Device is trapped in repeated startup sequence
Device is trapped in repeated startup sequence
I aimed to reinstall/clean the system for a clean slate. What occurred: the program warned of an issue and froze, showing the logo before crashing into a black screen. It appears the operating system is damaged or corrupted. I didn’t want to rely on a backup drive to reformat it, nor did I want to risk losing the license. Is there a method to recover the license and restore it without a complete wipe?
That’s great! Reinstalling Windows isn’t exactly the same as formatting—it’s more like replacing the whole system. Formatting clears everything, while reinstalling sets up a fresh version. If you’re unsure, you might want to double-check your steps before proceeding.
I looked for a Windows 10 ISO and prepared a bootable USB drive carefully to preserve the license.
Install Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to generate the USB drive. During setup, if prompted to enter or skip a CD key and then restart, stop the process immediately. You'll recognize the key was removed from UEFI because the tool won't request it again.
It's straightforward. Start with the USB, go through the setup, then click install Windows. You might be prompted for a key—just restart and you won’t lose anything. If it jumps over key entry and starts partitioning, your key was detected and you’re good to go. For laptops that come preinstalled with 8/8.1 or 10, the key is stored in UEFI. I suggest avoiding downloaded ISO files because they can be altered to bypass key input. Make sure to build the installer with the Media Creation Tool for maximum safety.