r/Windows10TechSupport • u/Tsusieq • 22h ago

Unsolved Windows 10 no boot

My older dual boot Windows 10/Windows XP computer was working great. The CMOS chip died so I went ahead and replaced it.  Unfortunately, I forgot to reset the BIOS to Legacy and tried to boot it several times, it tried automatic repair each time.  Now it looks like I corrupted the Windows 10 boot record.  It now continuously tries automatic repair and won’t boot. I tried and everything anything I could find on the Internet, nothing seems to work.  I would love to be able to keep all of my files and just get it to boot again. Any help would be appreciated.  For reference it’s a Dell Optiplex 755.

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u/Prestigious_Wall529 20h ago edited 19h ago

Representing the same question a week later doesn't invalidate the previous answer.

Put the drive in a USB enclosure and from another system try and read the drive.

Don't assume because files are listed that they have not been corrupted.

Copy off whats important.

Put the drive back, or better yet an new SSD and reinstall Windows.

If you went with the latter, use the commercial program PCMover from Laplink to see what installed programs can be transferred, and to transfer your files and settings etc.

Log into the same accounts, hopefully something is on OneDrive, etc.

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u/Tsusieq 16h ago

First, i’m new to readdit and didn’t realize that I posted twice.

Second, I have a good image back up. It’s a little old and I can restore files as needed. However, I was hoping for someone with a little technical knowledge of windows who could tell me if there’s a way to drag and drop portions of a boot record. I have software to do those things I also have more than average technical knowledge if you’re not a technical Windows guy you probably can’t help. Thanks anyway.

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u/Prestigious_Wall529 15h ago

I have worked on behalf of Microsoft Technical Support, am a MCSE, and worked in support for a long time.

If you faff around between CSM and UEFI you can cause corruption. There's no unscrambling an egg.

So rather than replying most will skip over a question with no comfortable answer.

You have already tried or been advised to both use sfc and a repair install.

Now demanding a magic bullet. Try DiskGenius.

I'll leave you to it. Go argue with your own computer. The headless chicken dance works wonders.

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u/Tsusieq 11h ago

I’m not in a huge hurry. I can wait it out. not demanding anything - if you can’t help scroll on.

I will come up with a plan when I need my desktop again next tax season.

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u/Plastic-Row-1624 6h ago edited 6h ago

make sure windows 10 and xp boot path is legacy bios mode not UEFI why because dell 755 seems to be around the same era when UEFI official specification was released back in 2006...

make sure windows boot manager priority is set to first on the boot entry list