Boot Problems Os

[DustyDangles]

My Windows 10 would not start due to missing files and to no avail was I able to repair it, I had an empty drive lying around so I installed windows 10 on that, my question is there any way to set up my old hard drive I used as os as the drive where all my program files and documents go and use this new hard drive as just an os, or is there any way to somehow take windows 10 from this drive and replace the windows 10 files on my old drive so I can use that one again. This is the second time this has occurred and last time I fixed the problem by doing a system restore to about 2 months before that. I don't really want to go through doing that again and would prefer to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again so any advice and answers would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[USAFRet]

My Windows 10 would not start due to missing files and to no avail was I able to repair it, I had an empty drive lying around so I installed windows 10 on that, my question is there any way to set up my old hard drive I used as os as the drive where all my program files and documents go and use this new hard drive as just an os, or is there any way to somehow take windows 10 from this drive and replace the windows 10 files on my old drive so I can use that one again. This is the second time this has occurred and last time I fixed the problem by doing a system restore to about 2 months before that. I don't really want to go through doing that again and would prefer to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again so any advice and answers would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

No and no.
You can't apply the programs, drivers, etc, etc from the old OS into the new OS. Doesn't work like that.

A much better way to work around this is having a much better backup procedure. Don't rely on the System Restore.

If you have a second drive (and you do) an application like Macrium Reflect will do exactly what you need.
You create a Full image of the C drive, and then a daily (or weekly) Differential image.
If this happens again (and we don't know what happened exactly), you simply boot from the Macrium Rescue CD or USB, and tell it which Image to use, and which drive to put it on.

Macrium Reflect, here: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
The free version will do all that you need.

I have my main system do an image basically every night. I can recreate the system to the state it was at any day in the last two weeks.

 

[Chicano]

My Windows 10 would not start due to missing files and to no avail was I able to repair it, I had an empty drive lying around so I installed windows 10 on that, my question is there any way to set up my old hard drive I used as os as the drive where all my program files and documents go and use this new hard drive as just an os, or is there any way to somehow take windows 10 from this drive and replace the windows 10 files on my old drive so I can use that one again. This is the second time this has occurred and last time I fixed the problem by doing a system restore to about 2 months before that. I don't really want to go through doing that again and would prefer to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again so any advice and answers would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

The Automatic (Startup) Repair usually helps in repairing Windows startup issues... you haven't tried that right? that would be my first suggestion and run the automatic repair several times (3 times would be enough) as often once is not enough get the job done.

How to Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-boot-advanced-startup-options-windows-10-a.html

Tutorial: How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 10
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/27649-run-startup-repair-windows-10-a.html

 

[DustyDangles]

My Windows 10 would not start due to missing files and to no avail was I able to repair it, I had an empty drive lying around so I installed windows 10 on that, my question is there any way to set up my old hard drive I used as os as the drive where all my program files and documents go and use this new hard drive as just an os, or is there any way to somehow take windows 10 from this drive and replace the windows 10 files on my old drive so I can use that one again. This is the second time this has occurred and last time I fixed the problem by doing a system restore to about 2 months before that. I don't really want to go through doing that again and would prefer to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again so any advice and answers would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

The Automatic (Startup) Repair usually helps in repairing Windows startup issues... you haven't tried that right? that would be my first suggestion and run the automatic repair several times (3 times would be enough) as often once is not enough get the job done.

How to Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-boot-advanced-startup-options-windows-10-a.html

Tutorial: How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 10
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/27649-run-startup-repair-windows-10-a.html

I have tried this along with other recommendations that include commands and such, none have worked and now i cant even access that menu that you would select a startup repair unless I boot from a windows 10 CD, also I originally had a system restore option but it would always say failed when i tried it and now it doesn't even show up.

 

[Chicano]

I have tried this along with other recommendations that include commands and such, none have worked and now i cant even access that menu that you would select a startup repair unless I boot from a windows 10 CD, also I originally had a system restore option but it would always say failed when i tried it and now it doesn't even show up.

Well, I've never been able to access the Startup Repair in Windows 10 without a Windows DVD/USB installer.. I've read Windows 10 boots so fast there's no way you can press F8 on time to bring up the startup repair without help from a windows installer. Some comment implied pressing F8 and holding it can do it, but I haven't tried that. What I do is use EasyBCD to add a dual boot option and make the boot screen pause so I can hit Enter and F8 in quick succession.

That would be my suggestion to make it easier to access the Automatic (Startup) Repair or Boot options to see if you can logon in Safe Mode and try the:

a) System Restore from Safe Mode

b) Try and diagnose the issue. https://www.pcmag.com/news/354269/how-to-use-safe-mode-to-diagnose-a-pc-problem

c) Run SFC /Scannow (from start > Run or Cortana Search) with the Windows 10 Disk in the optical bay to replace or repair missing or corrupt Windows System files.

d) If you can't boot in Safe Mode, you can also run SFC /Scannow from the command prompt window in recovery mode (from the repair and recovery options.) http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/tip/Four-ways-to-solve-Windows-10-boot-problems