Repair/reinstall Windows 8 without losing installed programs

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Vegeta

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Hi Guys

I need a little help. My windows 8 starts up with "Automatic repair" this repair fails and Windows 8 doesn't start it just restarts and performs the repair again... and again.... and again.

Here's my question, I know I can "refresh" windows 8 keeping all files & Metro apps, x86 apps will be lost.
How can I reinstall/repair the windows files while not loosing installed x86 apps
Is there somehow I can do a "upgrade" which doesn't touch anything like when I upgraded from windows 7 to windows 8?
Kinda upgrade from windows 8 to windows 8... sounds strange but that would probably work if its possible.

So frustrating its probably just some corrupt system files that if replaced will allow the pc to boot normally.
Before all this everything worked, I shut down or put the pc in sleep mode like I always do and upon the next boot this happened completely out of the blue :(
 
I did that new option to repair Windows without losing my files and all it did as I recall was rename it to a Windows.old directory so it is a pretty useless function. You could try taking the HD out of the machine put it in a USB and doing a check and repair drive for errors from another PC
 
nfbs said:
I did that new option to repair Windows without losing my files and all it did as I recall was rename it to a Windows.old directory so it is a pretty useless function. You could try taking the HD out of the machine put it in a USB and doing a check and repair drive for errors from another PC
Click to expand...

If you try this, clone your drive and work on that. I don't know what the disk tools are like in Windows 8 but I've seen CHKDSK in earlier Windows versions repair a file system and leave many files corrupted and irretrievable.

Otherwise, use a linux live cd to backup all your data and do a clean re-install of Windows and your software
 
I had this problem and could not get around it, especially since windows 8 does not have safe boot. I ended up formatting my pc, that was the only remaining option.
 
nfbs said:
I did that new option to repair Windows without losing my files and all it did as I recall was rename it to a Windows.old directory so it is a pretty useless function. You could try taking the HD out of the machine put it in a USB and doing a check and repair drive for errors from another PC
Click to expand...

Yet another broken windows 8 promise.
 
InvisibleJim said:
If you try this, clone your drive and work on that. I don't know what the disk tools are like in Windows 8 but I've seen CHKDSK in earlier Windows versions repair a file system and leave many files corrupted and irretrievable.

Otherwise, use a linux live cd to backup all your data and do a clean re-install of Windows and your software
Click to expand...
This is exactly what started this whole mess!! The PC was running perfectly fine, shut down or sleep and reboot... upon the first reboot Windows 8 said "Checking drive for errors" like a routine check with proper Windows 8 start screen and everything. I've seen it happen before it had the word "routine" somewhere.

After that routine check Windows 8 wouldn't start my assumption is that the "routine" check was chkdsk with a pretty UI and that messed up things.
 
To repair Windows 8, just uninstall it and then install Windows 7.
 
What makes you think it's Windows that's causing the problem?

I've reset/refreshed Win8 machines several times, all but one without incident - and that was a faulty SSD.

I routinely (at least weekly) clean up the system disk and run chkdsk on several Win8 machines before imaging them, and never has the problem you describe arisen. Perhaps your system contains code that my Win8 systems don't have?

I suspect the problem lies elsewhere.
 
Arthur I didn't install any applications, do anything or make changes in anyway in the days prior to the problem. All i did was use metro apps like mail to check mail. After restarting and I suspect a windows update.... this :(

I get the idea that you're defending windows 8 no need, you're preaching to the choir... I like Windows 8 very much.

In any case it doesn't really matter what caused the problem all I want to know is can I repair Windows 8 without doing a clean install ie keep x86 apps, files and everything. I would like to do that.
If its not possible at all I will do a "refresh" which will keep files & metro apps but move all my x86 apps to "windows.old" which is silly if you ask me but this is the only option that Windows 8 gives me.
 
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That only happens if there's a file corruption or you have put the hard drive in a different machine containing different hardware.

Things you may try:

If that's the case put it back into a machine that it booted up with or remove new hard ware you've added including other hard drives etc.

