Stuck in Windows 10 Boot Loop

SAB110

Hello!

I have an older Acer Aspire T desktop which has been running well for around 5+ years and the other day it just stopped working and the machine shut off.

Now, when I press the power button, the computer turns on and the Acer splash screen comes up but then the computer beeps and resets and it continues to go through this boot loop.

I have tried everything that I could think of to resolve it:

1. I had two hard drives with the OS installed on it - an HDD and SDD - and I have tried both and neither work;

2. I tried a new power supply and it did not help;

3. I tried different RAM and it did not help;

4. The only thing I have not tried is a new video card as I don't have an extra one handy.

I can get into the BIOS however there are no settings which I can find to adjust.

Has anyone else experienced this before? Is the computer now just recyclable or is there something else I can try before I toss it?

Thanks!

JordanB

Hello,

1. On different computer, you can create a USB flash drive of Windows with Microsoft's media creation tool.

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Flash-Cruzer-Glide-SDCZ60-016G-B35/dp/B007YX9O9O/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_147_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=F9REAXDST626D6NP0W9H

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10


2.  Go in to your BIOS settings and enable the F12 Boot menu and then save/exit

3.  Boot the Windows USB by tapping the F12 key on your keyboard at the Acer logo

4.  Use the Windows recovery drive to backup your important personal files with Notepad or restore or reset your PC

If your PC won't start and you haven't created a recovery drive, download installation media and use it to restore from a system restore point or reset your PC.

1. On a working PC, go to the Microsoft software download website.
2. Download the Windows 10 media creation tool and then run it.
3. Select Create installation media for another PC.
4. Choose a language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).
5. Follow the steps to create installation media, and then select Finish.
6. Connect the installation media you created to your nonfunctional PC, and then turn it on.
7. On the initial setup screen, enter your language and other preferences, and then select Next. If you don't see the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer's website for info on how to change your PC's boot order, and then try again.
8. Select Repair your computer.
9. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot. From there, you can:
   • Restore from a system restore point by selecting Advanced options > System Restore. This will remove recently installed apps, drivers, and updates that might be causing your PC problems. Restoring from a restore point won’t affect your personal files.
   • Select Reset this PC to reinstall Windows 10. This will remove apps and drivers you installed and changes you made to settings, but lets you choose to keep or remove your personal files.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options


https://appuals.com/how-to-backup-files-from-command-prompt/

5. If you think your HDD or SSD is ok, you can wipe it and re-install Windows if you prefer fresh start.

---Select Install
---Select "Custom Install"
---Delete all of your partitions    (this will wipe the HDD or SSD)
---Click "Next"  (this will tell the Windows installer to automatically partition and format your HDD/SSD and automatically install Windows.)





Note:  If you want Windows 8.1 USB installation media, then you download the appropriate iso, and then create the USB installation media with rufus using the settings UEFI (non CSM), GPT, FAT32

If your computer originally came with Windows 7, you can use the Windows 10 USB for the repair tools.  Also, if your computer came with Windows 7, you can try to get your Windows 7 recovery media from Acer, but I don't know if they will have it available.  As a last resort, if your computer came with Windows 7, you can try getting the iso from here.

If your computer originally came pre-installed with Windows 8 or Windows 10, you can get your original OEM factory recovery media from Acer or the Acer Store.

http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/

https://store.acer.com/en-us/extended/recovery

https://store.acer.com/en-ca/extended/recovery/

SAB110

Thanks. I will try the methods mentioned above and update you with my results.

JordanB

ok sounds good.  I'll give you another method...which is probably what I'd do.....if you have an HDD enclosure.   The methods that I gave you in my first post assumes you don't have a HDD enclosure.

1. I'd remove the HDD and put it in an enclosure (if you have one) and connect the enclosure to another computer

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5-inches-SATA-Drive-Enclosure/dp/B01MZC303G?ref_=Oct_BSellerC_160354011_6&pf_rd_p=6616413b-1c60-55ef-a1ae-ef9578b5d282&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=160354011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=20SDZQAF3K5CDQGN7TMA&pf_rd_r=20SDZQAF3K5CDQGN7TMA&pf_rd_p=6616413b-1c60-55ef-a1ae-ef9578b5d282

2. And then I'd get the important personal files off of it and save them to the other computer

3.  And then I'd wipe the HDD with diskpart clean from an admin Command Prompt

diskpart
list disk
select disk x    (x=your HDD that you want to wipe)  (be careful, make sure you select the correct disk #)
clean
exit
exit

4. And then I'd remove the HDD from the enclosure and reinstall the HDD inside my Acer T series computer

5. And then I'd use my USB drive to re-install Windows 10

6.  And then I'd test the HDD to see if it's ok (not failing)  (Actually, I probably wouldn't reinstall a HDD that was 5.5 years old---I'd get a new one).


https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001091.htm

https://www.howtogeek.com/134735/how-to-see-if-your-hard-drive-is-dying/