Windows update KB4549951 and then issue started

18/4 all this saga has started only after update KB4549951
First error "Unexpected error. Sorry, we ran into a problem. Please try again". then giving me the login screen to login. password successful. i see the desktop icons and in under 1 minute goes back to error message.
This would loop endlessly with NO corrective action.

Managed to get into safe mode and move my critical data to external device. Wasted a lot of time for devices to be detected, extremely extremely slow. This is abnormal behavior.

Managed to go through WIN+Key's to get to Programs and tried Uninstalling the update, cant remember exact message, said something like "program not completely uninstalled. Please restart".
Restart done and goes back to error message.

Rebooted to get in to the mode PLEASE WAIT ...... blue screen options Advanced, repair etc etc. as per your Youtube vids.

Since there was "System restore" selected 15/04 restore.
I am aware generally Win7 restore takes no more than 30 mins to 2 hours.
W10 here and restore was happening for well over 4 hours, so aborted. I HAVE ONE MORE RESTORE POINT LEFT OF 08/04

19/04
the laptop NOW does nothing more than displaying ACER and below "Automatic Repair"

There is NO issue other than this stupid Windows Update which i need to uninstall.
Your help much appreciated.

Accepted answers

Puraw

Miltz said:

Hi Sir, Thank you for all your help and troubleshooting. The loads of information and links too. You have been very helpful.
I have a friend, who had the ISO on a USB, Legacy.

I am so busy with work doing a 10 day week (due to staff shielding), so went on with this option. I made some changes to BIOS, legacy, SATA Ahci, and got it to pick W10 advanced troubleshooting. How I wish I could have the UEFI.

I could see the Restore option but did not have the patience for another 4 to 8 hrs. So went into install Windows.

For Information - I did not have the 25 digit windows key anywhere on the BOX, or the Invoice or any sticker. Just took the dive.
It was seamless, no issues and installed perfect.

I will catch up with you soon to provide further update on what I did to BIOS upgrade - now 2.2.

Thank you very much again.
I will continue on this thread again.

You wrote: "How I wish I could have the UEFI".
You now have a Legacy boot format and that has set you (technically) back at least one year, Intel (your motherboard) no longer supports Legacy boot and more devices will follow in 2020. Hereby some pages that discuss pros and cons of the two (BIOS vs. UEFI), take your time to read all that, you can change to UEFI anytime. Windows10 forum is the safest way to convert your HDD partition from MBR to GPT. But you want to backup your system first and make a recovery (emergency) drive asap in case of problems. That boot conversion to UEFI will only work if your HDD partitions are healthy and since you had a booting problem before it may not work, then you will have to reinstall W10 with the Windows online download method, 2nd blank FAT32 formatted USB drive and your W10 Product Key (wmic command, see above).

https://superuser.com/questions/1167484/what-happens-if-i-switch-to-uefi-mode-after-install-windows-10-in-legacy-mode

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/uefi-vs-bios.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/81502-convert-windows-10-legacy-bios-uefi-without-data-loss.html

Windows10 on a UEFI USB emergency drive won't boot if BIOS is set to Legacy and vice versa (you probably discovered that last one already).

Let me know if you have any questions.

All comments

Puraw

Hi Miltz,
I assume you are restoring from a backup saved to your external HDD?
Restoring W10 may well take 6 hours, never abort updates or restoring tasks as you may corrupt more system files. Just let the tasks complete, have the laptop connected to the power adapter during restoring and make sure the LED charge light on the laptop is on.
If you were trying to restore from your internal drive (from a Restore Point), try to restore from the backup instead, if you have one, as there are some issues reported with Volume Shadow Copy (System Restore).

Miltz

Hi, thank you for replying.

the restore is System Restore point not HDD
I did not take a backup externally. My mistake.
How can I move out from this "automatic repair" state to get Advanced options.
Also do you think deleting the file through CMD is good or please could you suggest.

Miltz

Any ideas ACER.

Puraw

If your mouse is not working use the arrow keys at the right side of your keyboard to navigate Bios to restore options
You wrote: "I HAVE ONE MORE RESTORE POINT LEFT OF 08/04" Try to restore that, if no luck "reset your PC" also in Bios.

Miltz

Sorry here, but where in Bios am I looking for restore.
FYI the HDD information is displayed in full, all in "information"
F2 for bios
F12 boot
Only these 2 work
F5, 8, 10 do not work

Puraw

I should have said Boot Manager not Bios, you restored before in Safe Mode, when you are in Bios you can start/exit in Safe Mode that is a Bios option. To get to the Boot Manager easiest way is push the laptop power off button till all LED lights are off, or if you are on a AC adapter only the charge light is on. Wait a few seconds and Power Up again (same button), do the same again, power off and on and you should get the Boot Manager on your screen with advanced options to Restore or Reset (the latter will lose your files and updates).

Miltz

Sir I wish I could get to that point of advanced options.
At this time.
Unfortunately I can only get either into f2 or f12.

