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#1
AuntieHolly

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Went on vacation and shut down computer while gone. When I came back home and started computer, it would not start up. Dell desktop running windows 10. The computer went through its disk recovery but still would not start. I have not tried the option of doing a factory reset because I was afraid that my personal files would be lost. Any advice?


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#2
zep516

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What was the blue screen error code?


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#3
AuntieHolly

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No error code. Automatically started disk recovery. Then message recovery unsuccessful. Gave option of choosing to either shut down or advanced options.

I tried advanced options which included resetting to factory settings, keeping files but deleting apps, and start computer with a different operating system.

I tried the option of keeping files but after running it, a message "Restart unsuccessful, No changes were made to your computer."  I don't have another operation system so couldn't attempt that. I didn't want to reset to factory settings because I thought that if I did I would lose my personal files.

Now the computer seems to be stuck in a mode where the screen is "press control, alt, delete to restart computer" .  When I did that nothing happened except a loop to the the same screen.


Edited by AuntieHolly, 29 March 2024 - 04:54 PM.

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#4
zep516

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Wow that will be not in my skill set....


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#5
AuntieHolly

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Thanks for looking. Appreciate you taking the time.


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#6
zep516

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What's the make and model of that laptop or desktop ?


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#7
AuntieHolly

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It's a Dell desktop Inspiron 3647. OS originally Windows 8 Pro, upgraded to Windows 10.4.


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#8
phillpower2

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Now the computer seems to be stuck in a mode where the screen is "press control, alt, delete to restart computer" .  When I did that nothing happened except a loop to the the same screen.

 

 

First thing that we need to do is see if we can get you back into the Windows Recovery Environment ( RE )  see my canned info below;

 

See if you are able to force the computer to start in the Windows Recovery Environment (RE) by starting up and shutting down the computer two or three times using the case power button, please note that you need to shut down the computer after the MBs/Dell splash screen and just before Windows attempts to load, if successful you should then continue to the Troubleshooting options and then hopefully be able to use Reset this PC, a system restore point or Safe Mode etc.  

 

 

Suggest that if you can get back into the RE and Advanced options etc that you first of all see if there is a system restore point that is before you went on vacation, if not, try Safe Mode and then Safe Mode with Networking.

 

Let us know how you get on with the above.


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#9
AuntieHolly

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Attempted to restart several times per your instructions. The only difference this time is that the Dell logo appears before the screen with "Press ctrl + alt+ delete to restart computer"

After pressing ctrl + alt + delete it just goes into the same loop but with the dell logo first.


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#10
phillpower2

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Are you turning the PC off when you see the Dell logo, if you leave it too long after the logo Windows will attempt to load, this the reason why you see the ctrl + alt + delete which are part of Windows.

 

If you cannot access the RE again you are going to have to run a live distro such as Linux to try and back up your personal data.


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#11
AuntieHolly

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I was not able to get back into the Recovery environment but somehow got to:

"Aptio setup utility" It has selections of:

Main

Advanced

Boot

Power

Security

Exit

Each has their own drop down list of items.

Is this useful?

 


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#12
phillpower2

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You need to be careful here as the Aptio utility can be triggered by the BIOS not being able to detect an OS such as Windows and/or a failed boot device.

 

See info here


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#13
AuntieHolly

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Thank you. i read the article. Do you know if my personal files will be deleted if I use those instructions and reset the Bios? I need to retrieve some of them.


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#14
phillpower2

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Your data may already be gone and as I said you need to be careful as the Aptio utility only comes into play by the BIOS not being able to detect an OS such as Windows and/or a failed boot device.

 

Booting to a Linux distro and backing up any potential data is the safest way to go about this, see info here


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#15
AuntieHolly

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Thank you for the article to read. Following those instructions I was able to retrieve some files but unfortunately none of them were my personal files.

Thanks again for your time and help.


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