Win 8.1 will not boot past chkdsk.

[anvar]

Set Win 8.1 to run chkdsk /f / r trying to fix an windows update problem.
At next reboot chkdsk runs to 13% and no further.
Forced reboot, get 'click any key in one second to bypass chkdsk' this does not work, after several forced reboots get into option to boot into 'Safe Mode'....same result.
Try the 'Restore' option ....reports no restore points....which I know to be incorrect.
Getting to the 'reach for a big hammer' stage.

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Would appreciate any pointers.
JohM

 

[Mark Phelps]

At next reboot chkdsk runs to 13% and no further.

Were you getting filesystem corruption problems? OR, is CHDSK being automatically run at startup?

These indicate a failing hard drive -- with sector problems. Modern drives automatically set aside some sectors in reserve to handle filesystem corruption. But when those are all used up, CHKDSK won't be able to map to new sectors -- exhibiting the problems you are seeing.

Your focus at this point should be on data recovery -- and you'll need to be able to connect the drive to another working PC to do that.

 

[anvar]

At next reboot chkdsk runs to 13% and no further.

Were you getting filesystem corruption problems? OR, is CHDSK being automatically run at startup?

No...as I said in line one, I was trying to fix the perennial Windows Update problem which the Win update troubleshooter seems unable to fix.
After I posted the question (some 8hrs) chkdsk finished its scan/repair and I was able to boot as normal, albeit extremely slowly.