Second try booting into safe mode and run sysprep and clear out all the drivers.

And third do a system restore to the most recent time, and if you don't have a restore point then now you learned why you need one :)
 
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Vegeta said:
I need a little help. My windows 8 starts up with "Automatic repair" this repair fails and Windows 8 doesn't start it just restarts and performs the repair again... and again.... and again.
Click to expand...
I've never seen the automatic repair work in Windows 7, and it sounds like they still don't have this feature working in Windows 8.

How can I reinstall/repair the windows files while not loosing installed x86 apps
Is there somehow I can do a "upgrade" which doesn't touch anything like when I upgraded from windows 7 to windows 8?
Kinda upgrade from windows 8 to windows 8... sounds strange but that would probably work if its possible.
Click to expand...
I've done that on Windows 8 using the upgrade disc, but I wouldn't recommend doing it without a backup.

You could look at How To Boot Into Windows 8 Safe Mode.

It was already a pain to get into the boot menu on Windows 7 and Microsoft seem to have tried to make it even harder on Windows 7.
 
Vegeta said:
So frustrating its probably just some corrupt system files that if replaced will allow the pc to boot normally.
Before all this everything worked, I shut down or put the pc in sleep mode like I always do and upon the next boot this happened completely out of the blue :(
Click to expand...

You know, it may not be something as dramatic as corrupt files or a damaged hard drive. I've had a few times with Windows 7 where the repair doesn't work but if you force it to boot normally without repairing then the PC starts up fine.

Again though, I strongly recommend that you use a Linux boot disk to access and backup your critical data to an external drive before you attempt repairs. At least then, you won't lose the most important data if you try a repair and something goes wrong. Also if you can mount the drive and read your files OK in Linux and/or run a SMART test on your hard drive, you can get a better idea as to whether or not you're facing a bigger problem.
 
Hi guys the drive is fine I can access all the files chkdsk reports no errors or bad sectors. I cannot boot into safe mode, blue screen restart, I can get to a command prompt, I can get to the Recovery Console.
I can backup all files

I don't have a restore point (idoit!)
Can I flush out all the drivers from command prompt?

For the guys saying run Ubuntu(I would if I wasn't a gamer and Netflix/Hulu fan)
 
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InvisibleJim said:
You know, it may not be something as dramatic as corrupt files or a damaged hard drive. I've had a few times with Windows 7 where the repair doesn't work but if you force it to boot normally without repairing then the PC starts up fine.
Click to expand...
Yep this has happened before just booting normally worked. This time it doesn't :(
 
Had the same problem a few months back.. Booted into a Ubuntu live disc, copied all data out, formatted and installed Ubuntu. Best thing I ever did.
 
Maverick Jester said:
Had the same problem a few months back.. Booted into a Ubuntu live disc, copied all data out, formatted and installed Ubuntu. Best thing I ever did.
Click to expand...
I know it is but I want to keep my games, saved games etc. :(
Love Ubuntu but unfortunately no Guild Wars 2 or Tomb Raider for me on that :(
 
Here is a couple of tricks that might help...
1) After booting up with your INSTALL DVD (Win8), go straight to SYSTEM REPAIR TOOL;
2) Choose "System Recovery Options"
3) Choose "Command Prompt"
4) Type ---> bootrec /fixmbr
5) Type ---> bootrec /fixboot
6) Type ---> bootrec /rebuildbcd
A) Restart and run the Repair Installation ("Repair your computer") from your DVD AGAIN!
(If you got an error on "bootrec /rebuildbcd", type the following after going back to the command prompt (on your second recovery attempt "A"-above)
Now do the following IN SEQUENCE!

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd
B) Restart and do the "Recovery" via the Boot-DVD again, but this time...choose "Repair your computer" and let it run.

You can still do your chkdsk /f to repair the system or chkdsk /r to repair bad sectors (although remember...the "r" doesn't REALLY repair the sectors, it just doesn't let Windows use them...)
Hope this helps :)
 
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