[SOLVED] Windows 10 refreshing/flashing - can't use PC at all.

B3ASTy

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For the past week my pc has been prompting me to restart because it found drive errors and wants to fix them. Today one came up and I restarted my PC and then the problem started, I can't do anything to try and fix it as it stops me every few seconds because it refreshes and goes on an endless loop. I also tried booting in safe mode and the exact same thing. How the heck am I meant to fix this??
 

B3ASTy

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Get an SSD to replace your failed hard drive and reinstall windows. A crucial MX 500 is only about $40-60
I already have an SSD which stores windows. I also have a 2TB hard drive but this doesn't store windows. I'm sure there is a solution other than giving up and doing that right away?
 
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You’re going to need to use software to test the SSD and it could be a failed SSD but if windows is complaining of drive corruption and can’t fix it then there’s a problem with your drive.

I would format it and reinstall windows and if it still had problems then you know it’s the hardware
 

B3ASTy

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You’re going to need to use software to test the SSD and it could be a failed SSD but if windows is complaining of drive corruption and can’t fix it then there’s a problem with your drive.

I would format it and reinstall windows and if it still had problems then you know it’s the hardware
Yeah... the problem is I'm going to have a hard time with that if windows won't let me do anything by refreshing itself every 2 seconds.
 
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Use another PC and create a bootable USB drive using the media creation tool from Microsoft it’s free. Then Use that to reinstall windows and format the drive
 
I assume your PC wanted to do a chkdsk. This usually means there is an issue with your ssd, but not usually a failing drive, instead corruption within the drive.
See if you can get into the Windows Recovery Environment. https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-startup-repair-fix-boot-problems-windows-10.

If you can boot from an install media, then choose repair, you can access a command prompt where you can run c: chkdsk /f and hopefully get a better result.

You may eventually need a clean install of Windows 10 to fix the issue.
 

B3ASTy

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I assume your PC wanted to do a chkdsk. This usually means there is an issue with your ssd, but not usually a failing drive, instead corruption within the drive.
See if you can get into the Windows Recovery Environment. https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-startup-repair-fix-boot-problems-windows-10.

If you can boot from an install media, then choose repair, you can access a command prompt where you can run c: chkdsk /f and hopefully get a better result.

You may eventually need a clean install of Windows 10 to fix the issue.
I've actually tried both a startup repair from a bootable USB and chkdsk and that didn't do anything. Should I just try resetting windows and then if that doesn't work a reinstall?
 

B3ASTy

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A reset often comes with it's own issues, and may even fail with your current problems. Your best bet would be a clean install https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/
Is there a solution for me if I can't backup my NON-OS files that are on the drive because I can't backup to the cloud because of the windows refresh glitch and if I don't have external storage to back it up to? Presumably it will delete everything on the drive aswell as windows when I reinstall.
 
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Is there a solution for me if I can't backup my NON-OS files that are on the drive because I can't backup to the cloud because of the windows refresh glitch and if I don't have external storage to back it up to? Presumably it will delete everything on the drive aswell as windows when I reinstall.
Disconnect the other drive first before you reinstall Windows. As for the non-OS data on main drive, copy it to the other drive from a live USB environment if you can.
 
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Solution

B3ASTy

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This is another way.. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...nt-start/862c143f-9239-4e63-8968-635e8ba9efd6

There is also the probability that a clean Windows 10 install will save your files in a file C:\windows.old. This 80gb file will usually exist for 10 days and will then automatically delete. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2066-delete-windows-old-folder-windows-10-a.html
Thanks this worked perfectly and I just did a clean install and I see no problems this far, will report back if anything crops up!