Unable to Reset PC

[xSoulShadoWx]

I tried to install a new graphics driver and whilst the new Nvidia driver was installing I kept getting a black screen which I've never had before. I then tried to play Doom Dark Ages and received an Incompatible Driver error, it was running just fine yesterday until I tried to install the new update tonight.

I decided to try DDU to try and uninstall the current driver in case it was causing an issue. I went into msconfig and enabled safe mode with networking and restarted the machine. When it restarted I got to the login screen and was greeted with an error saying my PIN was unavailable and to try setting it up again. Nothing worked and I was still unable to start windows normally. I then restarted the PC and held the power button down 3 times upon each boot to enter automatic diagnostics.

I firstly tried resetting the PC using the Cloud re-installation option to reset the PC and do an entire clean re-installation, I was informed that this option was unavailable which was strange so I tried a System Restore to an earlier snapshot at the start of the evening which was available. After going through this option I restarted to be met with the same scenario for the Pin on my account. I am now constantly getting errors when booting and I'm stuck as I've tried to reset the PC and I've selected the Remove everything option but all I get is an error saying There was a problem resetting this PC.

I've got many years experience with building and configuring PC's but this has me stumped...anyone got any ideas?

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

I'm now getting an error whenever I try anything saying that Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC

 

[TonyCarter]

Reset is not a full reinstall, it keeps the original files that it thinks are not damaged, and resets the settings/preferences.

For a full reinstall you’d need to download and use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create an installer USB to boot from…

Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn how to create installation media for installing or reinstalling Windows.

support.microsoft.com

BTW, the Nvidia driver updates I’ve used actually recently warn you that the screen may go on & off during update/install.

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

I know the screen usually goes off and on during Nvidia updates but this time it just sat at a black screen which I've never had before.

Usually when I've done a reset before it re-downloads Windows and re-installs but I recently bought a new PCS system and this is first time I've never been able to do a reset

 

[Scott]

The reset doesn't download Windows, it just resets the configuration using the current version of Windows installed.

The proper way to do a clean is as above, download onto a USB and clear the partitions on the primary drive (if you have more than one drive exercise caution).

There's a more lengthy guide from @Martinr36 below:

Recovery and reinstall always fails

My kids have gone on my PC when I was away, when I returned I was getting pop ups saying I have viruses, you know the sort, fake make you click here sort of ones. Used the scanners and everything I could think of to clean it but nothing worked. Please can any of you tell me when doing this ever...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

I’ve got 2 drives a Primary C and secondary D

 

[Scott]

They may not be labelled as such during the removal of the partitions. They are typically called Disk0 and Disk1. They are typically identified by their size or the brand.

If there is a chance of confusion or losing anything, I would consider disconnecting the non-primary drive until the installation is completed. The last thing you want is to lose your secondary data.

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

There’s nothing on the second drive except my steam games as I use my primary drive for Windows and Xbox PC games and secondary as Steam

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

My only issue is if I need to do a re-installation of windows from scratch by formatting C I’m not sure of what drivers were put on the PC when it’s was assembled at PCS

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

I’ve not had to do a full windows re-install in the last 10 years 😔 I’m not looking forward to maybe having to do this

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

Might be able to salvage it if anyone knows how I could maybe get in to MS Config to uncheck Safe Mode Boot. If I could even get into Safe Mode but the Hello Pin is what’s messing me up (cos I stupidly never thought to turn it off!!)

 

[steaky360]

I’ve not had to do a full windows re-install in the last 10 years 😔 I’m not looking forward to maybe having to do this

If you do need to reinstall, its really not difficult to do with the latest set of tools (install media etc.) that are used. Its not anywhere near as much of a chew to get it done as it used to be.

Not quite plug and play, but almost.

Might be able to salvage it if anyone knows how I could maybe get in to MS Config to uncheck Safe Mode Boot. If I could even get into Safe Mode but the Hello Pin is what’s messing me up (cos I stupidly never thought to turn it off!!)

You could try to use an alternative sign in to get into your PC at the login page (assuming you get that far?) and use your MS account login details (email, password) that are attached to the MS account on the PC?

Link: How to reset your PIN if you aren't signed in

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

My only issue is if I need to do a re-installation of windows from scratch by formatting C I’m not sure of what drivers were put on the PC when it’s was assembled at PCS

The drivers put on during build are irrelevant, they're well out of date by now and wouldn't be used.

Windows sorts out drivers through optional updates, you only have to manually install graphics drivers on a desktop.

A full clean install of windows should take about 30 mins from start to finish.

There’s nothing on the second drive except my steam games as I use my primary drive for Windows and Xbox PC games and secondary as Steam

You don't have to touch this drive at all, no need to redownload all your games, once you've got the games clients installed you just point them to your games library folder on the drive and that's it.

So many people still think a clean install is like it was in XP / Windows 7 days, it's come on a hell of a long way, it's incredibly simple nowadays.

If you haven't done it for 10 years, your PC will have been running very slowly anyway and your FPS WILL have been heavily reduced, you should be clean installing once a year to maintain optimal performance.

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

The drivers put on during build are irrelevant, they're well out of date by now and wouldn't be used.

Windows sorts out drivers through optional updates, you only have to manually install graphics drivers on a desktop.

A full clean install of windows should take about 30 mins from start to finish.


You don't have to touch this drive at all, no need to redownload all your games, once you've got the games clients installed you just point them to your games library folder on the drive and that's it.

So many people still think a clean install is like it was in XP / Windows 7 days, it's come on a hell of a long way, it's incredibly simple nowadays.

If you haven't done it for 10 years, your PC will have been running very slowly anyway and your FPS WILL have been heavily reduced, you should be clean installing once a year to maintain optimal performance.

Windows XP / 7 reinstalls were easy I used to just boot to CD then re-format C and re-install but not having had to do it in a long time I wasn’t sure how much had changed

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

I’m trying to re-install a clean copy of Windows 11 as per my previous thread.

I formatted the system installation drive and allowed Windows to boot from a USB and re-install Windows. I get past the boot screen to the PCS logo with a spinning circle. This then fades to another PCS logo with a spinning circle and Restarting quickly flashes up and goes back through the boot sequence and this keeps happening over and over without proceeding anywhere. I’m kind of stuck here?

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

I’m trying to re-install a clean copy of Windows 11 as per my previous thread.

I formatted the system installation drive and allowed Windows to boot from a USB and re-install Windows. I get past the boot screen to the PCS logo with a spinning circle. This then fades to another PCS logo with a spinning circle and Restarting quickly flashes up and goes back through the boot sequence and this keeps happening over and over without proceeding anywhere. I’m kind of stuck here?

I’m not sure what process you’re taking, you can’t format the drive before booting the windows key, as that’s part of the windows installer. (unless it’s an ancient motherboard

Can you copy and paste the full specs from the order page?

 

[xSoulShadoWx]

Hopefully it's all good. Phoned Tech Support and spoke with Matthew, things have changed since I last done any of this over 10 years ago and I hadn't deleted all the partitions on the drive so Windows was getting itself confused and getting stuck in a loop, but got this sorted and at least I've updated part of my memory to bring it inline as never had to do this on Windows XP/7 as there was only 1 partition on the boot/windows drives

 

[Scott]

I had sent the link over with the instructions to try and help with this.

Glad you've got it sorted though and well done Matthew