Windows 8.1 Startup Problem

Morning All,

I'm having some problems getting a Lenovo desktop PC to start up, loaded with Windows 8.1. Belongs to my sister, her daughter knocked the tower over a couple times and now it wont start up. I have physically reseated all components to ensure everything is connected properly in case.

I first tried auto repair and it failed, then tried System Refresh and Reset options but they both eventually ask me to insert an installation disc, which of course does not exist.

After lots of searching and failed troubleshooting tips from the web I was able to get chkdsk to run and this is whats currently displayed in command prompt window:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]

X:\windows\system32>chkdsk C: /f
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is Windows8_OS.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...

245248 file records processed.

File verification completed.

3818 large file records processed.

0 bad file records processed.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...

A disk read error occurredc0000185
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 21721.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the bitmap for index $I30 for file 21721.


The cursor is just under the last line slowly flashing but nothing else seems to be happening right now and it has been like this for at least 4-5 hours, as of 940 am Monday April 11, 2016.

Any suggestions/recommendations will be appreciated, thank you

The hex code is "I/O Device Error." It sounds like an area of the disk was damaged by the trauma. If you cannot migrate the OS to another disk you may be better off to replace the HD and stick Linux on.

Large HD are cheap again these days.

I had a feeling the disk may have been damaged, was just hoping there might be an easier fix. Any chance I could do more damage if I force the pc to shut down right now, doesn't seem to want to exit out of command prompt on its own

How old is the drive? If it has a few years on it, this may be a good excuse to get a large increase in capacity for not that much of an outlay. Turn disaster into opportunity etc..

Although it is never fun to be forced into a corner. Depending on the programs your sister's family uses Linux Mint may seem the most Windows like. Or if the machine is a few years old you might try Puppy Linux.

But yeah, at this point I would not worry about the drive unless there is some super valuable data you absolutely have to get off it. I would just kill the power.

Its only about a year old, but there is nothing major on the drive I need to worry about. LOL, she just wants her computer to work again. Im going to try and move the data to another drive. I have to do the same with one of my PCs.

Please post how you make out.

Also you may be able to download Windows 8.1 install DVD ISO image here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

If the machine does not have a CD/DVD drive you can use one of those utilities that make a bootable USB from an ISO image.

It that drive were one of the old 80GB SATA I drives, I'd definitely want to just replace it with a new one.

But, if it were a top of the line, SATA III with over 500GB of storage capacity, I'd first slave it to another PC (desktop) and get all the data files off of it. Then run a program on it, like maybe the DOS Format routine, that would reformat it and block out any BAD sectors, before re-installing Windows on it.

So the real value of the drive, would dictate to me whether to spend the time to recover it, or turn it into a paper weight or door stop.

Good Luck!

If the OP wants to run fdisk /r on the drive he may want to buy or borrow a docking station and let it go for however many days it takes. Even USB 3 docks are around $20 these days if you can accept cheap shipments from online discount houses.

Edit: Just make sure the USB port is not allowed to power down to save electricity.