Power failure during update, OS won't load.

Clashrip

New Member
Messages
3
This happened last night.

I switched the computer back on. It went into diagnosis/automatic repair modes, checked for disk errors & solutions saying it could take up to an hour. A minute late the machine reboots & offers a set of options.

'Restart' or 'Advanced options'.

'Restart' simply returns me to this screen.

'Advanced options' offers

'Continue' .. 'Exit and continue to Windows 8.1'

'Troubleshoot' .. Refresh or reset your PC, or use advanced tools

'Turn off your PC'

'Continue' returns me around again to 'Troubleshoot'

'Troubleshoot'' offers

'Refresh'.. 'If your PC isn't running well, you can refresh it without losing your files'

'Rest your PC' .. 'If you want to remove all over your files, you can reset your PC completely'

'Advanced Options' under which there is

'System Restore' .. 'Use a restore point recorded on your PC to restore Windows'

'System Image Recovery' .. 'Recover Windows using a specific image file

'Start up repair' .. 'Fix problems that keep Windows from loading'

'Command Prompt' .. 'Use the Command prompt for advanced troubleshooting'

and 'Start-Up Settings' .. Change Windows start up behaviour.

Attempting to load in Safe Mode fails & returns me to 'Troubleshoot'.

I don't have a system restore point or a system image or a recent back up otherwise. I didn't set up an administrator account. To top it off I also don't have the original Windows install disk, it didn't come in the box with the computer.



I'm looking to try to pull my data off the harddrive & then have a go at getting Windows working again. Can anyone offer some advice on what to do next? Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Ok, I've got the data off at least (phew, thanks again). Now I'm trying to "refresh" the computer. It seems I need two things for that. An administrator account & a recovery disk. If I boot up off the hard drive, go into troubleshooting, try to set up an administrator account in command prompt - it asks me to log into an administrator account first. As for the recovery disk, I've read I can use any other Windows 8.1 computer to create one. There isn't one close by. Is there a way to simply download the files (I've got a Linux laptop, that's what I've been using in the interim. There are some comment threads which say the usb recovery disk files can be transferred to dvd without a problem, so I figure if I just have the files I should be able to go from there. Is it just the Windows 8.1 ISO?)?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
You can create a Windows 8.1 installation DVD or USB drive from here. Make sure to match the one on your computer. If you have Windows 8.1 Core (Home), then download Core. Same with Pro. If you have 64 bit then download 64 bit. Same if it's 32 bit.

Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help

Now, there might be a better way to do this but all I can think of to create an administrative account is to follow these directions https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=01yAYz2NAEg (You don't have to change your password we just need to bring up the built in administrative account). Once you get to the built in Administrative account, create a new administrative account through the command prompt. Then try to refresh. Don't forget to reverse what you did in the video once you made the new account.

Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Ok, I've got the data off at least (phew, thanks again). Now I'm trying to "refresh" the computer. It seems I need two things for that. An administrator account & a recovery disk. If I boot up off the hard drive, go into troubleshooting, try to set up an administrator account in command prompt - it asks me to log into an administrator account first. As for the recovery disk, I've read I can use any other Windows 8.1 computer to create one. There isn't one close by. Is there a way to simply download the files (I've got a Linux laptop, that's what I've been using in the interim. There are some comment threads which say the usb recovery disk files can be transferred to dvd without a problem, so I figure if I just have the files I should be able to go from there. Is it just the Windows 8.1 ISO?)?

Did you attempt to log in as your normal user account? That should be an Administrator Account.

Try it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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