ASUS Desktop Will Not Boot, Stuck in Repair Loop

Hi Richard,

Sounds like you've had a nasty corruption on that machine. One thing I would recommend is running the DISM command with the /restorehealth switch to try and repair the Windows install. You obviously won't have online access so will need to point it to the Windows 10 installation DVD you've created. I explain how to do that in the following article:

• Repair Windows 10 issues safely using the Built-In DISM Command

The specific section you want will be "Using DISM without Online Access" in my above article. There are quick links available at the top of the article to find the section quickly.

BUT - Before you try that, I'd strongly recommend creating a full backup image using something like Macrium Reflect Free in case things go belly up.

You can create rescue media with Macrium using another computer and then boot with it to do the backup on the problem computer, or remove the drive from the problem computer, hook it up via a USB connector to another computer that has Macrium installed and create the backup there.

One thing that confuses me about your question though. You said:

I created a Windows 10 dvd from the Windows media creation tool and burned it to a dvd. I tried to boot to it but it failed.  

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "it failed"?  Did it fail to boot or did you get an error message when you tried booting with it?

Hope that's helpful.

Regards, Andrew

I had endless loop in the beginning of Windows 10 and it was a common issue in the earlier times.
The reason was, that ther was an issue with the master boot record. Also one of the options windows may try to self repair.
See this article according the mater boot record (MBR) (method 1).
https://www.diskpart.com/windows-10/fix-mbr-windows-10-0708.html

The windows media creation tool you can use to create a installation disc. You just have to setup your BIOS in the way, that the system boots from CD / DVD first or you can press (I guess F6 - see your BIOS handbook) to shot the Boot-Options during Boot. There you can select to boot from harddisc or CD/DVD.

well - it can be caused by hard- or software.
hardware  : it is best to post the PC or mobo model + disk model ( see device manager) - so we can suggest diagnostics
software : i've seen bios changes from AHCI to ide and VV - so check that
and  - if the above does not help  - disconnect all unused devices  + external ones ( cd drive, extra disk drives, printers etc...

I used the Windows Media Creation Tool on a USB.
I went into the UEFI BIOS and Selected the USB to boot from, which it did, I selected for it to repair this computer and the all the same issues occurred as when I was not booting from the USB happened.
It was caught in a "Preparing Automatic Repair" then Diagnosing your PC. Each select from the advanced options failed.
I then tried to install a fresh copy of Windows 10. I had already removed the hard drive and backed up the data to an external hard drive.
I then tried to install with saving all the data and it failed.
I then tried to install a fresh copy, I then found out that the computer originally had Windows 8 on it and must have been upgraded by someone. And there is no Windows 8 or 10 license sticker with the key code. I tried to do an installation without the license and a the next window showed the partition tables. The largest one, I selected as it said primary and it returned the following:
Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk isof the GPT Partition style.
Thoughts?

Repairing Boot Loader for GPT:
https://bobcares.com/blog/repair-efi-gpt-bootloader/

May be you should use your old image now, just due to the license.

I found 5 partitions and removed them all. Then created a new primary partition. Then formatted it. Windows 10 was then reinstalled without a hitch. Windows Updates applied. Data backed up previously was restored. Job done! Thanks to all who contributed!

>>   Job done!    <<  not quite - you should install all the drivers for your PC too