Win 8.1 is using boot files from USB when booting Windows

klelund

Prominent
Aug 7, 2017
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I have had some problems with my windows 8.1 installation. It all started when I tried to update to windows 10. It failed and if I remember correctly my computer showed blue screen of death when I restarted it afterwards. Pretty sure the error code was 0xc0000034. I tried a lot of things to restore the boot files and somehow I think I have managed to have the windows installation use the boot files on my USB installation media instead of the original from drive C, where my windows 8.1 installation is found. I can only start windows with the usb inserted and when secure boot is disabled in BIOS legacy only is used.

I can't even reset windows with or without the USB installation media inserted.

I am very confused on how to proceed to fix the problem or make a clean installation (if I boot from the usb installation media, I just start windows as the boot files from the usb is used to boot windows).

I am not sure on what to elaborate, so please ask if you need any more information on the problem I am experiencing.

By the way - going to command prompt and trying to /fixmbr /fixboot etc. does not work, as it uses the directory X:\windows\system32> instead of the C: drive where windows is installed. I have probably made this change myself some weeks ago, trying to fix the 0xc0000034 error
 
Solution
which installer is it booting off? 8.1 or 10?

do you want to install win 8 or 10? do you know your licence key?

do you have an ssd or hdd? if hdd, you could (after copying everything you want to keep off PC), use dban to wipe the hdd and then clean install either 8.1 or 10 onto PC.

If you have an ssd, its a bit harder as dban won't work. Instead, since you know how to get to cmd, can always run diskpart clean and wipe the ssd before running a clean install. have to run this from advanced startup or it won't work, can't run it while in windows for instance. have to boot from installer into repair environment

open cmd
type diskpart and press enter
type list disk and press enter
this shows all drives available...

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
which installer is it booting off? 8.1 or 10?

do you want to install win 8 or 10? do you know your licence key?

do you have an ssd or hdd? if hdd, you could (after copying everything you want to keep off PC), use dban to wipe the hdd and then clean install either 8.1 or 10 onto PC.

If you have an ssd, its a bit harder as dban won't work. Instead, since you know how to get to cmd, can always run diskpart clean and wipe the ssd before running a clean install. have to run this from advanced startup or it won't work, can't run it while in windows for instance. have to boot from installer into repair environment

open cmd
type diskpart and press enter
type list disk and press enter
this shows all drives available, DVD/USB and hdd, make note of hdd number
type Select disk X - where X is the number of the hdd you want to wipe, change X to that number and press enter
once the drive you want to install on is chosen, type Clean

You can use the win 8 licence key to fresh install 10 or 8 at this point, its up to you. The error code you got relates to boot config data, a clean install will fix that either way.
 
Solution