Inspiron 3670 will not boot after Bad_system_config_info error

Reboot and immediately start tapping F12. When the F12 menu opens, run the diagnostics, including RAM and full drive tests. Copy error messages, if any...

If no diagnostics errors, see if you can force PC to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment:

Power PC on, and at the Dell splash screen, immediately power off by pressing/holding power button on PC until it shuts down. Repeat the on/off cycle 3 times and PC should boot into the RE.

When the RE opens, click: Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair

Hopefully that can fix the problem...

Hi Ron. I have run the full diagnostics as you suggested and it completed with All Tests Passed and no errors. I then followed your instruction for the Windows Recovery Environment and the Start Up Repair. 

However, I realised that I had tried this before, and as before it failed. All that happens when I try to start my pc is:

Dell splash screen

Windows error screen with Stop Code BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO

Back to Dell splash screen with Preparing Automatic Repair message

(At this point a small window attempts to load and fails)

Dell splash screen with Diagnosing Your PC message.

Then it goes straight into the Automatic Repair screen with the Restart and Advanced Options.

I have previously tried most of these including Start Up Repair. When I tried System Restore (which only gave me one option to restore from) it fails after a while with an error (I doubt this is relevant but I can send a picture if it helps. The file it mentions is I think the one that may be corrupt) 

The PC just keeps looping through this. I have googled a few things for the Stop Code error (I have an IT background but am not overly confident) When I try to run in safe mode it just goes through the same process.

Any other ideas gratefully received.

Hi Ron. Thanks again for your help with this. Have done this exactly per your instructions but when running the sfc command I get a "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation" message. I don't know if if makes any difference but I have run this on both the default X:\sources and c:\.

I haven't run the bootrec commands yet. 

Although I have my files backed up I would like to fix this if possible. I don't like to be beaten

Did  you check to see if the drive assigned letter C actually has the Users folder? Remember, booting from the USB stick may assign a different drive letter, other than C, to your boot drive (the one with Windows on it).

Did you try using drive letter D in the sfc command?

Hi Ron

Yes I did see the Users file on the C drive (picture attached). I have been following your instructions closely.  I just tried running the sfc command on the D drive and got the following message " Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service"

We won't see your image until the moderators approve it, even though you can see it now, but I believe what you said.

Boot from the Win 10 USB and navigate to the Command Prompt screen again. Type in: chkdsk c: /r and press Enter. Let that run and see what it says when done.

Assuming no unfixed errors after running chkdsk, see if PC will boot from the boot drive now. If not, boot from that Win 10 USB stick again and follow the prompts to install Windows. At the "Ready to Install" screen make sure "Keep personal files and apps" is the selected option and click Install. 

Let's hope that works. If not, at least you have your files backed up, but you will have to re-install all your apps again.

Let us know what happens...

Hi Ron

I ran chkdsk fine and it completed with no errors.

I have gone to run the install from the windows usb stick and I wanted to check some details with you. Once booted from the usb I assume I chose Install Now from the screen that appears, instead of the repair options. Once I accepted the licence terms it came up with a What Type of Installation screen, Upgrade or Custom? Was this right? Upgrade saves files , apps and settings which wasn’t what you said. Custom doesn't save anything. So I didn’t continue.

I apologise for being really stupid here but I want to get this right. There was no Ready to Install or option to keep files (perhaps that’s further on?)

I remembered that I had seen an option (when not booting from the windows usb) in the Advanced Options to Reset this PC, which says it lets you chose to keep or remove your personal files and reinstalls Windows, which sounds similar to your instructions. However this option is not available in the Advanced options when booting from the windows usb.

Can you advise if I was in the right place from my earlier comments? Am I likely to encounter any other prompts that require answers from me?

Do you know exactly what build of Win 10 is on this PC, v1909, v2004 or v20H2? The USB stick you created at the Microsoft site will have v20H2, which is the latest.

If "Custom" isn't going to save your files/apps, then I guess you can try the Upgrade option, but it may not let you run that from the USB stick.

Another possibility is to open BIOS setup and make sure Auto OS Recovery Threshold and
SupportAssist OS Recovery are both enabled. Save the changes and reboot and see if that will recover the OS for you, but I don't know if there will be an option to save files/apps...

Hi Ron. Thanks again for your reply. I think the build is v1909. I don't think I have mentioned that I did create a recovery usb when I bought it (2018). Might be worth a try?

Both of the BIOS options that you mentioned were enabled, so no joy there. I see that the Custom and Upgrade options need details of the Windows version (Home etc) and also some work on partitions so I am doing some research on that.

I do have my files backed up so I'll just try to get to get Windows installed. 

Just wipe the hard drive and do a clean install of v20H2.  I suspect using the Update option from that USB stick won't work because you're supposed to update one version of Win 10 to another from inside Windows. But if you can't boot...