Hello.

This isn't quite how I envisaged spending the end of 2018.

I went to my parents for xmas, and Dad gave me his laptop saying it wasnt working.

It wont boot to Windows and is in a repair loop.

Initially it had a BSOD error for Bad-System_config which I fixed by following these instructions from a YT video:

1. Type cd d:\windows\system32\config and hit Enter. (change drive letter to your drive letter) 2. Type MD backup and hit Enter. 3. Type copy *.* backup and hit Enter. (Allow file copy to complete task) 4. Type CD regback and hit Enter. (You should see registry hive files listed Default, SECURITY, Software, SYSTEM. 5. Type copy *.* .. and hit Enter. 6. To confirm copy process, type A and hit Enter. 7. Now Reboot your PC.

That error is now gone, but it still doesnt load windows.

Now I have a error in the srtTrail log that says the bootres.dll is corrupt.

All the repair options in the Advanced Troubleshooting menu fail to run.

Sfc /scannow and chkdsk /f /r have not fixed the problem.

Before I head further down the Google rabbit hole, has anyone here managed to fix this issue without losing apps or files?

(I have a backup of the hdd in case this is not possible)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.