Hi,

I came home from work to find my Windows 10 laptop not working. It has been sitting on preparing automatic repair for hours at this point. I have seen online to download the media creation tool and create a bootable USB to fix the problem, though I do not have access to another Windows 10 system, would this be possible to do on Windows 11?

Also will I lose data using this fix? I would obviously rather avoid losing data but if there is not a alternative that would keep everything I believe this sounds like my best option.

Thanks in advance!

Firstly my computer had a problem after downloading windows 10 over a year ago. Then I mistakenly from the blue “choose an option” and “choose an operating system” page selected windows 10 4 times clearing the pervious operating system. As a result, I can’t select the previous windows 8 or 7. I can’t even preform a reset because the original is gone.

I tried to find a way to fix it.

My attempt now is putting the Windows media creation tool from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209 on a UBS using working computer. So far so good.

On the laptop with the problem, from the choose an option page I selected using device and then I selected USB drive (UEFI). The laptop goes to a purple page. It says Windows set up, I select from the drop boxes and I click next. I click install now. It says Setup is starting.

It goes to activate windows. My laptop did have windows when I bought it I didn’t have a product key. So I don’t know what to do and therefore I select I don’t have a product key. (I reckon that selecting this will have a future implication, please do enlighten me with any support here too). After that it’s a select operating system you want to install. It gives me seven options I don’t know which one is the right one or which is the best so I select Windows 10 pro. I accept the terms then it looks to me which type of installation do you want. Because I don’t want to lose my files, I choose upgrade install and not custom. It says in the compatibility report option if you start your computer using with the installation media and then I close and then I’m back to the beginning of the windows set up purple screen. Help me.

Additional edit: is there a way for me to back up my device from the blue page that says choose an option?

Don't have many friends and the ones I do all have apple. My computer is doing the no bootable drive and I need to get it set up. Is there anywhere I can buy a usb with windows installation on it for a reasonable price