I have a regular problem with the Windows 8 install on my Dell XPS 16.
A fresh install of Windows 8 works fine without issue, but (and its happened 4 times now) after either a windows update (which I have since disabled) or (possibly) a restart something happens and the system will not longer boot to desktop.
The resulting system is no longer usable or fixable (I hope otherwise).
The system results in the following states:
- Black screen with large white cursor
- Attempts auto resolution, restarts, reboots during next boot
- Boots to dashboard (after a LONG time) but then crashes
I have tried booting to all Safemodes - no joy similar results to above
If I run the setup program and try and restore to previous point the set up never gets to the select restore point screen (just stays blank). Same if I try other restore options
I used to be pretty IT savvy (circa 2000/XP) but am now management so am out of touch.
To me it suggests that a fundamental driver (perhaps IO controller) is being updated which is conflicting with the hardware and thus rendering the system useless. Is there a log which shows changes?
The only resolution I have found is a complete reinstall, which I am currently running from on a seperate partition.
Can anyone suggest an alternative way to fix the dead install to save me reinstalling everything for a 5th this year!
Thanks
Update:
I have tried copying system32/regback over system32/config as after analysing the debug logs which claim the registry is corrupt - it still fails - the backup files are dated before things went whiley!