iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) bootcamp windows 10 loops windows automatic repair

Question

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) bootcamp windows 10 loops windows automatic repair

Hi

I have installed windows to through bootcamp on iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020). I had an issue with onedrive and was asked to run chkdsk /f /r and since then it is just looping and restarting.

After plugging in a wired windows keyboard.

I tried powering off three times while windows loads hoping that it will go into safemode, but not luck. It still boot directly to windows and loops.

I even tried to hold the power button for 10 seconds and to restart holding the option(alt) key to boot into the MacOS partition, but windows keeps loading and the looping continues.

Turned it on and immediately pressed and held these four keys together: Option(alt), Command (ctrl), P, and R. It still boot directly to windows and loops.

I also tried holding the the cmd(ctrl) R key while powering up and had no luck. It still boot directly to windows and loops.

Appreciate if I can get some guidance. Thanks in advance

iMac

Posted on Aug 9, 2022 6:36 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 9, 2022 8:12 PM in response to applebytesmebad

Okay update - changed the keyboard and I am able to boot from the Mac partition.

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Answer 2

-Bubba-

Level 6

10,776 points

Aug 11, 2022 12:55 AM in response to applebytesmebad

OK- don't touch the Windows partition with any command line or resizing tools! Based on what you've shared, I think the best thing to do is erase the Windows partition with Boot Camp Assistant and set it up again. You'll want to back up any information currently on it.

Remove Windows from your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support

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Answer 3

-Bubba-

Level 6

10,776 points

Aug 15, 2022 8:10 AM in response to applebytesmebad

I would open the partition in Finder > BOOTCAMP on the sidebar and copy anything important to your computer. If you can't copy them, you'll need an external drive formatted as exFAT or FAT32).

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Answer 4

Aug 11, 2022 12:45 AM in response to -Bubba-

I am still having the issue :(

I am not able to go to windows safe mode.

So here is what I have done so far.

Changed the keyboard and I am now able to select mac or windows boot option. Hooray!
I select windows boot option pressing the shift key and it is not going to safemode, instead goes to chkdsk and when I press any key to stop it goes into a loop.
I tried powering off twice or thrice when windows loads and hoping the next time it will go to safemode. It does not.
I plugged an external USB (EFI boot) in boot options. I am able to go to repair mode and none of the options work other than the command prompt. The command promt does not show the bootcamp partition.

Any suggestions.

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Answer 5

Aug 15, 2022 12:46 AM in response to -Bubba-

Thank you very much for this. Qucik question, if I can't boot from windows how do I backup the windows files. Do I boot from MacOS and backup the whole partition? If I do that how do I restore the files?

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