Windows will not start after power outage during update

bvw6 · 14 Dec 2013

Hey all

Today I experienced a power outage while windows was installing an update.
Now whenever I try to start up my computer it gets to the Windows logo, a BSOD flashes for a split second, and the system restarts.
Booting in safe mode also gives the same problem.

System restore cannot find my C:/ partition with my operating system, what seems quite weird since I first tried with the system restore on my hdd before using the one on the Windows disk. I tried a startup repair, but without any success. The logs show it performed a chkdsk so that will not work either.

I tried accessing my C partion through a couple live CDs but it doesnt seem readable.

What options do I have left to recover my system?

Thanks in advance
bvw6

whs · 14 Dec 2013

Try Option 2 in this tutorial. System Restore

bvw6 · 14 Dec 2013

I already tried to do that, but than a message pops up telling me I first need to select an OS I wish to restore and system restore can't find my C: partition with my OS.

whs · 14 Dec 2013

Use the bootable CD of partition Wizard. Download the .iso from the last entry on the website and burn that to CD. Then boot with that CD and have a look in what condition your disk is.

bvw6 · 14 Dec 2013

Ok, so I'm not entirely sure what I should do in partition wizard.

It finds my drive and it's the first program that can access my C partition and files. (No idea why other live CD's couldn't)
But it does show however that my drive is 100% full, what isn't the case.

So what do I do now?
Do I try to back-up everything and reformat?

whs · 14 Dec 2013

Take a good picture of the screen with your camera (not phone) and post it here. We'll have a look at it.

bvw6 · 14 Dec 2013

A picture of what?
There isn't any usefull information showing on partition wizard, it's just the main screen.
No errors either, the only weird thing is that according to partition wizard I have no space left on my disk.

Ztruker · 14 Dec 2013

I think you need to run chkdsk then if that doesn't fix it, run sfc.

How to run chkdsk or System File Checker (SFC) from the Recovery Console

Boot your Vista or Windows 7 installation DVD
When you see "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD", press Enter
At the "Install Windows" screen, click on Repair your computer at lower left
At the System Recovery Options screen, make note of the drive letter assigned to your boot drive (normally C:) and click Next
At the Chose a Recovery Tool window, click on Command Prompt. You will be sitting at X:\Sources directory
Run chkdsk or SFC
If you did not note the drive letter of your boot disk, you can enter bcdedit and look at the osdevice line to see what it is.
For chkdsk, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter (use the letter from above if not C:).
For sfc, type sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows and press Enter (use the letter from above)

Let either run to completion undisturbed.

Vista or Windows 7: If you don't have a install DVD, you can download a legal copy here:
Windows 7 Direct Download Links
Download Official Windows Vista RTM with SP1 Setup Files (32-bit and 64-bit)

Make sure you get the same version you have installed: 32 or 64 bit; Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate.

bvw6 · 14 Dec 2013

Ztruker I already did those things but without success. The system recovery screen will not let me pick a boot drive it's just blank. Anyway, I'm now trying to copy the files to an external hdd. Hopefully that will work...

lehnerus2000 · 14 Dec 2013

You should create a backup HDD/SSD image before attempting any repairs.

You will need to use something like a Macrium Reflect PE disc to do this.

Do you have access to a Live Linux CD/DVD (e.g. Ubuntu)?

If so, does it run on your PC?

If it runs, can you view your Windows partition contents?

If you can view the contents, try using the Disk Space Analyser to determine what is using up all of your HDD space.
You may be able to delete the offending file(s).