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Question

Unable to refresh or reset PC after Automatic Repair fails i

Aug 4, 2013 10:59AM PDT

I will quote from an article on the Microsoft site, Article ID: 2823223
Quote:
Consider the following scenario:
You have Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro installed on your PC.
Your PC fails to boot into Windows and launches Automatic Repair to attempt to repair Windows.
Automatic Repair is unable to repair your PC and you select "Advanced options".
After selecting "Troubleshoot", you choose to either "Refresh your PC" or "Reset your PC".
In this scenario, recovery may fail and you are returned back to the main WinRE screen.
This issue may occur if the System or Software registry hives have become damaged or corrupted.
To attempt to resolve this issue, follow the steps below.
NOTE: Following these steps should only be used if you are attempting to use the "Refresh your PC" or "Reset your PC" options in Windows RE because your system is in a non-bootable state.
After Automatic Repair fails to repair your PC, select "Advanced options" and then "Troubleshoot".
Select "Advanced options" and then select "Command Prompt".
If prompted, enter in the password for the user name.
At the Command Prompt, go to the \windows\system32\config folder by typing the following command: cd %windir%\system32\config.
Rename the System and Software registry hives to System.001 and Software.001 by using the following commands:
ren system system.001
ren software software.001
END QUOTE

I did all that but when I tried to rename the Software.001 file the system responds:"The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process"
I tried to create a Ubuntu start up usb key so that i could maybe get in and rename the file but that presented more problems that I couldn't understand so I came here for more advice.
Any ideas about how to get past this cycle would be much appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Nod.
Aug 4, 2013 11:29AM PDT

I'm seeing failures like this now. Not much new going on in that MSFT and PC makers have yet to find a great repair system that works without toasting the users files. I had hope MSFT would offer in Windows 7 and then 8 something good like Apple's "install the OS but don't wipe out the user's files" but again it didn't work out.

When you see this much failure, back to the old ways. Save the owner's files, reload the OS and restore their files then tell them to install apps if they need them to open the files.

Bob

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Thank you for your reply, Bob.
Aug 4, 2013 12:29PM PDT

I think you are mistaking me for someone who knows what they are doing Blush but I am a user not a repair person as you seem to have assumed. Anyway I should have mentioned that I do not have a boot disk.

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Then it's like a flat tire.
Aug 5, 2013 1:51AM PDT

Without the boot disk and repair tools it's like a flat tire without a lug wrench to change it.

Hopefully you learned or heard over the years to never entrust a PC with your only copy of what you can't lose. Time to call the maker and order restore media.
Bob

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Bob your condescending smugness is so refreshing
Aug 5, 2013 1:39PM PDT

I'm sure you could find some people in your neighborhood who could use a few "I told you so"s. Why don't you go for a walk?

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Sorry if it came across that way.
Aug 5, 2013 1:47PM PDT

The industry is pushing product that fails as it has for you. I had hopes that the Windows 8 recovery systems would fair better than before so you have fallen victim to this and all I can do is write what you may have to do to get the machine working again.

-> Let's try again?

How about this? Call it in and take the stance this is a product defect. The recovery fails so you want them to fix it.

How about that?

I can't see why you would take it out on me that the industry did this to so many but I completely understand how infuriating this can be.
Bob

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Answer
Here's the unfortunate solution
Sep 12, 2013 9:32AM PDT

so you're gonna lose all your stuff & you need the OEM disk, but here goes.

-put the disk in
-select 'install'
-enter code
-select 'custom install'
-proceed to delete all partitions until the drive you want to use is all unspoken-for space.
-install Win8 like a pro, albeit a disappointed one.