VeraCrypt / Forums / General Discussion: Windows 10 Repair Loop problem

Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-01

Hi there,

I recently fully encrypted my OS disk (windows 10 home) on my laptop (Dell XPS 9570), created a rescue disk (USB stick) using Veracrypt 1.23 and restarted the system. Now I'm stuck in a windows auto repair boot loop and I'm looking for help as other threads don't seem to solve my issue.

turn off pc

turn on pc and boot to rescue disk USB via F12

Veracrypt rescue disk 1.23 boots and I select decrypt. It decrypts after about 1 hour then shows:
Done
Not Ready

Exit rescue disk

Password promt (veracrypt password promt) Enter password (Is says authenticating, success)

Then windows autorepair starts. I cannot boot or repair using this.

Reboot. Cycle continues.

Although now when I try to decrypt within the rescuce disk after the first try it says: "System already decrypted but partition can't be recognised".

Any ideas on how to fix this and boot into windows?

I've tried with both secure boot enabled and disabled but it has the same results.

I'd really appreciate any help.

Sam
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Alex - 2018-10-01

press ESC to bypass password.
Remove loader from boot menu via rescue disk

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- Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-01
  
  Thank you for your suggestion Alex. I tried removing the loader from boot menu via rescue disk but I still have the same issue.
  
  Also using ESC to bypass the password results in the machine saying there is no boot device present.
  
  To be clear, I'm booting directly to rescue disk and selecting boot veracrypt loader.
  
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  - Alex - 2018-10-01
    
    to boot windows execute efi\microsoft\boot\bootmgfw.efi from ESP (via efi shell or any other loader)
    note: 1.23 version can backup and repalce original bootmgfw. Check it.
    
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    - Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-01
      
      Cannot access the efi shell or any loader via the efi. Looks like Dell does not include one?
      Any other ideas on how to fix this?
      
      Last edit: Samantha Rathbone 2018-10-01
      
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      - Alex - 2018-10-01
        
        to execute efi shell copy it to rescue disk to efi\shell\shell.efi (download it from tianocore
        https://github.com/tianocore/edk2/tree/master/ShellBinPkg/UefiShell/X64 )
        note: disable secure boot.
        
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        Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-01
        
        Disabled secure boot, executed efi\microsoft\boot\bootmgfw.efi via shell.efi, entered my password which resulted in 'success' then it boots to the windows screen says 'preparing for automatic repair' and goes into the same loop as before.
        
        edit: Although when I say loop, I mean it gives me recovery options (which don't work).
        
        Any other ideas?
        
        Last edit: Samantha Rathbone 2018-10-01
        
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Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-01

Small update : When booting from the UEFI rescue disk and selecting 'boot veracrypt loader from rescue disk' I select my boot drive ( option 1. Option 0 is boot rescue (USB))
- enter password
- Dell logo appears with 'preparing automatic repair ' text below
- screen quickly flashes then text changes to 'automatic repair cannot repair your PC'

Ideas?

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Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-01

Current status:
- Boot loader removed from boot menu
- Disabled secure boot and ran efi\microsoft\boot\bootmgfw.efi (Repair boot loop still exists).
Boot sequence:
- UEFI: USB Veracrypt Rescue Disk
- Windows Boot Manager

Repair loop still exists. The veracrypt loader does not seem to load and windows will not boot.

Few questions:
- Would the SATA operation of the NVME SSD cause issues? For instance would changing to AHCI change anything?
- Is everything I need in my boot sequence? (My SSD seems to be split into 4 partitions under the 'add new boot options section'.)
- Is it possible to transfer the files I need off of it by booting from a LIVE USB of linux?

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- Alex - 2018-10-02
  
  1.23 version updates bootmgfw. check efi\veracrypt folder on ESP to select original windows loader
  
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  - Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-02
    
    Here's where im at so far https://ibb.co/hdOu8e
    There is no bootmgfw
    
    Edit: in the boot directory there appears to be bootx64.efi and original_bootx64.vc_backup can they help?
    
    Last edit: Samantha Rathbone 2018-10-02
    
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    - Alex - 2018-10-02
      
      it is possible to execute original backup loader from ESP (not USB) Try to locate fsN: with EFI folder.
      
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      - Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-02
        
        Executed loader from efi\veracrypt folder but it takes me to the same loop.
        It looks like there is no orginal backup there? See image of directory here https://ibb.co/kCYFYe
        
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  - Samantha Rathbone - 2018-10-02
    
    I'm having some trouble replacing bootmgfw with the veracrypt backup.
    
    What file from the veracrypt rescue disk dir is my backup?
    
    Mind explaining how to do it in laymans terms?
    
    I really appreciate your help so far.
    
    Last edit: Samantha Rathbone 2018-10-02
    
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Windows 10 Repair Loop problem

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Windows 10 Repair Loop problem

Windows 10 Repair Loop problem

Open source disk encryption with strong security for the Paranoid

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Windows 10 Repair Loop problem