Automatic repair not working - cannot get into Windows

I've just done a system restore in the attempt to fix a problem with the inbuilt microphone on my new HO Pavilion laptop. The sistem restore didn't complete properly, and automatic repair was attempted, which didn't manage to complete either. Now I'm going around in circles, and cannot get into Windows. I honestly don't know what to do. Restarting goes back into automatic repair and so on...

You have been a memember for just over a year so I have to ask you two questions. 1. You have read our comments to others about making backup images, right? 2. Do you have a backup image you can use? You may or may not have read the many comments about System Restore being almost worthless. It has let more users down than it has helped. If you don't have an image to restore with, you may have to bite the bullet and do a clean install.

Can you create a Windows installation drive?

If so, you can try to do a startup repair.

No guarantees that it'd help, but I'd try it before doing a clean install.

Florio said:

I've just done a system restore in the attempt to fix a problem with the inbuilt microphone on my new HO Pavilion laptop. The sistem restore didn't complete properly, and automatic repair was attempted, which didn't manage to complete either. Now I'm going around in circles, and cannot get into Windows. I honestly don't know what to do. Restarting goes back into automatic repair and so on...

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Someone who runs a HP may provide further detail or you can google on how to go to the BIOS, maybe F2 ? Should be a method to enter Recovery Operations. Try and let us know the result.

On the microphone, did you check your driver before trying the System Restore ? Also, make sure the new HP has all Windows and HP updates.

Windows ability to perform an automatic repair may be able to be turned off.

It will likely display an error code.

Sometimes the error code is useful in the troubleshooting.

Other times you'll make little progress with the code.

It's a new computer.

HP may have a link to perform a factory install.

This method deletes files so files would need to be backed up before the restore to factory default.

The factory default reinstalls Windows with drivers and applications.

If the factory restoration is not available you can perform your own reinstallation of the operating system.

One method will save files and the other method will delete files.

The first method is a custom install.

The second method is a clean install.

Troubleshooting can take significant time and can be attempted.





Enter the HP serial number, SKU, model, etc into the HP website > select drivers > enter a URL or link into this thread

Florio said:

'I've just done a system restore in the attempt to fix a problem with the inbuilt microphone

Click to expand...

Did you run through all the troubleshooting steps suggested in your other post? May I ask WHY you chose to do a system restore? As Winuser said system restore is pretty much worthless. When it comes to troubleshooting SR can cause trouble rather than fix it. You should be able to get into system recovery by holding down shift key while turning on computer. From there you can reset the PC.

The log file created by Startup Repair can help to find out the cause of the boot problem. In this video, i will explain how to use the Startup Repair tool to troubleshoot boot problems in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

As a last change rescue attempt you can try this. If you have another Windows computer that works, A USB HDD and two USB flash drives, you can try this. Download and install Macrium Reflect to the working computer. Make a Windows 11 USB install drive with one of the flash drives. Make a bootable Macrium rescue drive with the other flash drive. Boot the computer that won't boot with the Macrium Rescue drive. Make an image of drive C:\ partition to the USB HDD. Restart the broken computer with the Windows 11 install flash drive and do a clean install. After you have the computer working, restart the computer with the Macrium rescue flash drive and restore the image you made of the C:\ drive partition over the new C:\ drive partition.

@Florio , Are you going to respond or are you going to post one time and let us guess what your going to do?

Thank you all for your replies; sorry I haven't answered until now but I'm obviously without my laptop, and find it more difficult to access Internet from my phone. I'll try some of your suggestions tomorrow afternoon, and let you know how I get on. Up until now, I have frequently used system restore without problems, and it has always fixed whatever the problem was anyway, thanks again for your help.

Florio said:

Thank you all for your replies; sorry I haven't answered until now but I'm obviously without my laptop, and find it more difficult to access Internet from my phone. I'll try some of your suggestions tomorrow afternoon, and let you know how I get on. Up until now, I have frequently used system restore without problems, and it has always fixed whatever the problem was anyway, thanks again for your help.

Click to expand...

Yes, system restore is very useful and can often fix issues, though there are occasions when it doesn't help.

You could try a refresh

Just to give you an update...
I tried just about everything. It was difficult to get into safe mode, and I had first had to get hold of my bitlocker recovery key, which wasn't easy using only my phone. But nothing seemed to be working, and I was just going around in circles. Just about the only option I hadn't tried short of a complete reset was system restore, but this actually did the trick. Ironic really, since the problem orginated after a system restore. In any case, I'm sure all of this was due to an incompatible driver in the latest Windows Update...

May I suggest that you use this as a learning experience and develop some kind of regular image backup solution to protect yourself in the future. There are a number of free apps to accomplish this. Restoring an image takes less than 15 minutes and can save your a$$ in such a situation.

Yes, you're right glasskuter!! I do have all my documents backed up, but don't have an image backup of the OS. Which software do you suggest I use?

Many on this site, including myself, use Macrium but there are other options.

The majority of users here use Macrium Reflect which still offers a free version but has announced that the free version will be discontinued in 2023. This version should continue to work even then though it won't be updated any more. Reflect Free Edition

There are others.

Thanks very much. Have just downloaded the free version...

Florio, be sure to create your Macrium Recovery Media. Even if you make a backup image, it can't be restored without recovery Media. FYI recovery media can be used to backup the system as well. Afterwards, Test that you are able to boot from the recovery media.
Maybe this will get you familiar with the Macrium application

Thanks once again, glasskuter. Much appreciated.

Florio

There was a recent sale for Macrium software.

There is a current free xmas free special for Aoemi.

EaseUS may have another sale too.

Our website administrator often opens threads with the most notable promotions.