Startup can't repair itself. ME is in recovery mode!

Hello,

MY laptop won't boot up. When I turn it on, it says that ME is in recovery mode and then windows tries to repair itself. Gives me various options. I tried start up repair and this is what it says:

http://s24.postimg.org/baam7b5sl/IMG_0130.jpg

I clicked on the details and this is what they show:

http://s24.postimg.org/am1rod72t/IMG_0131.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/emdiecmxh/IMG_0132.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/mdu8cwr2t/IMG_0133.jpg

http://s16.postimg.org/camid9wlx/IMG_0134.jpg

http://s16.postimg.org/u1y4rqc0l/IMG_0135.jpg

What I can get from that is that the computer can't find the OS files.

I looked up on google and found Dell's website talking about how the ME error is caused by bad BIOS and one needs to update their BIOS for that. They also said that that makes it difficult for the system to communicate with the hard drive. Which kinda explains why "No OS files were found" message was shown by the test result.

Is there a way to safely repair the start up without losing my files?

Now I have the options to go with Startup Repair again or one of the following:
- System Restore (update: tried it and it says that I have no restore points saved. I doubt if that is actually true)
- System Image recovery (update: similar issues as above)
- Windows Memory Diagnostic (Done but that has nothing to do with anything and didn't help)
- Command Prompt ( no clue how to use this for anything relevant)
- Lenovo Product Recovery (this will wipe everything clean to factory default which I don't want)


Any suggestions?

bigmck said:

When did this problem start and did you do anything unusual to the computer immediately before you had the problem or was there a power outage or some strange event before the problem?

I'm sorry for not including all details as my post was too big already. This is the history:

My laptop is a ThinkPad W520. I had some fan issues and took it to incompetent fools pretending to be laptop servicing experts, who connected the fan directly(their words) to keep it going full speed. They also forgot to connect my webcam/nightlight after their operation. Recently, I found out that it just won't boot up. It was shutting itself down to protect the CPU as the fan wasn't working. I bought a replacement fan from IBM and took it to another bunch of fools to put that one in. They returned the laptop to me and couldn't even put the fan back in. However, the thing at least was turning the display on after I pressed the power button. It gave me 3 errors before the auto-shutdown:
1. Bad CRC
2. Date/Time
3. Fan error

I also discovered after opening up the laptop myself that the fools forgot to put back my BIOS battery into the laptop. Then I took it to other folks. These people installed the new fan and the BIOS battery. Therefore the laptop booted up and I went to BIOS and set date and time and all errors were gone. However, I landed on a completely new one. The "ME is in recovery mode" error. After showing me that, it took me to this windows is repairing screen:

http://s16.postimg.org/5e4qjupn9/IMG_0128.jpg

Followed by: http://s16.postimg.org/g28hiozmd/IMG_0129.jpg

I tried the Startup Repair option. That was followed by an automatic reboot, showing the "ME is in recovery mode" again followed by the "Starting Windows" screen. Then I was stuck at that screen for a good 50 mins. That was followed by what I posted on the original post. It failed to repair itself.

I googled the "ME is in recovery mode" thing and the only thing I found was from a dell website post where it was talking about how this can make it difficult for the system to communicate with the HDD. That kinda explained to me why no windows files were found by the start up repair process.

bigmck said:

I found this article and it might be the one that you found earlier about your problem. It explains it in great detail but the short story is that the firmware in the BIOS needs to be corrected. Something that only a very knowledgeable person can do. If you still have a warranty on your Laptop, Lenovo can correct it for you. It appears from the article that when your CMOS battery was removed it might have caused the problem. I hope this helps you some.
ME is in Recovery State after flashing BIOS to v. A13 on a Dell Latitude e6520 - General Hardware - Laptop - Dell Community

Lenevo website provided instructions for the BIOS update using an ISO.

- Managed to burn the ISO file onto a disc.
- Followed the Lenovo instructions for BIOS update and this is what I got:

http://s24.postimg.org/j6h84vfhx/IMG_0201.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/omzvz98vp/IMG_0202.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/skn5onvp1/IMG_0203.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/dm4qu8gmt/IMG_0199.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/ldlgssks5/IMG_0204.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/g0wmenwvp/IMG_0206.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/e3zwa367p/IMG_0207.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/ya3e8z1v9/IMG_0208.jpg


So the flashing happened. That was followed by a reboot. Which took me to that same "ME is in recovery mode" screen again. That was followed by a blank screen for a while and how I see the Starting Windows screen (seeing it for 15 mins now).

bigmck said:

If you flashed the BIOS OK, I would think that the remaining problem would be a bad HDD. Mine went bad a few months ago. I did not see the "ME" message that you are seeing, it just went to Windows Logo and stopped. I am about out of ideas.

I tried to log in using SAFE MODE. This is what I got:

http://s22.postimg.org/wxyqvi6lt/IMG_0312.jpg

It has been stuck at that point for over 10 mins now. Do you know if windows will be able to repair it's start up problems better if I used the installation disc of my particular version of Windows to boot it up and repair?

I really want to fix windows as I can't afford to lose any files or even many of my settings and all that.

bigmck said:

MSKHAN said:

bigmck said:

If you flashed the BIOS OK, I would think that the remaining problem would be a bad HDD. Mine went bad a few months ago. I did not see the "ME" message that you are seeing, it just went to Windows Logo and stopped. I am about out of ideas.

I tried to log in using SAFE MODE. This is what I got:

http://s22.postimg.org/wxyqvi6lt/IMG_0312.jpg

It has been stuck at that point for over 10 mins now. Do you know if windows will be able to repair it's start up problems better if I used the installation disc of my particular version of Windows to boot it up and repair?

I really want to fix windows as I can't afford to lose any files or even many of my settings and all that.

You said in your first post, you had done that. If not certainly do it. As I said, it looks like you have a bad HDD.

You misunderstood my first post. I did try startup recovery. However, that was not using an installation disc. My laptop itself was giving me that option.The other day however, I got a windows 7 professional disc and tried to do the recovery. The result was the same. It said that it can't automatically do it.

Given that both methods failed, what am I to do now? I think my HDD works fine with a usb. I have tried transferring files to and from it using the USB thing I have for it. I have done that after my laptop started having these issues. I really don't want to lose my files and various settings (browser data!!). Any suggestions? I have 500 gb external HDD too, which is more than enough space for all the contents I wish to transfer.