Trying to Repair a Broken Windows File from Another Windows Version
Trying to Repair a Broken Windows File from Another Windows Version
Hi, I want to know if there is anyway I can save my original windows install without having to reinstall windows, after something happened and the drive is no longer recognised as a bootable drive. Specs: Mobo: ASUS TUF Gaming x570 plus CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700x GPU: ASUS Dual GTX 1060 6gb (Now Dead) Test GPU: GTX 750ti RAM: Corsair DDR4 3600 C18 2x8GB ( CMW16GX4M2D3600C18) Storage: Boot drive - Sabrent Rocket NVME SSD 1tb Temp boot drive - Samsung 840 EVO 256gb SATA SSD Other - Sabrent Rocket 4.0 NVME SSD 1tb - WD Blue 4TB 5400RPM HDD PSU: Corsair RM850 What Happened: I was preparing to remove my CPU to sell it, and during the process my windows boot stopped registering to the BIOS. Step by Step: 1) I uninstalled ASUS AISuite 3, because I had used to it to auto OC my Ryzen 7 3700x 2) Rebooted my PC, a necessary step in uninstalling ASUS AISuite 3 3) Upon my computer restarting, I entered the BIOS instead of letting it reach Windows. 4) I reset the BIOS to its optimized defaults and rebboted again. (I think this is what broke everything, I should've completed the uninstall of AISuite first) 5) Upon restarting, the BIOS and VGA LEDs lit up on my motherboard. (At no point before this had I phyiscally touched any of the components of the PC) 6) Troubleshooting including clearing CMOS, reseating RAM, and swapping GPUS, using a generic windows repair USB. I discovered my GPU was dead, and my windows install was no longer recognised. The repair USB couldn't even detect the damaged windows install, like my mobo. I was then able to install windows on a different SSD, which I used to check my orignal boot drive. I only had a brief check, but my personal files on the drive seemed intact. So I want to know if there is anyway I can save my original windows install, seeing as I can access its files from my 2nd install. I understand there is the option to just reformat the drive and start over, but I'd like to avoid that if possible due to the complications it would cause with messed up program shortcuts etc when I recover the data. Failing saving the install, is there a way to recover the windows key? This disaster has already cost me a £120 GPU, I'd rather not waste money on a windows key too. My PC is currently not in a usable state, as I removed the CPU and sold it after I was sure no other components were dead. But I'm in the queue for my new one, so I'm hoping it will arrive by the end of November and I will be able to test any suggestions then. Also, any suggestions on why my GPU died and if it is at all recoverable would be nice but not the main point of this discussion. I believe AISuite could change the settings on the GPU, but I had never used that functionality. However, I may have changed them using ASUS Tweak, I don't remember as I had the GPU for quite a while. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Uninstalling AiSuite won't resolve the issue of an unbootable drive. Consider switching to UEFI or legacy settings and trying to boot. The problem likely involves your BIOS configuration.
I plan to adjust some BIOS configurations as you recommend, though I haven’t modified any during initial setup—I only connected a previous SSD with Windows already installed. That’s why I’m wondering if reverting the motherboard to its default state would impact settings I never altered. Still, I’m not very familiar with BIOS or Windows, so I’ll check it out.