Windows 8.1 Won't Boot, how to troubleshoot?

[iamfbpt]

My laptop crashed and Windows is not starting anymore.

Specs are:
Lenovo ThinkPad
i7 quad-core processor
16 GB of ram memory
480 GB Solid State Drive
NVIDIA dedicated 2GB video card

Running:
Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bits

What happens:
It shows up the BitLocker screen, put my password, and then it initiates the automatic repair but it fails.

System restore was disabled, so I can't try that.

I removed the SSD and plugged to another laptop and it shows up as 100% healthy on Hard Disk Sentinel, so I'm pretty sure this is a software issue, not a hardware one.

What can I do to troubleshoot/fix it?

 

[Microsoft Windows 8]

You can reinstall windows completely. Unfortunately, as you have described it, there seems to be no other solution to the problem.


It is a moderately long process. Go to:


http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-8/clean-install

 

[iamfbpt]

Just did that. Laptop is working but it has had some weird behavior. Crashed three time already, with a BSOD saying it ran into problems but it shows up for microseconds, I can barely see what's written. No memory dumps either.

How can I troubleshoot this? I'm really worried it might be some hardware problem, maybe fault SSD or processor...

 

[Microsoft Windows 8]

Just did that. Laptop is working but it has had some weird behavior. Crashed three time already, with a BSOD saying it ran into problems but it shows up for microseconds, I can barely see what's written. No memory dumps either.

How can I troubleshoot this? I'm really worried it might be some hardware problem, maybe fault SSD or processor...

To help you further, I need to know exactly what the BSOD says. Apparently, your system is restarting automatically, so you can't see the message. You MIGHT not be able to do this, if your system crashes immediately on startup. Try though. With my parent's computer, (I'm 14 yrs) the desktop was repeatedly having BSOD's, so we opened the case and cleaned the dust. This could solve the problem, but probably unlikely.

To disable automatic restart, do this.

1.
Click on the Start button and then on Control Panel.


2.
Click on the System and Security link.

3.
Click on the System link.

4.
In the task pane on the left, click the Advanced system settings link.

5.
Locate the Startup and Recovery section near the bottom of the window and click on the Settings button.

6.
In the Startup and Recovery window, locate and uncheck the check box next to Automatically restart.

7.
Click OK in the Startup and Recovery window.

8.
Click OK in the System Properties window.

9.
You can now close the System window.

10.
From now on, when a problem causes a BSOD or another major error that halts the system, Windows 7 will not force a reboot. You'll have to reboot manually when an error appears.


The next time you get a BSOD, write the message. that comes up.


(*GASP!* My fingers are aching from typing on my iPad. Should have done it on my laptop!!!)

 

[iamfbpt]

I forgot to follow up on this thread. Turns out it was a faulty SSD. I got a new one and everything is working 100%!!!

 

[Microsoft Windows 8]

OK. All that typing for nothing. 🙁

 

[iamfbpt]

Don't worry, someone might find it useful in the future!

 

[Microsoft Windows 8]

I know