Don't normally post errors and fixes I normally encounter, however this was rather unusual as there were no hardware or software changes, prior to this error. And this happened to two separate machines.
The only thing that changed was Windows ran one of it's updates last night before I shut down.
On booting up this morning to check some emails I was greeted with this.
Rebooted a number of times to see if it was a fluke, however same screen.
This also prevents you booting into windows at all. You can only access the BIOS.
First attempt
Downloaded a copy of Windows 8.1 recovery tool and threw them onto a USB stick.
Ran the automatic repair tool with no success.
Second Shot
Again with the repair tools loaded up via the USB stick.
Click the trouble shoot icon -> advanced -> command prompt. Then enter the following commands one by one.
For my build C:/ is the windows harddrive.
If your harddrive with windows on it isn't C:/ then change the letter to match your configuration.
See at the bottom if you are unsure, I'll post some commands to help you work out which is your windows drive.
After each line hit enter, you will see a success message. Then finally type in..
The slash after the C: and before windows has to be a backslash.
Reboot and you're done.
Finding out your windows drive
In the command prompt type in
hit enter and a new window will open. then in that window type
hit enter once again and your drives will be listen along with the drive letter
Run this fix on both the main rig I own, and the media center downstairs. So it doesn't seem to be an isolated issue.
The only thing that changed was Windows ran one of it's updates last night before I shut down.
On booting up this morning to check some emails I was greeted with this.
Rebooted a number of times to see if it was a fluke, however same screen.
This also prevents you booting into windows at all. You can only access the BIOS.
First attempt
Downloaded a copy of Windows 8.1 recovery tool and threw them onto a USB stick.
Ran the automatic repair tool with no success.
Second Shot
Again with the repair tools loaded up via the USB stick.
Click the trouble shoot icon -> advanced -> command prompt. Then enter the following commands one by one.
For my build C:/ is the windows harddrive.
If your harddrive with windows on it isn't C:/ then change the letter to match your configuration.
See at the bottom if you are unsure, I'll post some commands to help you work out which is your windows drive.
Code:
Bootrec /fixmbr
Bootrec /fixboot
Bootrec /scanos
Bootrec /rebuildbcdAfter each line hit enter, you will see a success message. Then finally type in..
Code:
BCDboot c:\windows /s c: /l en-usThe slash after the C: and before windows has to be a backslash.
Reboot and you're done.
Finding out your windows drive
In the command prompt type in
Code:
diskpart
Code:
list volumeRun this fix on both the main rig I own, and the media center downstairs. So it doesn't seem to be an isolated issue.