Windows 8 boot issue

[archer94]

After a Windows 8 update I have been unable to gain access to my laptop, it just gives me a blue screen with please wait in the middle. I don't have the product key as it was pre-installed. It appears the only way to gain access is by using a recovery disk, which I do not have. If I was to purchase another copy of Windows 8, or even a copy of Windows 7, could I use this to access my pc again?

 

[techgeek]

How long did you wait at the Please Wait screen. There is a bunch of post install processes running while this is going. It may take awhile depending on the computer.

 

[archer94]

At its longest i let it run for around an hour but only because the update was small. (less than 100mb if I recall correctly)

 

[techgeek]

Sorry, for some reason I thought you said you had updated from 8.0 to 8.1 which does take some time.

Can you boot into Safe Mode? If you can, you can try doing a System Restore, preferably to a time just before the update.

 

[archer94]

I updated to Windows 8.1 a while ago. I've read that with that update they removed the F8 on boot meaning I can't access safe mode at all. I only have F2 (setup) and F 12 (boot options) neither contain a option to enter safe mode.

 

[techgeek]

Can you tell me the make and model of laptop you have?

 

[archer94]

Its a Dell Inspiron 5721

 

[techgeek]

This might help:

Link

Of course you don't want to do a factory restore, but maybe there is an option in here to do a Windows System Restore or Repair.

 

[archer94]

Unfortunately pressing the F8 key is out of the question, I'm confident its use was removed with the windows 8.1 update when it came out. I have noticed when pressed it will either do nothing at all or a small loading bar will come up (as if i was accessing the other menus by pressing the F2 and F12 buttons) but it will proceed to the blue screen with "please wait" in the middle.

I've checked through all available menus in setup and boot options and there is no options I can see for repairing or restoring.

Update: Some other solutions suggest holding Shift + F8, this does not work either.

 

[techgeek]

It's not that MicroSoft removed F8 from Windows 8, they've sped the boot sequence up so much, it is practically impossible for you to press it fast enough to get into Safe Mode.

I was hoping that the built in restore sequence from Dell would give you the option of a repair.

I had another thought. You maybe able to get the OS to prompt you for a boot to Safe Mode. Let Windows start booting and then hold the power button in to force it to shut off during the boot. This should trigger a Windows flag then next time you start it and ask if you want to do a repair, safe mode, etc.

Sorry I didn't respond right away, I wasn't ignoring this. I work in Yemen, live in Canada and I was travelling home Tuesday/Wednesday. Long trip, but I'm not as jet lagged this time around. I think I got a little more sleep on the plane this time.