Computer Stuck In Weird Loop

Oh My! · Aug 8, 2026 at 8:58 AM

Try to run a FRST scan in Safe Mode and attach the reports. I'll check them when I return.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 8, 2026 at 3:55 PM

Everything is working smoothly, it stayed in Safe Mode all night and didn't restart. FRST worked fine, and I see no weird Y's or question marks in the reports. So far so good! Hope you enjoyed your ride, you deserve a break.

Oh My! · Aug 8, 2026 at 7:04 PM

The first thing I would like us to do is check the Windows operating system itself. Please run this.

===================================================

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool - Run Fix Using Attached File

--------------------

Download the attached file and save it in the same location as FRST.exe (example, Desktop, USB device) <<< Important

Right click on FRST and select Run as administrator

Click Fix and once completed your computer will reboot

The tool will create a log on the desktop called Fixlog.txt

Copy and paste the contents of the report in your reply

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 8, 2026 at 8:35 PM

Here is the fix log. It did not restart the computer, but that made me happy because I thought it was a 50/50 chance at best that it would come back on okay. I can restart it myself if you want, but won't unless you say.

Fix result of Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (x64) Version: 06-08-2026 01
Ran by Hellhound Hunter (08-08-2026 19:02:41) Run:2
Running from D:\
Loaded Profiles: Hellhound Hunter
Boot Mode: Safe Mode (minimal)
==============================================

fixlist content:
*****************
cmd: sfc /scannow
cmd: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
*****************

========= sfc /scannow =========

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.

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Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
For online repairs, details are included in the CBS log file located at
windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For offline
repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag.

========= End of CMD: =========

========= DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth =========

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.26100.8737

Image Version: 10.0.26200.8875

The component store is repairable.
The operation completed successfully.

========= End of CMD: =========

==== End of Fixlog 19:27:36 ====

Oh My! · Aug 8, 2026 at 8:53 PM

I intentionally did not add anything in the Fixlist to cause a reboot. Since I am not sure if the problem is related to a corrupt operating system or other corruptions I want to deal with the operating system first.

Please copy the C:\Windows\logs\CBS folder onto your USB then zip the file on your clean system. Attach the folder to your reply.

===================================================

DISM RestoreHealth from Administrator Command Prompt

--------------------

Press the Windows Key, type cmd, then select Run as administrator

Copy and paste DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth after the command prompt then hit Enter

Patiently wait as the process may take a long time to complete

When completed report whether the process was successful or an error occurred

===================================================

Things I would like to see in your next reply.

Attached zip file

Results?

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 8, 2026 at 9:09 PM

Here is the zip file. The DISM tool is still running, 22% complete so far....

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 8, 2026 at 9:34 PM

It stopped at 46.2%. I'll type it all out for you, it's pretty short:

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.26100.8737

Image Version: 10.0.26200.8875

[=========================== 46.2%
Error: 4448

The WOF driver encountered a corruption in the compressed file's Resource Table.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

The log sounds easy enough to find, I'll work on copying it for you while waiting for a response.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 8, 2026 at 9:45 PM

I've attached the DISM log, if that helps. I have to go do some work, I'll be back in an hour and a half or so. Thanks!

Oh My! · Aug 8, 2026 at 10:08 PM

It will not be possible to fix your computer short of what is known as an In-Place Upgrade. Hold off until I test some options. It may ending up being we will need to do a fresh install.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 8, 2026 at 11:20 PM

Shoot. At least this means she won't have to buy a new one, right? Thanks for helping me back up her stuff through Hirens, that really helped.

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 4:34 PM

I am assuming you still have the Hirens USB.

I am inclined to believe this won't be successful but it may be our last shot before having to do a full reinstall.

While is Safe Mode click Start, type msconfig, then select Run as admninstrator

On the General tab select Diagnostic startup

On the Boot tab uncheck Safe boot

Click OK then confirm restart

Let me know if you can boot successfully

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 5:23 PM

I do still have the Hirens USB. Just to clarify, we're not doing anything with it right now, you're just making sure I still have it in case we get totally locked out of Windows again, right?

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 5:28 PM

When I type msconfig, I get System Configuration. That's the right thing, right?

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 6:01 PM

Correct, Hirens just in case.

Yes System Configuration.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 6:18 PM

It did boot, we're now in (is it really called Normal Mode?), but it still has the same issues as at the first, with the Windows Security thing saying These Files can't be opened, and the right side of the task bar completely blank.