What I did in the hope something may change.
Power on - Acer logo and ditted circle thinking
Power off
Power on - Acer logo preparing automatic repair.
Left it all night.
Morning checked and Acer logo with no message just
Dotted thinking circle

Miltz

These were the screens

IMG_20200421_134138677.jpg

Miltz

The Please wait screen cap followed by earlier screen cap Thinking

IMG_20200421_133723019.jpg

Puraw

Hi Miltz,
That looks like an Aspire 5 a515-54?
The good news is that you can access Bios and see the Acer screen (Post completes OK). The problem you have is that Windows10 won't boot (corrupted system file/driver) and that you did not make a backup with a bootable recovery flash drive directly after you purchased your laptop. Don't worry we will get you to the advanced options. Now did you try the 3x shutdowns with the power button (top right push key on your keyboard) and make sure that all LED lights are off after you power off (when power adapter is connected only the charge light will be on) do that 3 times (switch on/off) that will trigger the Boot Manager with the advanced options, your mouse (touchpad) should work to select restore (recommended) or reset PC (you will lose files and updates and some 3rd party apps/programs. Let me know what you see on the screen.
If after 3 times on/off with the power push button the Boot Manager does not show we have to reset your battery, there is a pinhole on the back of your laptop with a tiny battery sign next to the vent grill, turn off the laptop, unplug power adapter and insert carefully an opened paper clip or dull end of a needle and press lightly till you feel a click. Then do the 3x power on/off routine till you see the Boot Manager,

Miltz

Hi thank you for your reply.
a615-51-51v1
I have tried the 3 times on/off did not help.

Will try the battery reset today evening and update you.
Thank you

Puraw

Hi Miltz, after the reset (with the pinhole) make sure you push the power button 3 times off and 3 times on in a row (don't wait all night) only that will trigger the emergency screen (Windows Boot Manager) with the Advanced Options that we are after. Try it several times (pin and 3x boot with the power key). When you Power Off check the LED lights on the side of your laptop they MUST BE OFF (except charging light if you are on power adapter) as you may have the power button configured to go to SLEEP mode (Windows10 default) instead of Power Off but by keeping the power button pressed down 10 seconds it will eventually power off, repeat that 3 times.
If all fails you have to make an Emergency Disk (USB flash/thumb drive, 32 GB) I will help you To make one online, do you know the Windows10 Product Key that Acer gave you (check the box/documents) if Acer downloaded your Windows system online it will be a digital license tied to your Microsoft online account when you registered your laptop, Has your model a SSD or are you running Windows on a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)?

Miltz

Thank you for the detailed steps, I've not been able to do the steps last night, as reached home late. I will try the battery reset tonight. Getting ready for work again.

It is HDD. I will check for windows product key if all fails. I have the docs.

Sorry for the delay to test.
Thank you again.

Puraw

No worries, Acer User Guides are incomplete about booting issues and also should instruct users to create an Emergency USB drive as soon as the laptop is booted up for the first time: Older W10 machines use Legacy BIOS with the F8 key to activate Windows Boot Manager ("Advanced Options, restore, reset"), the newer Windows machines use UEFI BIOS (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) without an F8 key and require a USB drive to activate the Boot Manager if Windows does not boot automatically. Second option is the Pinhole reset and 3x booting routine with the power button that you will try this evening.
It looks to me that somehow the hidden boot sector on your HDD got corrupted during a crash, we will see how the pinhole trick will go tonight. You can make an Emergency Drive with another PC that runs on Windows10 18363 x64 Home or the official Windows way, online but that will require your W10 Product Key. I have all instructions ready for you both offline and online.

Miltz

Hi
I I have done battery reset through pinhole first attempt 3 power on off gets to "Preparing automatic repair"

Second attempt power on off "please wait" keeps circling and then goes back to preparing automatic repair.

I will search for docs tonight for windows key, and USB for the online boot.

Is this the right link for exe file.
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-windows-10-usb-bootable-media-uefi-support

Thank you

Miltz

Thank you again as I will need offline support for this laptop, I have WiFi but at this time it's useless to connect with this laptop.

Puraw

Hi, too bad you cannot change the Automatic repair option (1) to Advanced options (2), I assume you tried the arrow keys mouse and Esc to change and select Advanced?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/mw/axg55gov987r.png

Here are the online instructions:

How to create a USB recovery flash drive (also called an Emergency Drive).

Need a PC with a reliable internet connection. The download time will vary, depending on your internet connection. (may take several hours). https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10 (in Asia, check for a USA site or use the au one). See picture below what to download and follow instructions.

Use a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB (32 GB is better) of space. Change the booting order on your broken laptop in BIOS (key F2) to USB=1 (probably now Boot Manager=1) use arrow keys and Enter to move USB up (1) if mouse is not active. (let me know if Boot Manager is not at the top (1) in Bios maybe you changed that order and that is why you cannot boot windows?). USB should be at the top (1) now as you will boot with the recovery drive,

A product key. Your 25-character product key that came with the laptop package (sticker?) or if a digital license contact your Acer shop.

Maybe you remember a few things on the PC where you want to install Windows 10:

64-bit (CPU). You’ll create a 64-bit version of Windows 10.

Language in Windows (Single, US English?). You'll need to choose the same language when you install Windows 10. .

Original edition of Windows: 10.18363?. You should also choose the same edition of Windows.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/h7/05m7rzlyknjf.png

Let me know if you need help.

Puraw

If you don't have a fast internet link or cannot find your W10 product key see what Windows version the PC you are using now has or maybe you can use someone else's PC to make a recovery drive Offline?

Offline:

Find a working PC with Windows10 18363-1909, x64 Home

Step 1. Insert your USB flash drive with ample free space on it (32GB) to that computer.

Step 2. Search "Create a recovery drive" in the search box. Click the option and open it.

Step 3. Check the box "Back up system files to the recovery drive" and click Next.

Step 4. Wait until the wizard prepares to copy files to your flash drive.

Step 5. Select your USB flash drive and click Next.

Miltz

Thank you for the detailed steps and information. I will reply to your post above in sometime today.
Just too busy with my work rota.
Thank you again. Please bear with me.

Puraw

Glad to be of some help, take all the time you need.
I would give the pinhole reset + 3x power on/off one more try and see if you can get out of that "Preparing automatic repair" screen with the Esc key (hit the Esc key several times) maybe that will get to the options screen (1st picture above).

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