This Windows 10 bug could stop your PC from booting after using system restore
This Windows 10 bug could stop your PC from booting after using system restore
Windows 10 users are running into still more update woes. According to Microsoft, a bug in Windows 10 could prevent your PC from booting up if you create a system restore point before applying the latest update, and then try to restore your PC to that point.
Bleeping Computer was the first to notice that Microsoft had updated a support document about system restore boot problems, where the company basically acknowledges that a feature meant to help you get around software issues and protect your PC is breaking your computer. Microsoft says this is a "known issue", and it's provided the following explanation:
During the system restore process, Windows temporarily stages the restoration of files that are in use. It then saves the information in the registry. When the computer restarts, it completes the staged operation.
In this situation, Windows restores the catalog files and stages the driver .sys
files to be restored when the computer restarts. However, when the computer restarts, Windows loads the existing drivers before it restores the later versions of the drivers. Because the driver versions do not match the versions of the restored catalog files, the restart process stops.
The issue affects all Windows 10 systems with system protection turned on, and it leaves you with a PC that will not boot properly. And considering that you're presumably using system restore to resolve an existing issue, this is a problem you definitely don't need.
Fortunately, there appears to be a workaround if you've already encountered the problem. You'll need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), which requires the use of a hardware restart switch. You may also need to restart two times to trigger it.
After that, Microsoft lists the following steps:
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > More recovery options > Startup settings, and then select Restart now.
- In the list of startup settings, select Disable driver signature enforcement. You may have to use the F7 key to select this setting.
- Allow the startup process to continue. As Windows restarts, the system restore process should resume and finish.
But to avoid the issue entirely, you can use an alternate method to initiate system restore, which involves using WinRE instead of the Settings dialog box:
- Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced options, select Restart now.
- After WinRE starts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System restore.
- Enter your recovery key as it is shown on the screen, and then follow the instructions in the System Restore wizard.
Source: Microsoft