Windows update, now stuck at recovery menu

[Mastiff37]

WIndows did a long update last night and when I came back it was on the recovery menu. Problem is, none of the options does anything. I have 3 choices for versions, two "windows 10", and the one it wants which is "windows rollback" (I'm going by memory from my work computer).

None of the repair/revert options does anything but say it is unable to do it. If I try to boot to the old versions, it does come to a normal login, except it wants a password. I've only ever used a pin, so don't know what to put there. Some Google searching suggested I use my Microsoft account password, but I don't know that. If I say I forgot my password, it returns an error about not being able to connect to profSvc (IIRC). I reset my MS account password from another computer, so now I know it, but that's not helpful since I have no internet access for this machine for some reason. I'm guessing it caches the last MS password it knew about? There is a red X down on the wifi icon and if I click it, the only option is to go to airplane mode.

I tried to reset the machine from the recovery menu, but it failed within 30 seconds with a non-helpful message about being unable or something.

Where do I go from here? Is there a way to reset from external media or something? I'd rather not lose my files. Actually, I'd rather not lose my programs, but that ship may have sailed. Thanks MS.

Thanks for any help.

 

[captaincharisma]

if you can try to get us the error again then we may be able to get you back into windows. but for noe would you be able to give us your system specs and what windows update it was. you can use a USB drive with a windows install on it to use the "repair my computer" option. it would give the same recovery menu but you may have more control with it

 

[Mastiff37]

if you can try to get us the error again then we may be able to get you back into windows. but for noe would you be able to give us your system specs and what windows update it was. you can use a USB drive with a windows install on it to use the "repair my computer" option. it would give the same recovery menu but you may have more control with it

Thanks, which error are you referring to?

I'm not sure how to know which update it was at this point, is there a way to get it? I can get exact specs later, but it's a Dell laptop. Regarding the USB drive, I did make a "Recovery drive" from another machine, but the menu was identical and the results were the same. Are you talking about something different?

 

[captaincharisma]

if you can try to get us the error again then we may be able to get you back into windows. but for noe would you be able to give us your system specs and what windows update it was. you can use a USB drive with a windows install on it to use the "repair my computer" option. it would give the same recovery menu but you may have more control with it

Thanks, which error are you referring to?

I'm not sure how to know which update it was at this point, is there a way to get it? I can get exact specs later, but it's a Dell laptop. Regarding the USB drive, I did make a "Recovery drive" from another machine, but the menu was identical and the results were the same. Are you talking about something different?

yes i am referring to windows 10 recovery menu. the error i am asking for is when you vaguely said this

I tried to reset the machine from the recovery menu, but it failed within 30 seconds with a non-helpful message about being unable or something.

 

[Mastiff37]

yes i am referring to windows 10 recovery menu. the error i am asking for is when you vaguely said this

I tried to reset the machine from the recovery menu, but it failed within 30 seconds with a non-helpful message about being unable or something.

Oh. It really was nothing. Just like this, except it also said "No changes were made.":

 

[say42]

Watching this thread as I have same problem on 3 different machines. Can get to an empty desktop (black) but WIndows Start and Search buttons no longer work

 

[captaincharisma]

Watching this thread as I have same problem on 3 different machines. Can get to an empty desktop (black) but WIndows Start and Search buttons no longer work

if you would both supply any system specs then we can try to detrermine if it is an issue with the april update or not. right nowe there are reports for issues with people with intel SSD drives and some are getting stuck at a blck screen when logging in. i have updated windows 10 on both a desktop and laptop and have not run into any issues where it failed to boot me back to the desktop

 

[Mastiff37]

Watching this thread as I have same problem on 3 different machines. Can get to an empty desktop (black) but WIndows Start and Search buttons no longer work

if you would both supply any system specs then we can try to detrermine if it is an issue with the april update or not. right nowe there are reports for issues with people with intel SSD drives and some are getting stuck at a blck screen when logging in. i have updated windows 10 on both a desktop and laptop and have not run into any issues where it failed to boot me back to the desktop

My PC is this: Inspiron 17 5000 Series. No SSD or anything, but I'm not black screening, just only able to get to recovery menu.

I'm back to life now. I ended up just reinstalling Windows 10, which was fairly painless. I went to DOS prompt from the recovery menu and copied some odds and ends to a thumb drive before blowing everything away and starting fresh. Hopefully this failure cycle won't repeat as the updates start.

 

[say42]

Problem seems to be with Avast. I used the solution shown here :> http://www.thecomputercellar.com/wi...the-black-desktop-of-death-and-how-to-fix-it/