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:06 PM

It is a stripped down version of Normal Boot.

Click the Windows icon, type change advanced startup options, and click Open. Let me know if you are able to see Recovery options - Reset this PC

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:10 PM

Yes, I see it and can click Reset PC. Should I?

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM

Yes, select that and select Keep my files.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:20 PM

That made a blue window come up that led to "Additional Settings" Current settings: Restore apps and settings which came with this PC
I could click Change Settings , back, next, or cancel.
Do we need to change anything, or do I click Next?

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:22 PM

Select Change settings and see if you get the option to save files.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:25 PM

It let me click "Keep my files" before the blue window came up. When I click Change Settings I just have the option to say yes or no to "Restore apps and settings which came with this PC". Maybe this is about Lenovo stuff that my friend may have uninstalled since purchasing the computer? I'm not sure which to say.

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:28 PM

Do you have Internet access on this computer?

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM

No. Do you want me to take a picture?

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:37 PM

No, that's OK.

If we select Reset keeping files and folders you most likely will need to reinstall any 3rd party programs. I am trying to avoid that.

We have a couple of options. Do you have a spare USB with 16 GB capacity?

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:45 PM

Yes, I have an empty 32GB

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:48 PM

Great.

Leaving to go see grandkids but let me know if you can do this.

Navigate to Windows 11 download
Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices click Select Download
Select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices)
Click Confirm
Click Choose one then select English (United States)
Click Confirm
Under Download - Windows 11 English click 64-bit Download
Save the file onto the Desktop

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 7:49 PM

I'm saving this to my desktop so far, right, not the USB yet?

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 8:32 PM

Correct. Better chance of a successful download to the computer. We will then transfer it over to the USB and I will give you instructions for that.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 8:32 PM

Okay thanks. I think I can do this. Have fun!

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 8:36 PM

I did and we are back.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 8:46 PM

That was fast, I wasn't expecting that. And as usual I expected it to be more difficult than it turned out to be. It is downloading now, says we have about 1 hour left.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 9, 2026 at 9:31 PM

It's still downloading. I have to go for a couple of hours, we probably won't get our schedules in sync again tonight. You could go ahead and post the next steps if you want, then I'll have all night to hesitate and come up with questions and get up the nerve
Thanks for continuing to help!

Oh My! · Aug 9, 2026 at 9:39 PM

My pleasure.

After the download is complete insert a USB with at least 12GB of space into your computer
Using Windows Explorer navigate to and right click on the USB device
Select Format...
Under File system select exFAT
Click Start and verify the format was successful
Right click on the downloaded Windows 11 ISO file, select Send to, then select your USB device
Confirm the transfer was successful
Once completed insert the USB device into the compromised computer while it is still booted in Diagnostic mode
Using Windows Explorer left click on the USB device drive letter
Right click on the ISO file to the right then select Mount
Right click on Setup and select Run as administrator
Click on Change how Setup downloads updates
Select Not right now then click Next
When presented, select Keep personal files and apps
Complete the process of the installation

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 1:32 PM

I was doing really good, I got the Windows 11 ISO file onto the USB last night. I just came back, I inserted the USB into the compromised computer. As far as I can tell, the computer is still in Diagnostic mode, though I forgot to open a document so I could tell if it restarted.

Now I'm stuck.

When I go in file explorer and right click on the USB, I can't select Mount. Even if I do "show more options", Mount is not there. I wonder if it did not download onto the USB correctly? I thought it did...

Oh My! · Aug 10, 2026 at 1:43 PM

Try left clicking on the USB drive letter then right clicking on the ISO file to the right.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 2:06 PM

That did it. Now it's working on it...

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 4:42 PM

It took a long time to install, and said it would restart several times. I saw it restart once, then it went to a black screen and said it was "undoing changes made to your computer" and worked on that for a while.
Now it is a black screen that says "Setup Notice: Windows Boot Manager boot failed." and I can click OK. Should I click OK? What happened?

Oh My! · Aug 10, 2026 at 8:48 PM

Sorry I never received a notification you replied.

The setup process was unable to rewrite/repair the operating system. I feared that might happen.

Click OK and let me know what happens.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 8:53 PM

That's fine.
I hit OK, now it says:

Setup Notice: Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed.
Insert Recovery Media and Hit any key
Then Select "Boot Manager" to choose a new Boot Device or to Boot Recovery Media

The USB is still in there, doesn't it have recovery media? I could take it out and put it in a different port?

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 8:55 PM

Oh, and I can only hit OK again.

