Windows 10 fails to start, recovery options unavailable, inability to adjust boot order.
Windows 10 fails to start, recovery options unavailable, inability to adjust boot order.
I was playing Minecraft yesterday while switching between various fabric versions for different worlds. Suddenly the game wouldn’t launch and I encountered the error code "01". Previously, restarting my PC often resolved the issue, but this time I got stuck on the Windows logo screen for about ten minutes after rebooting. After turning it off, the same problem persisted. Once more, I was directed to a blue screen indicating error 0xc0000001. Attempts to retry from other pages only led back to the Windows loading screen or recovery options. The only successful path was using UEFI settings to access BIOS, which worked for me this time.
Now, recalling what I found online, I realized I still had Windows installed on my old SSD, which I installed five months ago after my PC failed. When I booted from that drive in BIOS, it started up properly and presented me with my previous desktop. After reading about booting from a USB to reach the Recovery Environment, I thought it might help. I tried it on the old drive, and it functioned! However, even though it worked, restarting after selecting options (except UEFI Firmware) would bring me back to the Windows loading screen again.
In BIOS, I adjusted the priority boot settings to point to my old SSD, but each restart still kept the M.2 drive as the top priority. When I manually booted from the old SSD, it prompted a password prompt with my name and email, along with some advanced options like Repair or Command Prompt. I assumed this was my Microsoft account password, but it didn’t work. I wasn’t very familiar with computing, so I’m unsure what to do next—unless I can figure out that password, I might be stuck. I’d appreciate any guidance you can provide.
Mysterious password? It might mean the drive is encrypted with Bitlocker and needs a recovery key. Check the images at the provided link for guidance. Could the file be infected with malware, stealing any login details? If yes, update your passwords right away.
Start by saving your crucial information before any issue arises (such as a hard drive failure or Windows reinstall). A Linux USB installation media works just as well as linking your drive to another computer. You can skip this phase if you already maintain backups, which everyone should do... If fixing Windows isn't possible, the safest option is a full reset and fresh installation. Good luck!
Today so far, my PC has started using the old SSD automatically, which suggests the swap yesterday was successful. The main issue is that I can't locate the password needed for advanced recovery tools like Repair, Command Prompt, or Restore (it isn't my Microsoft account).