[SOLVED] PC strange orange screen after multiple freezes.

[skjeggelars]

1: The strange orange screen
2: PC specs (old, but no hardware changes since then)

Friend's PC. Posting on their behalf.
Timeline of events:
Updated a game (Genshin Impact)
PC started freezing, each freeze requiring a restart.
Sometimes a black screen with the words "analog" or "HDMI".
Turning screen off and on again did nothing.
After one of these restarts, there was an update and the PC froze during the update and that pretty orange striped pattern appeared.
More attempts at restarting the PC after this. None worked.
Currently trying "Advanced options".
System restore did not work.
Automatic repair ended in a black screen.

 

[Colif]

Orange screen = bitlocker - https://technoresult.com/win-10-orange-screen-appears-booting/
see solution 2
its amazing, i actually found that answer yesterday, I wouldn't know otherwise. Although it didn't take long to find.

Sometimes a black screen with the words "analog" or "HDMI".

that would have to be sound related since the only analog is speakers, hdmi is also sound.

On another PC, download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB - handy boot disk if nothing else

So you can't get into windows I take it. from menu choices.
anything on PC they have to save?
boot from installer

• on screen after languages, choose repair this pc, not install.
• choose troubleshoot
• choose advanced
• choose command prompt
• type notepad and press enter
• in notepad, select file>open
• Use file explorer to copy any files you need to save to USB or hdd

if PC was fine before the update, we can always reinstall Win 10 and see if it is fine after that. I don't know what version of win 10 they are on but the USB will have the latest version, so that might help.

boot from installer

follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

 

[skjeggelars]

• Use file explorer to copy any files you need to save to USB or hdd

Friend can't copy files to USB.

 

[Colif]

it might be a restriction of bit locker maybe?

I made picture smaller as it was too big

that error code comes back as an unspecified error which is always handy
can be caused by corrupt system files
most of the fixes assume windows is working

lets see if we can get into safe mode
get him to go back to command prompt as above
Enter these BOLD commands and press ENTER after each.

(Note the colon after C with no space; then the spaces which are important - one after T before / & T before { & } before B & Y before L)

C:

BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY

EXIT

Shutdown the computer.

Boot back up and "immediately" start tapping F8 (That means power button - then F8).

Hopefully that should get you into Safe Mode.

it may not work if windows is corrupted but it would allow us to run a few attempted fixes

for instance, he could run

right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, second command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC

 

[skjeggelars]

Hopefully that should get you into Safe Mode.

Friend tried "4) Enable Safe Mode", there was a loading symbol and then blue screen.
Friend also tried "5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking" and "6) Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt", same thing happened.
Here's the blue screen:

 

[Colif]

tell him to try without internet, unplug ethernet or wifi
ndis = network driver interface specification

 

[skjeggelars]

Unplugged ethernet. Turned the PC off and on again. Tried the three safe mode options by pressing 4, 5, 6. All three options had the same result.
Black screen with windows logo followed by blue screen "DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL " and "NDIS SYS".

 

[Colif]

okay, well, its not being helpful really

Did he try reset this PC on Troubleshoot menu? although if windows is corrupted it probably wouldn't work well. There is a a chance it will work and save most of the contents of his library folders (documents, music, pictures, movies) and logon info. Can't save applications, just data.

can your friend put hdd into another pc to copy info off drive?
This is if he had anything on it he has to keep.
if there isn't anything in it he wants to keep, I would do a clean install as its only real answer for getting windows working again

was he able to make the installer on USB?
boot from installer

follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

its late here, I need some sleep so I check in here in a few hours

 

[skjeggelars]

Did he try reset this PC on Troubleshoot menu? although if windows is corrupted it probably wouldn't work well. There is a a chance it will work and save most of the contents of his library folders (documents, music, pictures, movies) and logon info. Can't save applications, just data.

Friend tried this. PC worked for a short while and then froze again.
But that short while was long enough to save the files to USB.
Next thing to try is a clean install as the files are safe now.
Thank you for the help so far and good night.