Oh My! · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:08 PM

The USB you are using is different than the bootable Windows 11 USB you created. We are going back to Hirens. We may be doing a fresh install soon.

Shut down the compromised computer

Insert the Hirens USB device

Start the compromised computer and repeatedly press the F12 key to boot the the USB drive

Hit Enter on DIR [Linux-ISOs]

Arrow down to HBCD_PE_x64.iso then hit Enter

Hit Enter on Boot in normal mode

Once the program loads double click on the Utilities folder

Double click on the BCD-MBR tools folder

Right click on EasyBCD and select Run as administrator

Click Go to run the program in English

Click OK twice

Click BCD Backup/Repair

Select Reset BCD configuration then click Perform Action

Click OK on the Warning screen and allow the quick process to complete.

Select Re-Create/repair boot files then click Perform Action

In the lower left hand corner of the window you should see BCD successfully repaired quickly flash

Close all open windows

Click on the Windows icon in the lower left hand corner of the screen and select Shut down

Remove the USB drive from the computer

Start the computer and tell me what happens

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:12 PM

Okay. Before I boot to Hirens, I do take out the USB with windows 11 that is in there now, right? Do you think it could have not worked because I did this windows 11 USB wrong somehow?

Oh My! · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:23 PM

Yes, remove the attached USB.

You did not do anything wrong. There are times when an operating system can't be repaired. I normally see that when trying to Reset the system while in the Recovery Environment. The DISM failing to complete along with the lengthy list of corrupted files identified in the CBS log are very bad signs relative to repair. Let's try this one last Hirens step but I doubt we will find any significant success. It's a Hail Mary before throwing in the towel.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:41 PM

It looked like it was booting normally (no Preparing Automatic Repair, anyway), and I was waiting to see if the desktop looked okay, but before the desktop came up, it went to a black screen and says "Updates are Underway. Please keep your computer on."
Is this a good sign? I guess we'll have to see when it gets done.

Oh My! · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:44 PM

Wait and see.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:47 PM

Nope, same problems. We're at the desktop, but the right side of the task bar is blank, and the "These files can't be opened" window is up because of Logitec Setpoint, or whatever.

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:48 PM

I have to go for now, I'll leave the computer as it is. So next is a fresh install of Windows, right? Not a new computer?

Oh My! · Aug 10, 2026 at 9:49 PM

We will chat tomorrow. I don't think she will need a new computer.

Oh My! · Aug 11, 2026 at 9:30 AM

Before continuing on let's check the state of your system following the reinstall. Please repeat Post #153. Also, could you post a picture of the skewed desktop?

Chaos Annihilator · Aug 11, 2026 at 1:33 PM

Sorry it took me a while to get back. Here's the log, and the picture of the desktop is attached. It doesn't look too bad really, the logitech icon on the left of the task bar is not normal, and the security warning window seems to be about that (if I try to close it, it opens again, and it will come up for/about anything I try to do on this computer). The right side of the task bar being blank is weird, the date and time should be there, and her security shield, wifi, battery, and whatever else she had should be there. There's also more strange things if I dig around. Now it won't connect to the internet, but it used to say it couldn't connect, but still could. Avast seems to be working, but Windows thinks it's disabled. There may be more problems I just haven't found yet.

Fix result of Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (x64) Version: 06-08-2026 01
Ran by Hellhound Hunter (11-08-2026 12:01:40) Run:3
Running from D:\
Loaded Profiles: Hellhound Hunter
Boot Mode: Normal
==============================================

fixlist content:
*****************
cmd: sfc /scannow
cmd: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
*****************

========= sfc /scannow =========

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.

Verification 0% complete.
Verification 1% complete.
Verification 1% complete.
Verification 2% complete.
Verification 2% complete.
Verification 3% complete.
Verification 4% complete.
Verification 4% complete.
Verification 5% complete.
Verification 5% complete.

Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

========= End of CMD: =========

========= DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth =========

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.26100.8737

Image Version: 10.0.26200.8875

No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.

========= End of CMD: =========

==== End of Fixlog 12:02:14 ====

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Computer Stuck In Weird Loop

Oh My! Malware Expert Staff Member

Chaos Annihilator Specialist

Attached Files:

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

Oh My! Malware Expert Staff Member

Attached Files:

Fixlist.txt

Chaos Annihilator Specialist

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Attached Files:

CBS.zip

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Attached Files:

dism.zip

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Attached Files:

desktop.JPG