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Windows 8.1 - unable to repair, refresh or roll back

Hi All

I have a Windows 8.1 system that's being awkward.

It won't boot - it goes into the 'Preparing Automatic Repair' process but with no joy.

Automatic Repair doesn't fix it

Restarting doesn't fix it - just tries to repair again

Startup Repair doesn't make any difference

Drive checked with chkdsk /r - ok

Attempted to roll back from the troubleshooting screen but none of the restore points will work - fail to complete with an unspecified error.

Tried to Refresh the installation, again failed to complete due to unspecified error.

Tried:

bootrec /fixMBR
bootrec /Fixboot
bootrec /rebuildBCD

to no avail.

All files appear to be intact when viewed via command prompt.

Attempting to start in safe mode - no difference, just goes back into repair/troubleshooting

I'm now at a loss - any good ideas? I'd rather not do a full wipe/reinstall if it can be helped as there's stuff on there the original user would find difficult to replicate.

Thanks.

SOLUTION

FOX

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FOX

Another good reference with the dism command

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-update/sfcscannow-cannot-fix-corrupted-files-windows-8/144e79db-69de-4337-b6c3-33e7b1545ce2

nobus

maybe Darts can help here, see the tools : https://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj713326.aspx

can it be your disk is gone bad?

test it with the proper disk diagnostic - you find them on the ubcd :
Hardware diagnostic CD UBCD
---------------------------------------------------
go to the download page, scroll down to the mirror section, and click on a mirror to start the download
Download the UBCD and make the cd <<==on a WORKING PC, and boot the problem PC from it
Here 2 links, one to the general site, and a direct link to the download

since the downloaded file is an ISO file, eg ubcd527.iso - so you need to use an ISO burning tool
if you don't have that software, install cdburnerXP : http://cdburnerxp.se/

If you want also the Ram tested - run memtest86+ at least 1 full pass, - you should have NO errors!

For disk Diagnostics run the disk diag for your disk brand (eg seagate diag for seagate drive) from the HDD section - long or advanced diag ! (runs at least for30 minutes)

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ ultimate boot cd
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html download page

** you can make a bootable cd - or bootable usb stick

for completeness -here's how i handle disk problems : https://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Hard_Drives/A_3000-The-bad-hard-disk-problem.html

AloeChap

ASKER

Hi All

SFC doesn't really want to play - says can't perform the operation.

DISM doesn't seem to want to run either - could it be because I'm running it from within the troubleshooting Command environment rather than a booted system I wonder?