Aspire repair / reset loop

E2

Hello All, first timer here, and thanks in advance!!

Aspire desktop xc-704
Windows 10

Upon power up I get:

Preparing automatic repair...
Diagnosing PC...
Attempting repairs...

Arrives at blue screen. "Choose an Option"
All options lead to a loop of above.

The farthest it got was when I choose the option to "reset but keep personal files" it went to prepare ("getting things ready") and then began the process  , it gets to approx 40% then reboots into the same sequence.

-this issue originally happened as I was using the McAfee removal tool and I think it either caused a crash or the computer went into sleep mode during removal (?).

- I took the hard drive out and connected to a windows10 Dell, read and copied the whole thing , so HDD works and I'm also fine with a total wipe .. but how?

- how can I force the machine to boot from recovery partition? (Or is that even the correct response at this point?)

First post here. Will attempt to add couple of pics then post. Thanks in advance!

Edited the content to hide sensitive information
Acer-Samuel

billsey

Yeah, they look the same but i you are still running the original OS they aren't the same under the hood. The original recovery partition held the Acer factory image. I the system started with a different OS and was upgraded to Windows 10 then the recovery partition holds the Microsoft factory image instead of Acer's. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it switches from Acer to MS after one of the big semi-annual updates as well. That's why the user documentation recommends creating  an Acer recovery when it's new. If the reset option isn't working from the OS then likely the drive is corrupted. Why don't you try this next though... Boot to the Choose an option screen and choose Troubleshoot, from there you can find the Command prompt. in the command prompt do a "DIR C:\" and verify it is your normal C: drive, it should have folders like "Program Files" and "Windows". If it is, do this: "CHKDSK /F /R C:" and let it go through (it'll take a looong time) and fix whatever errors might be fixable. If you then reboot and let it try the startup repair it might actually work.

GAMING6698

@E2 did you try system restore 
In recovery go to troubleshoot→advanced options→restore point 

E2

I didn't go for that option as I had ~never~ created a "restore point" of my own...
(Are you saying ,via that option, the system will just go right back to its initial install as the only available point from which to start over?)
thx

GAMING6698

@E2 see i am not going to provide you any solution in case because nothing going to help you .your system files is corrupted and you only have 1 option install new window from Microsoft site and make bootable usb install it

E2

I have no problem attempting a bootable usb reload.

Still, I'm surprised with Acer's elaborate recovery ability that it doesn't simply SAY that a system file is corrupt (or otherwise advise of the actual underlying issue...)

Regarding re-download of windows ,I've read in other threads I just need my s.n.i.d. to satisfy Microsoft and the license is valid, is that true?

Or should I mount the faulty drive in my other windows10 computer and use  the recovery partition somehow (copy/partition/boot sequence, etc??)

billsey

Have you tried the Acer recovery, or only the Windows recovery?

E2

Gee. How can I tell?
Do those screen shots I included in my o.p. indicate windows or acer? That's the only recovery/reset loop I see (am stuck in)

How do I get to one versus the other?
Thx

E2

E2 said:

Gee. How can I tell?
Do those screen shots I included in my o.p. indicate windows or acer? That's the only recovery/reset loop I see (am stuck in)

How do I get to one versus the other?
Thx

I’m pretty sure I’m in the “acer  recovery” but I have not needed to press alt-f10, the computer is entering that mode on its own (detects something is wrong, I presume). If I press alt-f10 I get the same screens and options. (unless there is a detail I’m missing?)

billsey

It looks to me from the screen shots that you are in the Windows diagnostic boot mode. If the system partition is corrupted then it'll just loop you through as you are seeing. The easiest solution, assuming the drive itself hasn't failed, is to do as GAMING6698 suggests and do a full OS reinstall using a Windows install flash drive. What you won't get with that is the original factory apps and drivers. If one or more of your drivers aren't included in the Windows load you'll have to install them after downloading from the Acer support site. The Alt-F10 thing takes you to the Acer recovery, which tries to put the original factory image back on, including all drivers and apps. You then let the system do it's normal updates and you eventually end up back to the state you were in before the error happened. It likely would take more time since you would have to reinstall the Windows upgrade to 1909 from wherever the machine was in the beginning, but you wouldn't have to deal with updating drivers. If your drive has failed then the Acer recovery isn't going to help since it's stored on the drive...

E2

Thank you for the detailed reply!!

Yes. Lol
I am still fiddling and I agree with what you have written. 
I understand and don't mind about having to get my own drivers. It doesn't bother me that I'm not getting the "acer branded recovery". 
I guess my system files might be corrupt, but the drive seems fine when I put it in another machine. 
And  I see a "partion 4" that is labeled "recovery", so now I am trying to force it to boot from that partition but don't see an explicit option for that. 

(Also I'll just mention the "F10 thing" leads to what looks exactly like what the computer is doing in my screenshots above.)

How to force boot from a specific partition?
Drive 0; partition 4

billsey

Yeah, they look the same but i you are still running the original OS they aren't the same under the hood. The original recovery partition held the Acer factory image. I the system started with a different OS and was upgraded to Windows 10 then the recovery partition holds the Microsoft factory image instead of Acer's. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it switches from Acer to MS after one of the big semi-annual updates as well. That's why the user documentation recommends creating  an Acer recovery when it's new. If the reset option isn't working from the OS then likely the drive is corrupted. Why don't you try this next though... Boot to the Choose an option screen and choose Troubleshoot, from there you can find the Command prompt. in the command prompt do a "DIR C:\" and verify it is your normal C: drive, it should have folders like "Program Files" and "Windows". If it is, do this: "CHKDSK /F /R C:" and let it go through (it'll take a looong time) and fix whatever errors might be fixable. If you then reboot and let it try the startup repair it might actually work.

E2

Thanks for the great reply!
All understood.
Yes why did I not run chkdsk??
Anyhow, it's a day too late as I reinstalled from a usb yesterday. All up and running except now it shows as the hard drive is half full of stuff I can't see/access(the orphaned contents of the drive from prior use)
Not sure what utility will clean that up for me, do you have a recommendation?
(Bear in mind I had already copied the entire drive so no data loss concerns)

Anyhow let's call this case closed,  i'm  giving you the point because you suick with me. Much appreciated. 

billsey

Are they in the Windows.old folder? If so you can clean them up with Disk Cleanup. Use the Clean up system files, then Previous Windows installations.

E2

Hah - of course they are!
Yes.
Thank you !!!

billsey

Glad I could help. It took me the longest time to figure out that you could delete those without changing ownership on every file.