Restoring previous version of Windows loop

RobbieX · 27 Aug 2018 at 17:59

Hi all.
After a recent Windows 10 update my PC is stuck in a restoring previous version of Windows loop.
I have tried leaving it run for over 7 hours but it's still stuck in this loop.
I have spent 3 days trying different fixes mentioned on the Internet from bios to boot menus and also hard reset to bring up recovery menus like safe mode start but nothing works.
Out of frustration I also tried doing a clean install with the windows 10 USB key supplied with my PC but when I enter my key it says it is not recognised?
The PC was built by Overclockers and Windows was installed from the USB key before delivery.
Please could anyone help with my problem, I am totally at a loss as to how to fix this problem.
Cheers

Glanza · 27 Aug 2018 at 18:26

You don't need to enter your product key when reinstalling Windows 10, pick the correct version and install.

RobbieX · 27 Aug 2018 at 20:20

Glanza said:
You don't need to enter your product key when reinstalling Windows 10, pick the correct version and install.

Hi Glanza. It seems my key does work. I was using lower case letters but just tried uppercase and it is excepted.
It now gives me 2 options.
Upgrade:Install Windows and keep files,settings and applications.
If I choose this option it goes back into the loop.
Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced).
When I choose this option I get a pop up box asking:Where do you want to install Windows.
In the box there are 4 options:
Drive 0 patrician 1 total size 450.0 MB free space 33.0MB type recovery
Drive 0 patrician 2 total size 99.0MB free space 69.0MB type system
Drive 0 patrician 3 total size 16.0MB free space 16.0 MB type MSR reserved
Drive 0 patrician 4 total size 465.2 GB free space 465.2 GB type primary

I am unable to install to any of these drives and get a Windows setup message saying either:
1 The selected disk is of the GPT partition style - the patrician is a Microsoft recovery patrician.
2 The selected disk is of the GPT partition style - Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space Windows must be installed to a patrician formatted as NTFS. The patrician is an EFI system patrician (ESP)
3 Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT patrician file. Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The patrician is a Microsoft reserved (MSR) patrician.
4 Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT patrician style.
At the bottom of the box under the drives section are a number of options.
Refresh (Does nothing)
Delete
Format
New
Load driver
Extend.
I have only tried the refresh button but the drives remain the same.
My HD is a Samsung 500GB SSD if that helps.
Cheers

Orcvader · 27 Aug 2018 at 21:07

Ideally you will want to select custom install, and then delete all partitions. Then select the blank drive and Windows will do the rest.

However, this will also mean you will lose your files. I highly recommend taking the drive out and plugging it into another if you haven't backed anything up. If you don't have a PC with a spare SATA port, a USB to SATA adapter will work.

As for the product key part, just skip it, as soon as Windows gets online it will activate itself as Microsoft will recognise the system already having a valid 10 licence.

RobbieX · 27 Aug 2018 at 22:25

Orcvader said:
Ideally you will want to select custom install, and then delete all partitions. Then select the blank drive and Windows will do the rest.

However, this will also mean you will lose your files. I highly recommend taking the drive out and plugging it into another if you haven't backed anything up. If you don't have a PC with a spare SATA port, a USB to SATA adapter will work.

As for the product key part, just skip it, as soon as Windows gets online it will activate itself as Microsoft will recognise the system already having a valid 10 licence.

Many thanks Orc.
I had to delete all the partitions in the end, as you suggested. It created an un allocated drive and I reinstalled Windows.
I do not have access to another PC so had to go ahead and loose everything

I can now boot up no problems but my system can't detect my router. My PC is a desktop and is connected to the router by the connection wire. I have not disconnected it but the PC can't find it. I have tried using discovery in network tab but still can't detect it.
Any ideas what I need to do to connect to Internet?
Cheers

Orcvader · 27 Aug 2018 at 23:19

RobbieX said:
Many thanks Orc.
I had to delete all the partitions in the end, as you suggested. It created an un allocated drive and I reinstalled Windows.
I do not have access to another PC so had to go ahead and loose everything
I can now boot up no problems but my system can't detect my router. My PC is a desktop and is connected to the router by the connection wire. I have not disconnected it but the PC can't find it. I have tried using discovery in network tab but still can't detect it.
Any ideas what I need to do to connect to Internet?
Cheers

It most likely is lacking network drivers. What motherboard is it? And seeing you don't have another PC, do you have a smartphone you can use to download the network drivers, and then connect the phone to the PC and transfer it over?

RobbieX · 29 Aug 2018 at 19:17

Orcvader said:
It most likely is lacking network drivers. What motherboard is it? And seeing you don't have another PC, do you have a smartphone you can use to download the network drivers, and then connect the phone to the PC and transfer it over?

Hi Orc.
I don't have a DVD drive built into the pc but a few weeks ago I got an external drive to watch my Sharpe's Rifles DVD collection.
I inserted my Motherboard Driver and utility DVD and it immediately connected to the internet and started downloading the required driver updates etc.
Slowly working my way through all the windows updates now