[Windows 10] How to perform recovery re-setup/initialization under the condition of windows not starting up

Performing a System Recovery when Windows won’t Start (Win 10)

Applicable Products
Models of PC with Windows 10 Pre-installed


Table of contents
Notes
Operating procedure
If you want to keep personal files
If you want to delete all of the data


Notes

  • If your Windows operating system is having serious issues and cannot start, you may need recovery media in order to perform a recovery.  However, if the hard drive is operating normally, you can start the recovery function using this page as a guide.  If you are unable to use this guide, please refer to this Q & A to do a system recovery using recovery media.

▼ Related Q & A:
How to recovery by using the [Windows 10] recovery media (re setup initialization)

  • For computers in the VJZ12A * series, if you run a system recovery with the wireless keyboard connected via the USB cable, the keyboard may not work correctly after recovery.  Please do not connect the wireless keyboard with the USB cable when running a system recovery.
  • When you run a system recovery, data will be lost. If you have data that you want to save, please be sure to perform a backup of the data in advance.
  • It is recommended that you create a recovery media in advance.  If you have performed any of the operations from the following list, the information you need to do a system recovery may be rewritten, limiting your ability to successfully create recovery media.
  • Changes to the partitions
  • Installing an OS after the initial factory installation
  • Please remove all the peripherals from your computer except for essential equipment and power cables required for recovery.
  • Because it takes time to do a system recovery, please connect the AC adapter.
  • Music files and other copyright protected files may not be accessible after system recovery, even if they are located in the same place.  Please refer to the help file with your music playing application before performing the recovery procedure.
  •  Please disable the encryption of your InstantGo corresponding model, prior to the recovery, please remember to disable the encryption of the device.  When the recovery while performing encryption device, you will not read the encrypted data.  In addition, it may also fail to recovery.

▼ Related Q & A:
[VAIO_PC] for encryption of device

  • For computer models that have a TPM security chip mounted, prior to the recovery please decrypt the encrypted data prior to doing the information backup.  If you use the TPM function and attempt to do a recovery with encrypted data, you may not be able to read it.  Additionally, it can stop the recovery from succeeding.  For issues where Windows doesn’t start, if you cannot do an information backup, you can use the backup system archives and the Emergency Recovery token to restore the configuration of TPM.

▼ Related Q & A:
[VAIO_PC] Notes If you are using the TPM function

  • If you use the Windows encryption feature when running a recovery, you will not be able to read the encrypted data.  Prior to the recovery, please be sure to remove the encryption. It should be noted, any data that cannot be read because it was not decrypted before a system recovery cannot be restored.
  • If you cannot recover from the hard drive, you will need to use recovery media that you have created in advance.  If you did not previous create recovery media, you can purchase some.  To avoid extra costs, it is recommended that you create recovery media prior to a system recovery.

 ▼ Related Q & A: 
How to Create a [Windows 10] recovery media

  • If you are using MS Office, you must perform the new installation after you perform a system recovery.  You will need to authenticate your license by entering a product key.  Your product key is listed on the product key card that was shipped.
  • Recovery to retain the personal files to remove the configuration and application, but your personal files will leave.
  • In addition to deleting all the personal data files, system recovery will remove the Office application and all of the settings. Please note, aspects of the program may remain, such as updates that were applied as part of the Windows update.

Operating procedure

  • If you want to keep the personal data

If you are unable to start the computer, please use the following procedure to save your personal data.  ※ Depending on your environment, you might such as the contents to be displayed different.
1.    If the computer’s power is turned on, shut it down by pressing the power button for 4 or more sections (turn the power off).
2.    Press the F3 button or press the power button while holding down the F4 button.  In computers with model VJZ12A*, hold down the volume control button (+ or -) while you press the power button.
3.    When the VAIO Rescue mode screen is displayed, select Start VAIO the Recovery Feature.

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4.    When the “Because the choice of keyboard layout” message is displayed, select Microsoft IME.
5.    On the “Option Selection,” screen, choose Troubleshooting.

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6.    On the Troubleshooting screen, select “Restore the PC to its initial state”.

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7.    When the Because this PC back to the initial state screen is displayed, select to hold the personal files.

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8.    The next screen will read, “Please choose the account to continue.” Select the account you were using Because to be displayed, and then select the account you were using.

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9.    When the message “Please enter the password for this account.” is displayed, select Enter the Password and Continue.  If you have not set a password, select anything without entering and Continue.

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10. When the message “ready to go.” appears, select “Restore to the initial state”.

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The computer will now perform the recovery and then automatically restart.  This can be very time consuming depending on the computer’s environment and your computer usage.


If you want to delete all of the data
If the computer is unable to start, please use these directions to remove all of the data and recovery completely.  ※ Depending on your computer model and other factors, the computer may display this procedure differently.

  1. If the computer’s power is turned on, shut it down by pressing the power button for 4 or more sections (turn the power off).
  2. Press the F3 button or press the power button while holding down the F4 button.  In computers with model VJZ12A*, hold down the volume control button (+ or -) while you press the power button.
  3. When the VAIO Rescue mode screen is displayed, select Start VAIO the Recovery Feature.Image
  4. When the “Because the choice of keyboard layout” message is displayed, select Microsoft IME.

5.    When the Option Selection screen is displayed, choose Troubleshooting.

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6.    When the Troubleshooting screen is displayed, select Restore the PC to its initial state.

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7.    When the Because this PC back to the initial state screen is displayed, select Delete All.

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8.    If you have a split partition, you will see the message, “there is more than one drive to the PC.”  Select the drive you have Windows installed on or select all drives.  If you do not have partitions, this screen will not appear.  Please proceed to the next step.

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9.    When the message “Not only the deletion of a file, completely sure that you want to clean up? The drive” is displayed, select either “delete files only” or “completely clean up the drive.”

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10. When the message reads, “ready to go.”, select Restore to the initial state.

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The computer will now perform the recovery and then automatically restart.  This can be very time consuming depending on the computer’s environment and your computer usage.  After the recovery is complete, the initial configuration screen appears.
▼ Related Q & A:
how to [Windows 10] initial setting

【Notes】
If you cannot use the steps above to perform the recovery, please use the following Q & A
to do the recovery using recovery media.

▼ Related Q & A:
[Windows 10] How to recovery (re setup initialization) using the recovery media
If you have no recovery media, then you need to purchase recovery media.