Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart

[zebanovich]

Ah man, I need to visit eye specialist for real , I canceled it 6 months ago due to covid fear.

I'm sorry, please type just C followed by colon and press enter like this:
c:

This should take you to C drive.

 

[jayeliot]

Ok I got to the c: directory. I created a folder in the flash drive

I did the robocopy and all nothing goy copied over. I also noticed that the directory wifes name was created on 10/18 the day I plugged in the pc and when problems began

 

[jayeliot]

using dos I did a query

c:\ dir users\wifename\documents - no files there

 

[zebanovich]

hm, I've tested sample robocopy command and it worked fine here.
make sure source and destination path is fully specified including drive letter.
Here is working example:

robocopy /S C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\ F:\Documents\

See if the command results in any kind of errors.

c:\ dir users\wifename\documents

I see, try with:
dir C:\users\wifename\documents

The prompt that begins with, example
C:\>
does not count, it only tells you the current location.

I'm sorry but there is no other way to back up data.
Command prompt can be tricky.

To have graphical interface you would have to boot from linux live USB but I didn't want to bother you with that.

 

[jayeliot]

I have made multiple attempts

dir c:\users\wife\documents

dir c:\users\public\documents

no files

 

[zebanovich]

OK, then "Documents" folder contains no files, what about "Pictures"?
dir c:\users\wife\pictures


And what about "Desktop"?
dir c:\users\wife\Desktop


These should contain files.

 

[jayeliot]

No files in the documents folder ; some files in the desktop folder ; 32 files in the download folder

 

[zebanovich]

you're interested in "Pictures" folder, there should be photos.

I'm not sure where to look for office documents, maybe in "Desktop"

Why don't you just copy entry wife's folder to USB?

mkdir F:\backup
robocopy /S C:\Users\WIFE\ F:\backup\

When copying is done, attach USB to another computer and let her verify all files are there?

 

[jayeliot]

I found lots of files under wife\onedrive\documents. copying now. Moved 1600 files to flash drive and copied them to the working laptop just in case. Ready to reinstall Windows tomorrow.

 

[zebanovich]

Press CTRL + C (twice) to stop operation.

I had some feeling it might end up like this.
Please stop operation and attach USB stick to working computer.
Look at what files are useful to back up from USB, and copy them to working computer for safe storage.

Unfortunately I have no clue where could offices files be, most likely inside "OneDrive" folder, by default:
C:\Users\WIFE\OneDrive

I can't confirm you've backed up all data, only your wife can do that by examining files copied to USB on a working computer.

Btw. later or some other day (when you decide to) at some point to free space on USB, don't delete anything on USB manually, instead to remove all data from USB, right click USB and select "Format..."

 

[zebanovich]

Ready to reinstall Windows tomorrow.

OK, if you're sure all data is copied and safe, go ahead.
If you stuck with tutorial on installing windows feel free to ask for help.

Once you're done installing new OS, next step is to first install drivers to new OS.

Then moving copied personal files back to new system and installing programs is easy thing.

 

[jayeliot]

So I will boot up the pc using the flash drive. Instead of selecting repair, I will select install Windows.

I assume there will be a lot of prompts along the way. What info should I have ready (license info , ?)

As for drivers, what will have to be installed ? Should I have them downloaded already ?

 

[zebanovich]

You need no info for now, no license or anything, just follow tutorial:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Drivers can be downloaded and installed later, let me know when you're done installing.

 

[jayeliot]

done. ready for next step. windows is working great

 

[zebanovich]

OK, drivers next, follow steps below on new Windows to share system information file:

1. Click on Windows button
2. Type msinfo32 on your kyeboard
3. Right click on "System Information" and Run as Administrator
4. If asked for password enter your password and click OK
5. Click on: File -> Save...
6. Save the file to C:\ root drive
8. Zip up this file and attach to your reply

For more information about msinfo32 tool see below link:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...of-microsoft-system-information-msinfo32-tool