[SOLVED] Moving files in safe mode to USB flash drive onto another pc to then put back onto main pc after a reset?

[Kyroix 74]

I’m at the last resort of resetting my pc. I am stuck on ‘pc needs to be repaired’. Can’t get past it. Can’t get into windows. (Not going into detail why, it’s long)

Can i go into safe mode using the advanced repair on my main pc and copy all my files and app directories (y’know, apps ive installed) that i want onto a usb flash drive (very large storage amount) and then reset the main pc and then when it’s fresh and new i can put the usb flash drive back in and put back all the files and apps? Does this work? Will i need a really large storage amount of a USB flash drive?

 

[TommyTwoTone66]

From the conditions in the first post, "reset" seems to be out of the question....the system is too far gone.

in which case skip steps 1, 2 and 4.

That's not how I read it though, He says he can log in via safe mode. Which means he can copy stuff on to a USB or whatever. Obviously it would have to be a large USB if there were a lot of files? IDK, but it seems like it should be possible.

 

[USAFRet]

in which case skip steps 1, 2 and 4.

That's not how I read it though, He says he can log in via safe mode. Which means he can copy stuff on to a USB or whatever. Obviously it would have to be a large USB if there were a lot of files? IDK, but it seems like it should be possible.

Safe mode is one thing.
Reset is something else.

If the files can be accessed in safe mode, then do that. Copy them elsewhere.
Otherwise...

 

[GoofyOne]

Your data can be copied like this, but you may have issues copying the applications. You will most likely have to download and re-install the application programs.

I just thought I would add in here, that there is a bit of a trend toward portable apps that do not need to be 'installed' onto/into the operating system. This won't help with your current situation, but maybe you can begin to incorporate portable apps into your future computer(s).

See this website: Portable Apps

Some seem to call that sort of arrangement 'flatpack' applications. This means applications can exist anywhere , ie: on USB flash drive, some other HDD or SSD other than the operating system. The application is totally separate from the operating system, and is self contained so to speak.


{GoofyOne's 2c worth ... which may or may not be actually worth 2c}

 

[Third-Eye]

Can’t get past it. Can’t get into windows. (Not going into detail why, it’s long)

Can you at least tell us what you were doing? Maybe you changed from CSM to UEFI mode in the bios or you accidentally changed some other drive setting in bios. Your issue might be a relatively easy to fix, but you didn't want to go into detail on any aspect of the issue other than that it's stuck in a recovery loop. It's very possible that all you need to do is enter the Windows recovery environment already on the drive when Windows is installed or if you have Windows 10 installer on a USB drive, you can enter it from there instead.

If it's just a corrupted EFI partition, all you need to do is delete the EFI partition and replace it with a new copy using one of the many guides online for boot repair loop issues. This means you wouldn't lose any data or have to reinstall Windows.

 

[TommyTwoTone66]

Can you at least tell us what you were doing? Maybe you changed from CSM to UEFI mode in the bios or you accidentally changed some other drive setting in bios. Your issue might be a relatively easy to fix, but you didn't want to go into detail on any aspect of the issue other than that it's stuck in a recovery loop. It's very possible that all you need to do is enter the Windows recovery environment already on the drive when Windows is installed or if you have Windows 10 installer on a USB drive, you can enter it from there instead.

If it's just a corrupted EFI partition, all you need to do is delete the EFI partition and replace it with a new copy using one of the many guides online for boot repair loop issues. This means you wouldn't lose any data or have to reinstall Windows.

I think he should reinstall windows anyway, but yeah there may be ways you can still boot into the machine. This is Tom’s hardware though not Tom’s software. OS recovery help is always going to be fairly limited here.

 

[oldfogie]

Why has no-one mentioned this? Pull the drive, backup your files on another machine; then format & reinstall.

 

[Kyroix 74]

Can you at least tell us what you were doing? Maybe you changed from CSM to UEFI mode in the bios or you accidentally changed some other drive setting in bios. Your issue might be a relatively easy to fix, but you didn't want to go into detail on any aspect of the issue other than that it's stuck in a recovery loop. It's very possible that all you need to do is enter the Windows recovery environment already on the drive when Windows is installed or if you have Windows 10 installer on a USB drive, you can enter it from there instead.

If it's just a corrupted EFI partition, all you need to do is delete the EFI partition and replace it with a new copy using one of the many guides online for boot repair loop issues. This means you wouldn't lose any data or have to reinstall Windows.

Basically i did a windows quality update and somehow i think it corrupted, then i think now my BCD is corrupted.

I am going to enter the recovery environment via usb flash drive.

 

[Kyroix 74]

Why has no-one mentioned this? Pull the drive, backup your files on another machine; then format & reinstall.

What do you mean by pull the drive?

 

[Third-Eye]

Basically i did a windows quality update and somehow i think it corrupted, then i think now my BCD is corrupted.

I am going to enter the recovery environment via usb flash drive.

If you can enter safe mode, you should be able uninstall updates to see if it fixes the issue. Keep in mind you will need the admin password to do anything.

You can uninstall an update from the Settings>Update & Security>Windows update. There is an option to View update history. Click open that menu and click uninstall updates. Uninstall the newest update(s) from when you started having the boot repair loop.

If that doesn't help, you can try repairing Windows boot with bootrec. Here is a guide that looks like it should help you. https://www.groovypost.com/howto/fix-windows-10-wont-boot-startup-repair-bootrec/

If none of this works, what was suggested before was to take the actual HDD/SSD out of the system and put it into another system to just copy the files you want. Just keep in mind you can't just copy programs and expect them to work later on with another Windows install.

 

[mrmike16]

If I am understanding this correctly, you're just trying to find out how to back up your media and/or programs before reinstalling Windows onto a computer that currently can't get into Windows. I probably didn't understand correctly but I'll go for this anyway.

For any of these things I'd suggest using Safe Mode (which you've already gotten to ) or, if that's an issue, Puppy Linux on a USB key and booting from there. That way you can see and retrieve any files you may want or need onto another USB. Make sure the USB you want to put the files onto is large enough- You may need an external hard drive or a hard drive caddy.

For the programs- I'd suggest using Belarc Advisor on Safe Mode to retrieve any license keys you have on the computer and a list of the programs that you will have to reinstall.

Afterwards, you can just do a clean install of Windows since you have everything backed up.
- Personally, when I encounter an issue that requires a reset, I prefer a clean installation of Windows. It would be less likely for the issue to come back.

 

[punkncat]

Why has no-one mentioned this? Pull the drive, backup your files on another machine; then format & reinstall.

Check post 8, BTDT