Windows 8.1 Help Stuck on Gray Screen before login page

[jerico9]

Hi peeps.

I need some help, I've read a lot of posts and not found any for my issue. Most are stuck with flickering cursor.

I don't know exactly what happened so I'll go through what I done leading up to the issue.
I processed a Windows update, I used spybot to remove some spyware which it didn't work so I selected run - msconfig - boot options - safe mode. So I could run a new scan on spybot.
So I rebooted and bios page loaded then the blue Windows 8 icon with the round dotted circle, the screen then goes black for 5 seconds. All that loads up is a grey screen with narrator options in the bottom left corner and the restart/shutdown option in the bottom right corner. I've tried all kinds and don't know what to do.

Its Windows 8.1 professional. I5 touchscreen all in one. I've had it 2 months.
I don't have the disc to hand, the person I purchased it from does have it still.

Thanks in advance

 

[jerico9]

Anyone help with this? How can i do a recovery.

 

[alphanumeric]

If its a factory OEM install, (hard to tell as you haven't filled in your system info) there should be an F key you can press during boot up to do the factory reset. Have you made the recovery media?

 

[jerico9]

I've not made a recovery back up. Its Windows 8.1 and from what I've read there's no 'F' key for system restore as its now built in the OS. Which is ridiculous. The only F key is F7 for boot options. I've tried to install another copy of Windows 8.1 on a USB but it's not reading it and coming up with an error saying couldn't read media. I know I've done it right because it works on my old laptop.

 

[alphanumeric]

Some do some don't. On my ASUS with the factory OEM 8.0 install F9 would get you to the menu to do the Windows Reset with the OEM image on the hard drive. Now that that has been replaced with a clean install of 8.1, If I want to do a Refresh or Reset I have to supply my install media/USB thumb drive. There is a reason why you should create recovery media?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html?

 

[jerico9]

Thanks I'll have a crack at it. I'm not a noob at this type of thing but its got me stumped.

Appreciate your time and help.
I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[alphanumeric]

The tricky part is getting a clean unmodified ISO. I have an MSDN account so it's no big deal for me these days. In the past though it was a PITA finding one.
IMHO, creating it with diskpart is the way to go. No guessing at what settings to use etc. It's a bit cumbersome but it should work on just about any PC once done. In the past I used The Windows 7 DVD download tool. It formats in NTFS though and that can be an issue when trying to install in UEFI mode. Some PC's will only install in UEFI mode if the thumb drive is formatted in FAT.

 

[alphanumeric]

One trick you can try is to boot up and then quickly shut down by holding down the power button for 4 seconds. Apparently if you do this say 3 times in a row you get a startup repair option. Haven't tried it myself. In your case I don't see it making things any worse than they are. Pressing F8 during boot up may get you that option too.