Windows 7 stuck in reboot loop following windows 10 upgrade

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

  1. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 home (I think!)
       #1

    Windows 7 stuck in reboot loop following windows 10 upgrade


    Hi all.
    I tried to upgrade my daughters Dell Vostro laptop a few months back (free windows 10 upgrade).
    Unfortunately it fell short of the full upgrade and rendered the laptop unusable. However, the laptop did return to a working Windows 7 (I presume Home edition - not sure how I can find out at the moment) for a brief period.
    It then returned the reboot loop: Error 0xcf000000f - every option including repair, safe mode does not work and it enters another reboot.
    I have managed to test it (Dell ePSA Pre boot system) and everything checks out ok (and I'm currently running the last of the memory test activity) but I simply cannot get windows to work.
    The Laptop was either pre installed with Windows 7 or the disk has vanished over the past few years (relatively old laptop).

    F2, F8, F12 options are not working (pressed whilst rebooting).
    My daughter has a lot of her past on there (she never backed up unfortunately) so I'm at a loss as to what I can do? Looked in to Repair CD option, but apparently that won't work if Safe Mode cannot be accessed?

    Apologioes if I've missed any info out.

    Many thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,835
    Windows 7 pro
       #2

    I suggest that you perform a repair install which will overwrite your programs but should leave everything else intact. Repair Install Since your install is not working you can skip the first 2 steps. Note that though the repair install is designed to leave your data alone there is the chance that it'll be damaged. Therefore I suggest that you use a bootable linux distribution such as knoppix or ubuntu to back up any data to an external hard drive. You will also need to download a windows 7 ISO.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 home (I think!)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Many thanks townsbg.
    I'm not entirely experienced in the 'bootable linux distribution - knoppix or ubuntu, but I'll do some research.
    I'm hoping I can connect the laptop to my other daughters PC (which is new and fully working with Windows 10) and back up there? I myself have a Mac and have managed to save and migrate files from an older machine to a newer one. Actually as I type this, I recall saving pretty much all her files (up to a point) a while back (and she hasn't really added to them since as the laptop wasn't working).
    With that in mind, I could probably go ahead and source a Windows 7 ISO (probably don't have the original key - problem?).

    Glad I've stumbled on this forum - I actually have my other daughters first laptop (Dell Inspiron running Windows 7) that may possible be fixed - if only to have a spare coimputer knocking around.
    BOOTMGR missing message on boot - I'll try and find info on a fix on that one.

    In the mood to fix these now - rescutiated an old Android tablet yesterday: it had been hibernating (not working) for around a year!

    Many thanks - I'll take a look at your link and see if I can unravel it!
    Cheers.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #4

    Norfbech said:
    Glad I've stumbled on this forum - I actually have my other daughters first laptop (Dell Inspiron running Windows 7) that may possible be fixed - if only to have a spare coimputer knocking around.
    BOOTMGR missing message on boot - I'll try and find info on a fix on that one.
    You could try a Startup Repair, here is a tutorial:
    Startup Repair
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 home (I think!)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    DavidE said:
    Norfbech said:
    Glad I've stumbled on this forum - I actually have my other daughters first laptop (Dell Inspiron running Windows 7) that may possible be fixed - if only to have a spare coimputer knocking around.
    BOOTMGR missing message on boot - I'll try and find info on a fix on that one.
    You could try a Startup Repair, here is a tutorial:
    Startup Repair
    Hi David - I've actually created a seperate thread for this issue but will take a look at you link.
    Not sure if this is an issue, but I cannot enter F8 function on boot (unlike F2 and F12) so not option, on this laptop at least, for a repair that way...?

    Many thanks.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #6

    Some PC's use F8 to display the "one-time" boot options.
    Is that what the laptop uses, and it isn't working ?

    The tutorial shows how to do a Startup Repair when using a bootable installation disc or system repair disc.
    Can you boot up with a bootable DVD/CD disc ?

    Here is a quote from the tutorial:

    Here's How:
    1. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen using your retail Windows 7 installation disk or system repair disc.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 home (I think!)
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I'm not sure. I don't have any of the original discs (possibly lost in a house move...or my daughter threw them out!), but wondering if I could create a bootable ISO (as per my other windows 7 query)?

    Many thanks.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #8

    In the Startup Repair tutorial there is this link for how to create a System Repair disc.
    System Repair Disc - Create

    If you have the same bit version on a bootable Win 7 PC, create a System Repair disc.
    See if that disc will boot the other Laptop, so you can do a Startup Repair.

    If not, some folks here can help you create a bootable Win 7 installation disc.
    I don't know the details, how or where to get the ISO to create an install disc.

    MS has made it difficult to get a legit Win 7 ISO, causing problems for some people trying to do a Clean Install, Repair, etc.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 home (I think!)
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks DavidE - three PC's: the two faulty laptops (both Windows 7) and the new PC tower (Windows 10) so cannot, unfortunately, boot from another PC.
    Pretty sure the response from my other thread details how to create a windows7 ISO (I'm not fully up on PC stuff however):

    If you do not have a Windows 7 without SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 Professional or Home Premium without SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.

    It is preferred to have SP1 installed on your PC and to use step 4 or step 5 above to do a repair install with instead though.
    Many thanks.

    Just to add: I haven't tried this yet - will run it over the weekend.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #10

    Good luck and let us know how it goes !
    I saw some interesting new info (to me) on the link for downloads !

    If I'm understanding this correctly, it could help many people.

    Windows 7 stuck in reboot loop following windows 10 upgrade-windows_iso_downloads.png

    Source for screen print: https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno...-download-tool
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 22:29.
Find Us