NOTHING lets me boot into Windows, and it can't be "fixed"?
NOTHING lets me boot into Windows, and it can't be "fixed"?
Hello again, fellow enthusiasts! Short and not sweet problem. My darling PC, that I built in 2015, just randomly BSODed when I turned it on today. No changes in anything to software or hardware. Just tried turning it on today, and NOPE. Error message on the BSOD is "BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO" and a google search tells me that's a registry error. Automatic repair failed. Tried startup recovery. Tried system restore. Tried startup repair WITH a USB with a fresh WIndows 10 Media thumb drive. All failed. Found a reddit thread about this that says: Download Hirens , it creates a bootable USB with a number of tools on it, including ones to fix startup issues. After you create the USB boot your PC from it. You may need to go into the BIOS and point it to the USB as the boot drive. Once Hirens has started you'll see a Windows desktop with a "Utilities" folder. Open it, look for the "Windows Recovery" folder. In it is Lazesoft's Windows Recovery. Run it and select the "One Click" option. That has fixed a number of boot issues for me when helping friends and family. I've used it maybe a dozen times, it hasn't failed me yet." I don't know if this is a viable option, or if there's another way, but I'd very much like to have a functioning computer again. Windows 10, Intel 4790k (no OC anymore), 32GB Gskill DDR3 RAM, Samsung 850 EVO SSD, ASUS Z97-E MOBO... I'll be haunting this thread because I can't do my usual things right now because of obvious reasons. ANY help would be greatly appreciated!
Is this a Windows update for a nine-year-old device? Yes, it’s common for things to happen suddenly. Usually, people reinstall Windows every three years to keep it running smoothly. You might want to boot into Linux, copy the important stuff, and do a fresh install. Alternatively, get a new SSD, clean install it with all storage removed, then connect everything after the install and start over by copying your files. But if this error appears, it often means the recovery tool stopped working and is a serious problem—something that can be fixed but usually requires creating a new setup. It’s time to start fresh now; don’t reset the system again!
It's a feasible choice to try Hirenboot. Once you resolve the problems, creating a backup is a good idea before reinstalling Windows and loading the backup. Good luck!
You're asking about switching to a new SSD while keeping your current setup. This is my C drive, and I want to keep the most important files there. If I reinstall Windows, how much data would I lose? I assume everything except Windows files should remain safe.
Offline save files and user profiles on the C: drive will disappear after certain programs are installed. You can try repairing Windows using Hirenboot, create backups, or switch to a live Linux USB drive and transfer vital data to the D: drive, though some software might be missing. Some applications offer export or backup options. Or you risk further damage by just attempting a Hirenboot fix and keeping on using it.
I hope you're okay with this setup. It seems like you're trying to load Hiren onto a USB drive, but the system isn't recognizing it. Double-check your USB connection and ensure the ISO is properly inserted. Also, verify that Hiren is correctly installed on the USB stick before attempting to boot.