Stuck on an infinite "Automatic Repair System Loop".

[danivor]

Hi guys!

It's sad that this has to be my first post, it's some bad news but I think this will help a lot a lot of people if answered!

I'm currently having an issue with my new Lenovo Z585. So, it came with Windows8 and because it had no WIFI power, no matter what I'd do (Pretty idiotical, right? For a laptop to not be able to turn its wifi on, even if all the methods I've found on Google were tried.)

So...reinstall time. I got myself a Windows 7 Bootable DVD (Windows 8 was Licensed aswell) . I got to the Windows 7 Install Screen. Then I selected my main windows drive and pressed "Format".

Great. So what happens next? It says "You can't install here, this partition's type is GPT". I wasn't able to install it ANYWHERE on my disks. It felt like the sky dropped down on my head. So then what I did? I rebooted.

Guess what - Automatic Repair.

I am now finding myself in an infinite loop of Windows trying to figure out my problem and keeps offering me "Automatic Repair" even if I DISABLED it by command prompt.
I've tried BIOS settings, I kept playing with the UEFI settings, I did everything that was possible of me, found some great answers on Google but none turned out to be a solution.
With every Reboot, every single change, it's still there. I can select to Boot and even press F12, but still, it doesn't go away and it won't let me boot from my Windows 7 DVD.

I've also ran chkdsk on everything
I've tweaked settings back and forth, all the same result.

Currently I have access to BIOS and the Windows 8 Troubleshoot screens where I can make some settings and access CMD.

I would seriously appreciate some help with this as I am totally helpless and have no idea what to do.

All the best!

 

[i7Baby]

Pull the Hard Drive out and attach it to a PC. Reformat it on the PC. Install Windows on it. Then put it back in the laptop.

 

[unksol]

its a NEW laptop. if the wifi doesn't work send it back and have it repaired/replaced. why are you screwing with the OS? that's not going to change anything

 

[danivor]

^ That reply wans't helpful. Sorry, the internet works as intended, it's just that it won't let me turn on Wi-fi on Windows 8 and reading about it on Google, it's known that the Z585 doesn't really go hand-in-hand with Windows 8 + WiFi, so I decided to go back to Windows 7 to see if it changes anything.

Anyways - I've found the solution! 😀

Apparently, Windows 7 (from my understanding) 64 BIT doesn't support the GPT format, so therefore you cannot get it installed on your HDD that way.

First off, what I did:

1) I disabled the UEFI Protections both from the BIOS and the Windows 8 Helpful Interface that you get if the Automatic Repair Fails. I knew this had to be done, because only then I could boot. It stopped the "Automatic Repair Infinite Loop!"

2) Then I booted from the DVD, it got me to the Windows 7 Screen (Still with the old format on), the same story: The format is not compatible but by pressing SHIFT + F10 I've brought up the CMD.
I knew this had to do with the format so I googled on how I could go on about that.

WARNING!!!! While I tried to save up as much, it just wans't possible, it won't let me convert individual partitions to MBR, I had to cleanup the whole HDD.

So here are the commands that I typed in (Credit to http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-cannot-be-installed-on-this-disk-the/8fa72a3e-10c5-47da-a040-1e0db62af309):

1. Press SHIFT-F10 to bring up console.
2. Type "diskpart"
3. Once inside diskpart type:
-> list disk (find the one you want to convert)
-> select disk 0 (select the one you want from the list)
-> convert mbr (should take a second or two)
-> quit
4. Continue with install

^ If that doesn't work, because it just won't let me convert individual patitions, try method2:
Warning - this wipes out everything, but it was the price I had to pay for not being more careful.

1. Type "diskpart"
2. Once inside diskpart type:
-> list disk (find the one you want to convert)
-> select disk 0 (select the one you want from the list)
-> clean (wait an hour or so until its done)
-> quit
3. Continue with install

It worked - Currently installing Windows 7 and I am a happy one!

I hope this helps everyone.

 

[danivor]

Pull the Hard Drive out and attach it to a PC. Reformat it on the PC. Install Windows on it. Then put it back in the laptop.

I think I kind of done that, in a "not-so-hardware-way", but thanks!

 

[i7Baby]

Good work