Troubleshoot Windows startup trouble - random PC booting after each pressing of the Power button

[oldschool]

Briefly explain your current issue(s)

PC won't restart from GUI, needs multiple attempts to start after shutdown

Steps taken to resolve, but have been unsuccessful

Ran sfc /scannow and DISM, disabled Intel Management Engine, uninstalled security softs and recovery app, deleted and merged partitions.

I need to clean install Windows 10 but I'm having trouble entering BIOS to change the boot order > USB. Is it possible to clean install W10 using MCT's setup.exe? It looks to me like it only allows an in-place install with options to keep apps & files, files only or nothing at all. I've never clean installed Windows before but I'd prefer to as this would be the best option so I can wipe my entire disk.I'm not certain I can do this without entering BIOS, etc. TIA

 

[oldschool]

I wonder if this is a hardware problem?

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I wonder if this is a hardware problem?

I don't know, possible, can also be a driver problem.
You can try to install the Intel chipset drivers from the support site of your laptop/computer:
If your laptop is the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E531 I would install Lenovo System Update and install all offered updates/drivers/programs.

Lenovo System Update for Windows 11, 10 & 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) - Desktop, Notebook, Workstation - Lenovo Support US

pcsupport.lenovo.com

My daughters laptop is a E530C and Lenovo System Update did install some (I believe) chipset drivers and we have no problems with startup etc. on the latest windows version. If needed I can check what we have installed by Lenovo System Update.

If that doesn't work disable fast startup of windows and see if that solves your problem:

How to disable Windows 10 fast startup (and why you'd want to)

If Windows 10 fast startup is not something you want to be enabled, you can disable it with relative ease.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[show-Zi]

I'm not sure if it will be helpful, but it is my experience.

■ Clean installation using MCT continued to fail, so we used ISO directly downloaded.
■ Perform clean of disk part instead of installation format, and set mbr again

For older pc, the difference between mbr and gpt seems to affect the installation.

 

[oldschool]

I'm not sure if it will be helpful, but it is my experience.

■ Clean installation using MCT continued to fail, so we used ISO directly downloaded.
■ Perform clean of disk part instead of installation format, and set mbr again

For older pc, the difference between mbr and gpt seems to affect the installation.

I understand your point #1

I don't know how to do point #2.

Thank you. I must learn more!

 

[show-Zi]

I hope it's a useful reference.

Note:
Even in the case of "DVD old BIOS compatible boot" in the UEFI mother, there is a part that is described as "old BIOS" for convenience. If you want to install with UEFI mother + MBR, you need to read the following information as needed.

Spoiler

It is not a new HDD / SSD.
If you boot the DVD with UEFI Mother,
Do not GPT format on Windows.
Format HDD / SSD for system in GPT format.
It can not be installed on a conventional MBR type Disk.
When formatted as a data drive in the past, it can not be used as a drive for installation unless it is initialized from the WinRE environment such as installation media
Disks formatted on another PC may not be usable for installation.
For old BIOS mother / For old BIOS boot of DVD with UEFI mother
Format HDD / SSD for system in MBR format.
It can not be installed on GPT HDDs / SSDs.
System file of previous OS remains
I used that disk as a dynamic disk before.
When GPT formatting, I do not follow the fixed idiom, and I cut the partition in my way
In the case of a special format Disk, or if you mistake the MBR and GPT disk, the above procedure may fail to delete the partition or leave invisible system files, and may not install Windows properly.

In such a case, use the DISKPART command from the command prompt to make the HDD / SSD completely clear.

How to handle using DISKPART
Perform the following steps from the installation media, Emergency Repair Disk, recovery drive, etc. (Do not execute from the started Windows)
Use the command prompt of the installation media.

Enter the following command on the command prompt

diskpart ... ... DISK PART start of DISK management tool
List the list disk ···· attached disk (number verification purposes of the disk)
select disk 0 ・ ・ ・ ・ ※ When the target Disk is disk 0 (according to its own environment)
clean ..... Make the disk clean
convert gpt ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Convert the disk to GPT format ※ In case of UEFI boot
convert mbr · · · · · · · convert the disk to MBR format ※ in the case of the old BIOS / when the old BIOS boot in UEFI
exit ..... Exit DISKPART

Note
Avoid command prompt operation on Windows as much as possible.
Operate from the installation media command prompt.
Do not format at this stage.
When operating from the command prompt on Windows, perform DISKPART in MBR format even for GPT installation. And formatting is never done.
Even when using third-party cloning tools, there are cases where DISKPART is executed in MBR format.


If you have executed this far, exit the command prompt with an "X" mark and it is OK.

