Microsoft Windows 10 Anniversary Update ISO 1607 Download • Windows ISO
Download Windows 10 ISO (32-bit / 64-bit) Officially And Legally
Access Denied
Download Windows 10 Pro ISO File Without Product Key From Microsoft | Redmond Pie

 

@dalchina, I thought it worth posting a link to the last post in that thread as it wasn't there when you posted your link.

 

Well, I finally got the Windows 10 iso to burn to a DVD, and booted up. I got through to Advanced options, but the Startup Settings option wasn't there, so I still can't get into safe mode. I tried selecting Startup Repair, and after Diagnosing Your PC it said "Fixing Disk Errors, this may take over an hour." It didn't, and when booting normally I was back to square one. Booting with the disk again I tried Startup Repair, but got the message "Startup Repair couldn't repair your PC".

 

Time to cut your losses. Clean install.

 

Losses are too huge.*cry I think I'll buy a new computer, load what files I can out of this one and rebuild, hoping that somewhere along the way a solution to this problem will present itself. Meanwhile I'm going back to Windows 7. Thanks for sticking with me this far, Dalchina, and Bree and Snifferpro and NavyLCDR and Saltgrass! If I ever get it working I'l be sure to post the solution. Meanwhile, I'm going to have to learn how to backup my computer *sarc

 

Here's my screed on disk imaging:
Creating disk images lets you restore Windows and all your disks and partitions to a previous working state, quickly and probably without technical help.

You can recover from:
- a failed disk drive (restore to a new one)
- ransomware (which encrypts your disk)
- user error
- unrecoverable problems from failed updates to problem programs
- unbootable PC (hardware faults aside)

Images also act as a full backup- you can extract files too.

You can even use images to help you move more easily and quickly to a new PC.
Can be used with Laplink software to transfer your build automatically to another PC

Imaging can even help you sleep at night knowing you have a second chance.

Many here recommend Macrium Reflect (free) as a good robust solution and more reliable than some others. It’s
- more feature rich
- more flexible
- more reliable
than Windows Backup and Restore system images.

It's well supported with videos, help and a responsive forum.

There are other such programs, free/commercial, some with simpler interfaces, but Macrium R is one of the most robust and reliable.

How long does it take?
SSD+ USB3 - maybe 15 mins for the first system image, less thereafter
HDD + USB2 - maybe 40-50 mins
That’s with little personal data, few programs installed.
- of course, depends how much you have on C:
(You can and should image all your partitions and disks)

Once you've created your first image, keep it updated with e.g. differential imaging- which images just changes from the first image, more quickly, and creates a smaller image file.

You need a backup medium - say- twice as large as the total amount of data you are imaging to keep a reasonable number of differential images. This will vary dependent on the number of images you keep, so is only a rough practical guide.

Some comment that system restore isn't always reliable; if it works and solves the problem, great. But sometimes restores won't work or fail. And of course a restore point only covers a limited number of aspects of the system. That’s where disk imaging comes in.