Windows 10 update problem - Z3-615

RodL
RodL Member Posts: 3 New User
edited June 2021 in All-In-One PCs
I have an old Z3-615 desktop, I did the windows 10 May upgrade and now I pc doesn’t get past a loop in the log in screen, I can’t find the recovery disc that came with it and when I go to the troubleshoot menu (left Alt and F10) I can’t reset, refresh, restore, I get an error on all options. Anyone with suggestions?

//Edited the content to add model name.

Best Answer

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    OK, your machine uses a normal UEFI boot environment, which puts four partitions on the drive. A small EFI partition (usually 100MB) that holds the UEFI BIOS image, a slightly larger recovery partition (usually around 500MB) that holds the software for doing a recovery, the system partition (very close to the full drive size) that shows up in Windows as C:, and a second recovery partition (usually 2-10GB in size) that holds the recovery image. When the system was new that last partition had the original image from Acer, but the first time it did the Windows 10 upgrade it was replaced by a generic Windows 10 image. What looks like is going on is there's an issue with that last partition. When you try to do a Windows reset it's trying to get the Windows image from that last partition, when you try to do an Acer reset it will fails because the original image isn't there any longer.
    It's possible the issue is the start of a failing drive, in which case you'll want to get a replacement (likely a SSD instead of a HDD), clone the original drive to the replacement, then swap out and run on the new one. If the drive has failed far enough the clone process will fail and you'll have to reinstall from scratch. I lean toward the bad drive explanation due to the last error you listed, a failure to write a file is often a drive issue rather than software. It's also possible there is no issue with the drive except that last partition has been removed or is corrupted. IF so it's likely going to be easiest to do the reinstall from scratch, which will recreate the Windows 10 image on that last partition. The problem with that is you'll also have to reinstall all your applications and data, which may require backing your data up from the install boot since you can't get directly into Windows right now.
    Let me know which avenue you'd like to explore and we'll look at the options...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    What errors do you see when booting? It may be easier to fix it rather than try to start over from scratch.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • RodL
    RodL Member Posts: 3 New User
    @billsey thanks for responding. When I try to reset the PC it says "unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing", When I try to reimage it says "Windows cannot find a system image on this computer" and when I try to do a System Restore it says "System Restore Failed to replace the file (C:\programdata\microsoft\windowsdefender\platform\4.8.2105.4-0\af-za\mpuxagent.dll.mui) with its original copy from the restore point. An unspecified error ocurred during System Restore. (0x80070780)"
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    OK, your machine uses a normal UEFI boot environment, which puts four partitions on the drive. A small EFI partition (usually 100MB) that holds the UEFI BIOS image, a slightly larger recovery partition (usually around 500MB) that holds the software for doing a recovery, the system partition (very close to the full drive size) that shows up in Windows as C:, and a second recovery partition (usually 2-10GB in size) that holds the recovery image. When the system was new that last partition had the original image from Acer, but the first time it did the Windows 10 upgrade it was replaced by a generic Windows 10 image. What looks like is going on is there's an issue with that last partition. When you try to do a Windows reset it's trying to get the Windows image from that last partition, when you try to do an Acer reset it will fails because the original image isn't there any longer.
    It's possible the issue is the start of a failing drive, in which case you'll want to get a replacement (likely a SSD instead of a HDD), clone the original drive to the replacement, then swap out and run on the new one. If the drive has failed far enough the clone process will fail and you'll have to reinstall from scratch. I lean toward the bad drive explanation due to the last error you listed, a failure to write a file is often a drive issue rather than software. It's also possible there is no issue with the drive except that last partition has been removed or is corrupted. IF so it's likely going to be easiest to do the reinstall from scratch, which will recreate the Windows 10 image on that last partition. The problem with that is you'll also have to reinstall all your applications and data, which may require backing your data up from the install boot since you can't get directly into Windows right now.
    Let me know which avenue you'd like to explore and we'll look at the options...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • RodL
    RodL Member Posts: 3 New User
    Thanks @billsey I think I will reinstall Windows 10 from scratch. Will let you know how that goes.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    Please do keep us updated.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

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