Your disk and boot information appears to be correct.
Your disk and boot information appears to be correct.
You're investigating why Windows 8.1 won't boot despite fixing bootrec and using a fresh installation. It sounds like the system is reporting no existing Windows installations, which is typical after a clean reset or factory reset. The fact that you've already used tools like Startup Repair and a USB install suggests the core files might be intact, but something else could be preventing the OS from loading. When you reinstall Windows, it usually replaces both the bootloader and partitions, but if files remain corrupted or misconfigured, it could still cause boot issues. Consider checking for deeper system errors or hardware faults during the installation process.
Choose to erase the bootloader and clear every file on the disk. Format the drive or remove all listed partitions from the "Where to install Windows" window. Pick an empty area and continue the setup.
When the drive shows a damaged boot sector, the installation will present choices and usually prepares the drive for the process. Based on past experiences with similar problems, if you're comfortable using the CMD window—provided the install disk is connected and you run it as Administrator—you can install directly there. The main concern is that this method is destructive, meaning any personal data will be lost. If backups exist, just reformat the drive and try again.
Apologies if this seems unclear. When you use your USB ISO with Windows for a fresh install, it will likely prompt where to place Windows and offer a partition formatting choice during setup. It won’t simply select the local drive—it will ask specifically about partition management. You’ll see options like “format partition” rather than just “drive.”
I've already run a full Windows reset, including data wiping, but the boot problems remain. It seems there might be another issue with the partitions or something that an ISO installation would fix, which the reset didn't address. Perhaps it's a hardware problem, though I'm not sure.
You seem to have adjusted the layout from the Windows setup, but have you actually installed Windows yet? Based on what you shared, it’s unclear whether a clean install would resolve the problem or if you previously had a fresh OS and are still facing boot issues. Generally, if the installation completed without errors, you’d be directed to the setup screen for network details, time zone, and preferences. If not, the system likely didn’t install correctly and you’ll need to go through the process again.
I wasn't sure if a fresh installation would fully resolve partition or bootloader problems. I relied on Lenovo's One Key Recovery, which seemed more damaging than a Windows reset. It wiped everything, including updates and data from 2014. The tool claims to restore the system partition using its own recovery system. Would this be equivalent to a clean Windows install in terms of effectiveness?
It should be interesting that Windows didn't automatically complete the installation? Instead, check if you can leverage the updates to fix any problems. If you're online, the system should notify you that updates are available. I think if you're facing boot issues, trying Safe Boot with network connectivity might help you apply the updates...
I didn’t realize you were using the original Lenovo backup on disk, which might mean some outdated bloatware is installed. It could be causing issues with updates. Honestly, I’ve never used the vendor software—I stick to the official Windows installer to avoid extra programs. This was mainly a workaround for any extra software the vendors included. I began this during my early recovery efforts when the built-in antivirus was so outdated it treated updates as threats. Things have gotten better over time.