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Resolved Question

Windows 10 stick in automatic repair

Mar 26, 2017 8:44PM PDT

My computer said it had a windows update to do and restarted. When it restarted it went into diagnostics... Then it stops and says it cannot fix the problem. I have tried restore... Refresh and starting in safe mode. I cannot start it in safe mode for some reason... Help! I cannot lose the files on the computer as all the pictures I have of my son are on the computer. He passed a couple years ago. I know I should have backed it up... I just bought a new portable hard drive but I didn't get a chance to move everything into it... Any help would be appreciated.

Discussion is locked

Janthorpe has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
Additional info
Mar 26, 2017 9:10PM PDT

The disks that came with it will not work... Says error... USB stick won't work either...
It's an HP pavilion... Running Windows 10
Restore, refresh, safe mode (it goes into diagnostics again and says it cannot fix the problems), also I tried turning off diagnostics in command prompt...

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HP disc
Mar 26, 2017 10:50PM PDT

I don't know what disc came with the machine but if it's a recovery disc and it won't boot it sounds like you have a hardware fault.

Take the hdd to another machine and see if you can access those pics.
If so copy them out to the portable hdd you bought.

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Thank you for your help
Mar 27, 2017 5:35AM PDT

It wouldn't let me in from another computer until I installed Linux. Thank you for your help☺

Best Answer

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You need to save those files first
Mar 26, 2017 10:37PM PDT

Go to another computer, download linuxmint 18.1 and "burn image" to a DVD. Set the affected computer then to boot to that DVD drive. Open the file manager in the linux mint system and find the files you wish to save. Save them to your new portable drive. What portable drive is it? There are some which only work with windows if the drive has a password protection scheme built into it.

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Thank you
Mar 27, 2017 5:34AM PDT

I did what you said and I have the files on the portable hard drive now... I appreciate your help so much - those pictures mean the world to me.

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I'm happy to hear that since...
Mar 27, 2017 11:17AM PDT

...too often we see the worst has happened in these forums. Kudos!