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- Stuck in 'Preparing Automatic Repair' loop

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05-07-2016 09:47 AM
05-07-2016 09:52 AM
Hi,
Shutdown the notebook.
Tap away at the esc key as you start the notebook to enter the Start-up Menu. Select the Diagnostic Menu option ( f2 ) and run the tests on the Hard Drive and Memory.
Post back with the results, including any error codes that may be generated.
Regards,
DP-K
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Windows Insider MVP
05-07-2016 10:55 AM
Hi,
You're welcome
If you have a current back-up of your personal files etc ( or have nothing you need to keep ) and as long as the previous installation of Windows 10 had activated Ok after the upgrade from 8.1, you can just perform a clean installation as detailed in the guide on the following link. Note: At the activation screen, select 'I don't have a Product key' - Windows will activate automatically once the installation has completed.
http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/
Regards,
DP-K
****Click the White thumb to say thanks****
****Please mark Accept As Solution if it solves your problem****
****I don't work for HP****
Windows Insider MVP
05-07-2016 11:05 AM
I read the article. But this still requires me to enter the system - as in, reach the desktop. But I can't get past the frowny-faced screen!
Also, is there no way around this? I have certain important files that aren't backed up and I don't want to lose those.
05-07-2016 11:37 AM
Hi,
Regarding your existing data, the safest option may be to remove the HDD, place it in an external enclosure, connect this to another PC and copy all the files you require.
Regarding reinstalling Windows, you would only need to reach the Desktop if trying a repair install.
For a clean installation, you don't need to be able to load Windows - all you need to do is create the relevant Windows 10 installation media on another PC, insert this and Shutdown the notebook.
Tap away at the esc key as soon as you press the power button to enter the Start-up Menu and then select the Boot Options Menu ( f9 ).
Use the arrow keys to highlight the CDROM (uefi) or USB Flash Drive ( uefi ) option, depending on which typre of media you created, then hit enter - if prompted to 'Press any key to continue....' - do so.
As a hardware profile of your machine will have been saved by the activation servers when you originally upgraded, select 'I don't have a Product key' at the activation screen.
DP-K
****Click the White thumb to say thanks****
****Please mark Accept As Solution if it solves your problem****
****I don't work for HP****
Windows Insider MVP
