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July 21st, 2025 15:10
Dell Latitude 5420 (Win 11, 32GB Ram) running very, very slowly, now bricked
- Checked hardware using Support Assist | On-board Diagnostics (F12 on start-up) – All tests passed successfully!
- Support Assist Recovery (via pressing F12 on start-up), Automatic Repair, Your PC did not start correctly!
- Clicked on Restart but PC boots into (1) Preparing Automatic Repair, and then (2) Diagnosing your PC screens!
Your PC did not start correctly screen appears…
…then Automatic Repair screen reappears!
- Tried Reset this PC (keep files) and then Remove Everything option (Now getting desperate!)
Both resulted in Failure...
and then Automatic Repair!
- Tried to boot in Safe Mode via Start Up Settings. Any selection ended up with Failure!
and then Automatic Repair!
- Tried Factory Image Restore, but arrived at Automatic Repair!
- Tried clean install of Win 11 using Windows 11 Installation Media,but Failed!
And back to Automatic Repair! Seem to think we have been there before!!!
So, hardware not at fault, but a glitch with the Windows installation! Any help appreciated as I now appear to have a Dell badged brick!
No Events found!
Biggles615
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July 30th, 2025 16:36
Hi all, here is the update you have all been waiting for!
The new 500GB disk was put into the PC and I installed Win 11 using Rufus (on USB) to ensure that my Local account is Michael, instead of Windows insisting on using Micha (first five letters of email address recorded with Microsoft.)
Downloaded Dell Support Assist, re-registered PC with Dell. Updated Software, optimized System (F12 on Bootup gets on board Diagnostics) All tests passed! Windows Update took a day or so!
Partitioned drive C: Drive for OS (400GB) and the rest D: Drive for data!
Then proceeded to download and install fresh copies of my software.
After a couple of days doing this my PC was up and running as it was before the crash!
I then cloned my (new) working disk to the old disk having deleted the partitions and creating a new partition with Minitool Partition Wizard.
Cloning successful and old disk back in my PC (Cloned disk available for future disasters!) and all working well.
Of course, I could not have done any of this without the use of a second PC. I used my sister’s old Sony Vaio (Windows 11 update via Rufus). Slow but sure and helped me with my research.
Thank you to anne_droid for your excellent pointers!
(edited)
anne_droid
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July 21st, 2025 17:02
Hi
I can only suggest https://rescuezilla.com/ may be a little daunting but it can be effective.
AND the ever faithful https://www.hirensbootcd.org/
I actually have 6 assorted recovery/repair/re-install iso's on a 64 gig USB stick.
/media/anne/Ventoy/cachyos-desktop-linux-250530.iso
/media/anne/Ventoy/debian-12.11.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso
/media/anne/Ventoy/gparted-live-1.7.0-8-amd64.iso
/media/anne/Ventoy/HBCD_PE_x64.iso
/media/anne/Ventoy/linuxmint-22.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso
/media/anne/Ventoy/rescuezilla-2.6.1-64bit.oracular.iso
and would expect a fix to be achieved.
Biggles615
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July 23rd, 2025 09:35
Thank you for getting back to me anne_droid, with suggestions.
Using Rescuzilla I was able to make a back up of my hard disk, although I wonder what value this will be if I try to restore on a new replacement disk? Will the restore carry over all the faults?
Using Hirensbootcd I have been able to retrieve my data from my D:Data drive! My 500GB disk was partitioned for OS to be on C: Drive and my data was on D: Drive, so that was a good move!
I have attempted Windows repair using one of the other apps on Hirensboot, but no luck! Which app in your experience would be the best to try to restore my OS? From this screenshot you can see that both my C:Drive and D:Drive are marked with exclamation marks! Am I right in assuming that my installed hard disk is now corrupted beyond repair and needs to be replaced?
(Remember the Dell Scan (F12) indicated all tests passed successfully!)
Many thanks for your help!
At this
anne_droid
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July 23rd, 2025 09:47
Hi
I think your thoughts on a replacement storage device are sound, and should be followed thru.
You have quite a range of possibilites (according to the MRMEMORY website)...
ORICO 2.5-inch SSD USB 3.0 Enclosure
VIEW OUR RANGE OF PORTABLE USB STORAGE
Kingston’s KC600 is a full-capacity SSD designed to provide remarkable performance and optimised to provide functional system responsiveness with incredible boot, loading and transfer times. SSDs also consume less power, generate less heat, weigh less and are silent in their operation.
SKC600/2048G
SKC600/1024G
SKC600/512G
SKC600/256G
(edited)
Biggles615
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July 23rd, 2025 12:44
Hi, yes, have just purchased the following from Mr Memory! 2.5" SSD is not a match for my Dell 5420!
Regards
anne_droid
3 Apprentice
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649 Posts
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July 23rd, 2025 12:55
Hi
Agreed, I selected the DDR3, wrongly, as you appear to have the DDR4 version.
anne_droid
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July 31st, 2025 09:09
Prego.