Windows 10 forced update broke my computer

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by OurFreeSociety, Jun 11, 2025.

  1. OurFreeSociety

    OurFreeSociety MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2024
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    and maybe my external HD and I'm FURIOUS!!!

    I don't know what to do.

    I can't reformat this laptop. I have a piece of software on it that is the only copy I have, & only works because I was logged in when they got rid of it and forced everyone to go with the newer version I don't want. Not to mention it has all of my info on it in offline mode.

    1. I didn't realize the update affected my external HD which has all of my files on it until I tried to play some music & it kept spinning. Then I started to get a popup saying it needs to be formatted. OMG. I plugged it into my desktop that has Win 7 on it & it also wants me to reformat it. WHY??? What did Windows do to it?

    2. I had to restart my laptop 5 times before the Open shell would load & it takes forever to load.

    3. It broke my Thunderbird, but now I know why my emails never loaded, it's because it can't get access to my external HD.

    I can't believe this. I don't know what to do & no, I don't have a thumb drive with the restore point thingy on it. I needed that, didn't I?

    But how would that fix the external HD?

    At least I don't think I have it. I may have put it on a thumb drive, but I can't remember & wouldn't even know how to tell.

    Please help me. I can't even go to sleep now because of this.

    Thanks
     
  2. rayman95

    rayman95 MDL Member

    Oct 3, 2018
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    boot on live usb linux PE windows and you can navigate to your files
     
  3. OurFreeSociety

    OurFreeSociety MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2024
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    I don't know what that means or what that is.

    Can you give me a link & instructions please.

    Is this to fix the Win 10 or the external HD?

    I can't even figure out what is the issue. I now think the update killed my external HD, not the laptop with Windows. sigh

    Thanks
     
  4. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    It doesn't, maybe something on the external hdd caused it combined with the update.
    Could be open shell causing this.
    Same reply as my first one.

    Maybe go to the local pc shop and ask for assistance.
     
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  5. OurFreeSociety

    OurFreeSociety MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2024
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    You think Open Shell caused the corruption?

    I have no store I can go to. I'm in Mexico. I don't trust anyone here.

    They can't even put a computer together properly or install fans without breaking something. sigh

    Thanks
     
  6. NewEraCracker

    NewEraCracker MDL Senior Member

    Apr 19, 2011
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    #8 NewEraCracker, Jun 11, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2025
    Do not format the hard-drive. You are likely experiencing an MFT or MBR corruption.

    I have successfully recovered files on a friend's drive about 10 years ago, that constitutes a similar situation, with Runtime Software GetDataBack for NTFS.

    My friend later gave me that 1TB HDD as a gift, and I hammered it first with a full zeros and NTFS format before re-using, and it never gave me problems ever since.

    Sometimes it can be also trouble with the USB cable connection, power source, or driver bug that causes such corruption.

    I told this story more than once, and experts suggest now to take a byte-by-byte image of the HDD and run the tool there.

    My two cents. Thank you.



    Now a later thing struck me... There was again a dynamic update released this month. Microsoft always tries to mess up the things, boot sector wise, for so-called "security". My advice is, in the future, if possible, disconnect safely external HDDs before installing or rebooting for Windows Updates.
     
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  7. OurFreeSociety

    OurFreeSociety MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2024
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    It's a lot of money at $79

    It also says it's to recover data, but what about fixing the external itself? Or are you saying I'd still have to reformat after pulling off the data?

    I just found out I can't even put the files on my laptop, there's no room. The external is 4 TB although I don't have close to 4 TB. I'd have to put them all on my desktop.

    I don't think it's the external that's the issue. I mean it is, but it's WINDOWS 10 that caused all of this because Open Shell wouldn't start quickly, I lost my backup software & other software took a long time to load, & I also had settings change on ShareX, so I really don't think it's the power cord or the external that did this.

    I HATE Windows 10. sigh

    Thanks
     
  8. NewEraCracker

    NewEraCracker MDL Senior Member

    Apr 19, 2011
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    I can then only wish you the best of luck.

    GPT (GUID Partition Table) drives can be a significant challenge for legacy recovery tools, which often struggle to handle its complexity.

    GPT is commonly used on drives larger than 2TB, as MBR (Master Boot Record) has limitations that make it less suitable for larger drives.

    In my opinion, drives larger than 2TB are problematic because they can't utilize the more reliable MBR partitioning scheme.

    My two cents. Thank you.



    P.S.
     
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  9. OurFreeSociety

    OurFreeSociety MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2024
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    Are you saying when I buy another external I should make sure it's only 2 TB, no more?

    I didn't do this update. I never do. That's why I put FORCED in the heading b/c I've tried to stop it from controlling my computer & doing updates & it never works.

    I'll be busy working on my desktop & the next thing I know, my laptop is off doing it's own thing. I don't even have control over my OWN COMPUTER. SMH

    Thanks :)

    P.S. Safety & security is code for, we CONTROL YOU. It's ALL FEAR PORN so people bow down to the MS gawds, or whoever is brainwashing everyone who believes everything they are told. Don't get me started.
     
  10. NewEraCracker

    NewEraCracker MDL Senior Member

    Apr 19, 2011
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    Yes.
    That's why I set all my local network connections as metered. It allows Windows to limit data usage and potentially reduce the number of automatic updates.
    Bugs with Windows Explorer and Recent Files functionality. I also see it from time to time, on a neighbours computer when I go there with my USB pendrive to print stuff. I think that error is yet another programming mistake by Microsoft.

    Let's just focus on seeing if anyone else can help you.

    My two cents. Thank you.
     
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  11. OurFreeSociety

    OurFreeSociety MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2024
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    How do you do that?
     
  12. NewEraCracker

    NewEraCracker MDL Senior Member

    Apr 19, 2011
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  13. Carlos Detweiller

    Carlos Detweiller Emperor of Ice-Cream
    Staff Member

    Dec 21, 2012
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    Just to throw another idea in here, maybe it started an automatic Bitlocker encryption.
     
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