Help - Windows installation completed borked

bobboberts · 2 Feb 2020 at 02:03

Okay folks, I'm hoping somebody can help with what has been a horrendous day!

Short story, my PC has been crashing a bit of late (only when playing games - it would make a horrible buzzing, lock up and then reboot) and only since I installed a 2070 Super last week and, previously, only when I've tried to overclock. I think it's where the CPU is hitting 100% usage, if that's related (I've googled but it doesn't suggest 100% should cause a crash). That's a secondary issue right now though.

Anyway, today it crashed and then got into a loop of loading Windows but freezing as soon as I tried to open anything (i.e. Chrome) - but now it won't load at all and I get a 'Critical_process_died' error and then a loop of it trying again (and failing). The best I get now is if I let it run for 70+ minutes it'll load to the Windows 10 troubleshooter screen (as automatic repair can't fix it).

Now unfortunately I can't try any of the troubleshooter options because it asks for my account password and, even though I know it's correct (I log on with it all the time, after all), it tells me it is wrong - so I'm well and truly stuck at in a cycle of misery.

I tried downloading the MS Windows 10 Recovery disc using my laptop but when I tried that on my PC (using an external USB HDD) it won't recognise my Windows drive, so I can't even reset my system using that.

My version of Windows was also the free upgrade from 8 to 10, if that makes any difference to anything.

I guess my questions are:

- Why won't it accept my password and is there any way around that?
- Is there any way I'll be able to save my documents and files (either through 'saving' my installation or extracting via other means if the worst came to the worst - i.e. a dock for SSDs that I can then read as an external drive on my laptop)?
- Are there any potential rescue options I can do that I'm not seeing?

I'm keeping everything crossed for some small glimmer of positivity!

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Feb 2020 at 08:16

Take your drive out stick it in a caddy, back up the data (if any needs backing up) Reset your bios back to default settings and get it formatted with the latest version of 1909.

phil-k · 2 Feb 2020 at 08:44

try setting your bios to default first if it is overclocked, I have had an overclock do all sorts of odd things to windows in the past

bobboberts · 2 Feb 2020 at 15:36

The bios to default was the first thing I did but thst didn't work. I've ordered an SSD caddy so will hopefully be able to access the data.

I presume there's no way around the password issue without being to access Windows?

Quartz · 2 Feb 2020 at 15:51

bobboberts said:
Short story, my PC has been crashing a bit of late (only when playing games - it would make a horrible buzzing, lock up and then reboot) and only since I installed a 2070 Super last week and, previously, only when I've tried to overclock.

Do you have a decent PSU?

Anyway, get yourself a new SSD and boot off a Windows ISO and restore from your Windows Image Backup. If you can't do that then install a fresh copy of Windows onto the new SSD. Then put your old SSD in the dock and copy over your documents. Then put the old SSD away somewhere.

bobboberts · 3 Feb 2020 at 23:31

Right, I have a new SSD and caddy on the way so I can start fresh - but my next question is around my Windows key. I had Win 10 via the free upgrade from my Windows 8 key. I *think* my key is linked to my Microsoft account but, as I can't access Windows any more, I don't know if that's the case.

Does anybody know if entering my old Windows 8 key will let me unlock Windows 10 again - and how would I go about that - do I start trying to install Windows 10 or have to do 8 and then hope for the best?

Quartz · 3 Feb 2020 at 23:55

When you install Windows you will have the opportunity to use your Microsoft ID and since you're using the same hardware it won't be a problem. You should be able to check online by going to https://account.microsoft.com/devices