Click "Refresh"

 

[oldschool]

@show-Zi - I have an aftermarket SSD that was added previously. I don't understand all of your advice, maybe because of translation.

 

[oldschool]

Ran full Lenovo diagnostic tool in BIOS and everything checks out as "Pass".

So, my next question is should I return boot order to default now that I have clean installed and tested?

 

[show-Zi]

The translation problem feels like looking at each other in thick fog.
If installation is complete, the BIOS settings can be reset to default. If not set, os of installation media will start up again.

 

[oldschool]

The other thing I tried but failed to mention: Remove battery + Unplug power > Hold Start button 30 seconds. No improvement.

 

[Burrito]

The other thing I tried but failed to mention: Remove battery + Unplug power > Hold Start button 30 seconds. No improvement.

Hmmmm..... seems like you are stuck.

That can be frustrating.... I know.

But you ARE in just the right place to be stuck.

We just need to call attention to this thread to some of the MT technical smart guys.

Everybody's knowledge base for computers is different... so it's hard to know who has expertise in this exact area...

... but maybe @Nightwalker, @Windows_Security, @roger_m, @TairikuOkami, @Andy Ful can take a look, and add input or recommend another smart-guy MT participant.

 

[oldschool]

Hmmmm..... seems like you are stuck.

That can be frustrating.... I know.

But you ARE in just the right place to be stuck.

We just need to call attention to this thread to some of the MT technical smart guys.

Everybody's knowledge base for computers is different... so it's hard to know who has expertise in this exact area...

... but maybe @Nightwalker, @Windows_Security, @roger_m, @TairikuOkami, @Andy Ful can take a look, and add input or recommend another smart-guy MT participant.

Thanks for linking those guys for me. Actually, I'm not frustrated because I've learned quite a bit from this experience. This is life: sometimes it just requires trying different things and running into roadblocks, only to see a way through. The restart issue is no doubt a PITA but at least my laptop is bootable, albeit with a little effort. :X3:

P.S to @Gandalf_The_Grey - I downloaded and used Lenovo System Update as you advised, to no avail.

 

[bribon77]

Tried to format with another disk? Maybe it's the disk that's wrong.

 

[oldschool]

Tried to format with another disk? Maybe it's the disk that's wrong.

I have an old HDD but it's now used as extra offline storage. The disk checked out fine with the Lenovo diagnostic tool.

 

[ForgottenSeer 72227]

It's a head scratcher for sure.

If it's just started I wonder if a recent Windows update is causing the issue?

One thing I want to clarify, when you click restart, does nothing happen, or does the screen go black?

A couple of things to try, turn off fast boot. It's on by default, not really needed with an SSD IMO. Also under the power settings, try changing the "Sleep" settings to make it so that it "never" goes to sleep.

Try restarting and see if it fixes the issue.

 

[oldschool]

I ran SFC /scannow and it found corruption, unable to fix. Ran DISM and there is a problem as well. I suspect the image is corrupted because my PC could not restart by itself during installation from MCT and I was forced to perform hard shutdown and cold start.. As the Appolo astronauts said, in historic fashion, "Houston, we have a problem!" I could use some more advice, please.

 

[oldschool]

A couple of things to try, turn off fast boot. It's on by default, not really needed with an SSD IMO. Also under the power settings, try changing the "Sleep" settings to make it so that it "never" goes to sleep.

Try restarting and see if it fixes the issue.

Done both of those, and there must be more corruption because PC goes to sleep real quick even with changed settings.

Edit: The file/folder list in C: Windows is very short, so something's definitely amiss.

 

[ForgottenSeer 72227]

Done both of those, and there must be more corruption because PC goes to sleep real quick even with changed settings.

Edit: The file/folder list in C: Windows is very short, so something's definitely amiss.

Ya it sounds like something happened during the install. Unfortunately, you may have to try another clean install, deleting all the partitions, and seeing if it works this time around. Did you get any errors when Windows was installing?

 

[oldschool]

Did you get any errors when Windows was installing?

No, because of this as posted above post:

I suspect the image is corrupted because my PC could not restart by itself during installation from MCT and I was forced to perform hard shutdown and cold start.

I ran DISM.exe /? and the resulting list of command options is way above my technical experience and pay grade.. it appears I'd have to update DISM by commandline.

 

[brambedkar59]

I ran DISM.exe /? and the resulting list of command options is way above my technical experience and pay grade.. it appears I'd have to update DISM by commandline.

Do the clean install with a USB. Imo Dism or sfc always leave some issues unfixed.

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

No, because of this as posted above post:



I ran DISM.exe /? and the resulting list of command options is way above my technical experience and pay grade.. it appears I'd have to update DISM by commandline.

You could try the commands from this post for Dism: System File Check, Defender and Windows 10 1903