There is nothing worse than turning on your PC and noticing that the system does not boot properly, continually rebooting and preventing it from arriving on the desktop. This problem was very difficult to solve in the days of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, but fortunately on Windows 10 Microsoft ran for cover by introducing an automatic recovery system, which allows all users to attempt to restore the system after a series of forced Windows reboots.In the following guide we will show you in detail how solve the problem of continuous reboot computer, when the system loads up to display the Windows logo but starts in a reboot loop, never getting to the system login screen or desktop.
READ ALSO: Ways to Repair Windows 10 and Create Recovery Disk
Restore PC via recovery console
Windows 10 was designed with a recovery mode which often works to solve that endless, endless reboot problem. The error occurs due to a problem with the Windows registry that is impossible to resolve if it does not load the desktop. To overcome this problem and return to Windows loading, you need to use the Windows 10 system recovery options.
The first method involves waiting for the system reboot three consecutive times: after these attempts Windows will understand that something is wrong and will immediately start the recovery console. We can too manually log in to the recovery console forcing the system to shut down three times in a row, even during startup.
In the blue screen that opens, all we have to do is press on the menu Troubleshoot and use one of the options present.
With the voice System recovery we can use a restore point to fix the functioning of Windows 10, but only if we had already enabled the creation of restore points.
With the option System Image Restore we can use a system image file (previously created for backup purposes) to get the system back up and running, without compromising the personal files on the PC. To learn more we can also read our guide Create a Windows 10 backup image now.
Using the Startup Repair and then pressing on Reboot we will access the advanced Windows startup options, that is the screen that on old Windows was activated by repeatedly pressing F8 before starting the system (this technique has now fallen into disuse).
For our purposes we can press the F9 key to disable the automatic restart following an error; by doing so, at the next reboot, if the system runs into an error we will have all the time to read the code and the nature of the blue screen, also helping us with our guide on Windows “blue screen” crash.
If we were unable to restore the correct startup of Windows, let’s go back to the startup settings and this time use F5 to start Windows in safe mode with networking, so that we can find a solution to the problem and also surf the Internet (only via Ethernet cable ).
If the problem appeared after the Windows version update (Major Update), we can solve it by going to the recovery console, clicking on Troubleshoot and pressing on Go back to the previous build, so as to return to the previous version of Windows (known to be functional).
If, on the other hand, we fear that the problem was caused by a new malfunctioning driver, just bring us to the startup settings (those where you can also start the safe mode) and press the key Disable Driver Signature Enforcement, so that even non-certified drivers or problematic drivers can be loaded into the system. If the PC starts up, it is better to uninstall the new driver immediately and go back to an old but stable one and do the Backup dei Driver.
Reset PC via installation media
If the procedures outlined in have solved anything and your PC keeps restarting or crashing on startup, we can try the Windows 10 recovery via installation media. For this procedure we will first have to recover another working PC, then create an installation media or an installation USB key, by downloading the Microsoft tool from the official website.
From this site we press on Download the tool now, start the tool at the end of the download and, in the screen that opens, select the item Create installation media for another PC. Next we choose the system architecture to download (64 bit or 32 bit) then follow the steps to burn a blank DVD or use a blank USB stick.
After the creation of the rescue media we insert the DVD or USB stick in the non-functioning PC, let’s change the boot order, press any key when prompted and wait for the Windows installation screen to appear.
In the next screen we enter the Italian language, click on Come on and then on Reset the computer. The same screen seen above will open: all we have to do is press on Troubleshooting and use the commands System recovery, System Image Restore O Startup Repair. In the same screen we can also uninstall the latest updates, so as to try to solve the problem without reinstalling everything.
Restore PC via recovery disc
If we don’t have a restore point to use a recovery disk, created from the same system before it got damaged, as seen in our guide Ways to Repair Windows 10 and Create Recovery Disk.
With the recovery disk connected to the PC not working, change the boot order as seen above, press again on Troubleshoot and we use the voice Reset your PC to restore the entire operating system, without touching your personal files. The apps, drivers, customizations and desktop icons will be erased, but Windows will definitely be functional again and we will still be able to access our personal files again.
Advanced recovery via command prompt
If the Restore option doesn’t work, a message will appear warning that Windows cannot repair your computer automatically. So let’s go back to the recovery console and press on Command Prompt.
Without being afraid of the black interface of the command prompt, just know that it allows you to manage Windows from the keyboard. It opens with a cursor flashing next to the text X: which is the internal RAM disk of Windows. To proceed we type the following commands with absolute precision and, after each, press Enter.
- We type C: and press Enter.
- Let’s write then to you and press Enter to verify that you are actually on the C drive.
- Let’s write now cd windowssystem32config and then we repeat the command TO YOU to verify that these files and folders are present: RegBack, DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE and SYSTEM.
- Let’s type now md MyBackup to create a folder and then we write copy *.* mybackup accepting any warnings (this creates a copy of these files to restore if errors are made)
- We enter the Regback folder with the command cd RegBack and then digitimao to you to view the contents of the folder and check that there are 5 files inside making sure that they are not 0 bytes (otherwise we will not be able to continue with the commands).
- Let’s now copy the 5 files in the upper folder (the config) with the command copy *.* .. always giving Yes warning messages about overwriting existing files.
We type the command immediately exit to exit the prompt and restart the computer, so as to check if the problem is finally solved.
Conclusions
If Windows restarts indefinitely and does not want to work, we can always try one of the methods seen above, sure that we will find a solution. If we were smart, just use a restore point, but they must be activated before the problem; alternatively, we recommend that you always create a recovery disk for the system in use, so that you can start the simple recovery of Windows 10 even in the most desperate cases.
If the computer does not start even with the methods seen above, there is nothing left to do but format, trying to recover the stored files. To proceed in this direction we can first recover data and files from the computer that does not start then format Windows 10.
READ ALSO: How to turn on the PC if Windows does not start?
