Dual boot - windows boots but can't login - Blurred screen then blue loop

[glennpm]

Details

- Dual boot system; Windows 11 & Ubuntu

- I run Ubuntu most of the time but a couple of days ago I re-booted in an attempt to login to Windows, but didn’t get my Grub screen. Last boot to Windows was fine with no issues back a couple of weeks ago. during the first recent boot attempt the system seemed to be trying to run a boot service perhaps, AOMEI Backupper. I thought there may have been a boot script by AOMEI Backupper but nothing to prove this.

- DELL Inspirion laptop

- On boot, I get the std Windows screen but no box to add PIN or password for normal or safe modes. I get into SAFE mode via a Windows startup iso

- When I click or "enter" I get a blurred screen, then blue screen, then back to the std Windows boot screen

- Best search yielded this, [SOLVED] - windows 10 Blurred and stuck on the login screen (fuzzy blurry)

- I ran all the Windows install/repair iso options to no avail.



BOOT Mode is set to: UEFI with Legacy OPROH; Secure

UEFI BOOT:

HDD1-Windows Boot Manager (Samsung SSD 870 EVO 1TB)

ISB1-1

HDD2-ubuntu (Samsung SSD 870 EVO

********

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info

._ _ _

— — — — — —.— ————————— ——————

Volume e L CCC0MA_X64F UDF DVD-ROM 5549 MB Healthy

Volume i C Windows NTFS Partition 150 GB Healthy

Volume 2 D D_on_DELL NTFS Partition 703 GB Healthy

Volume 3 ESP FAT32 Partition 499 MB Healthy Hidden

Volume 4 WINRETOOLS NTFS Partition 750 MB Healthy Hidden

Volume 5 F NTFS Partition 853 MB Healthy Hidden

Volume 6 G PBR Image NTFS Partition 7409 MB Healthy Hidden

Volume 7 H WD4TB-Dell NTFS Partition 3399 GB Healthy

Volume 8 I RAW Partition 299 GB Healthy

Volume 9 J Ventoy-Baks exFAT Partition 831 GB Healthy

Volume 10 VTOYEFI FAT Partition 32 MB Healthy

DISKPART> select volume

********

I've run these commands:

K:\sources>bootrec.exe /fixmbr

The operation completed successfully.

K:\sources>bootrec.exe /fixboot

Access is denied.

K:\sources>bootrec.exe /scanos

Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

’lease wait, since this may take a while...

Successfully scanned Windows installations.

Total identified Windows installations: 0

The operation completed successfully.

K:\sources>bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

Please wait, since this may take a while...

Successfully scanned Windows installations.

Total identified Windows installations: 0

The operation completed successfully.

K:\sources>bcdboot C:\windows

Boot files successfully created.

X:\sources>

**********

Deleted all files inside caches, %windir%\system32\config\systemprofile\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\caches

***********

I also restored the latest AOMEI disk image and still have the same issue. Seems like there is an issue with my boot records

#########

PASTEBIN urls:

Paste from boot-repair application Ubuntu Pastebin

Paste from boot-info Ubuntu Pastebin

 

[ChatGPT]

Thanks for the detailed info! Based on your description and the commands you've tried, here are some insights and steps that can help resolve your Windows login loop and boot issues on your dual-boot setup:

1. Windows Boot Manager Not Detecting Windows Installations
   Your bootrec /scanos and bootrec /rebuildbcd commands reported 0 Windows installations found, which means the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store is either missing or corrupted and not properly pointing to your Windows partition. This is likely why Windows fails to load login credentials and cycles through blurred screen to blue loop.
2. Fixing the BCD Store Manually
   You successfully ran bcdboot C:\windows which recreates boot files, but if the BCD store lacks correct entries or the EFI partition isn’t properly mounted, the problem persists.
   Steps to fix:
   • Boot into Windows recovery command prompt.
   • Use diskpart to assign a drive letter (say W to your EFI partition (usually a FAT32 partition around 100-500MB).
     Commands (DiskPart):
     

     list disk
     select disk 0 (select your disk containing OS)
     list partition
     select partition X (EFI partition, FAT32)
     assign letter=W
     exit

   • Then rebuild boot files with:
     

     cd /d W:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot
     bootrec /fixboot
     bcdboot C:\Windows /s W: /f UEFI

   • Reboot and test. This often resolves the "Access is denied" error on bootrec /fixboot and fixes boot issues caused by EFI partition problems.
3. Check BCD Entries and Set Default
   Run bcdedit /enum all to review entries. If {current} or {default} entries are missing or invalid, recreate them with commands like:
   

   bcdedit /set {default} osdevice partition=C:
   bcdedit /set {default} device partition=C:
   bcdedit /set {default} path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
   bcdedit /set {default} description "Windows 11"
   bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displayorder {default}
   bcdedit /default {default}

   Make sure to replace C: with your actual Windows partition letter if different.
4. Check Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
   Sometimes Windows boots into the recovery environment instead of normal OS causing login issues with no password prompt. Run:
   

   reagentc /info
   reagentc /enable

   To check and enable recovery environment if disabled.
5. Grub and Dual Boot Considerations
   Since you use dual boot with Ubuntu, the absence of GRUB menu could be due to Windows updates or EFI boot order issues. To restore GRUB:
   • Boot into Ubuntu (if possible) or use a live Ubuntu USB.
   • Run sudo update-grub to detect Windows and regenerate GRUB menu.
   • Use efibootmgr in Linux to check UEFI boot order and set Ubuntu GRUB loader as first if needed.
6. AOMEI Backupper and Boot Services
   You mentioned possible interference from AOMEI Backupper during boot. Backup tools can sometimes install boot-related files or services that interfere with normal boot. If you can, disable or uninstall AOMEI temporarily to test. Also, try booting Windows in Safe Mode (which you can do via recovery ISO) and uninstall recent updates or drivers that might cause boot loops.
7. If Problems Persist: In-Place Repair or Reinstall
   If none of the above succeed, as a last resort, use Windows 11 installation media for an in-place upgrade repair.
   • Choose Upgrade and Keep Files option, which repairs system files without losing data.

Your detailed Boot Repair and Boot Info pastebins will also be useful for deeper analysis, but the main issue seems related to corrupted or missing BCD configuration and EFI partition boot files, which the above steps target.
Feel free to provide outputs of bcdedit /enum all and any current EFI boot entries (efibootmgr from Linux or UEFI boot menu screenshots) for more specific guidance.
References to similar solutions and detailed steps are discussed in threads including effective fixes for "Access is denied" on bootrec /fixboot and no Windows installations detected by rebuildbcdand.
Let me know if you want me to guide you through these steps in detail!

 

[glennpm]

Thanks for the quick and detailed reply! Glad you read my testing too!

Re: "Fixing the BCD Store Manually"
I also tried this yesterday but repeated now, however still can't get the sign-in prompt, goes fuzzy, blue, etc.

Check BCD Entries and Set Default
Run bcdedit /enum all to review entries

Not sure about evaluating this.

"
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.4387]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

X:\>bcdedit

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume3
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-us
inherit {globalsettings}
default {default}
resumeobject {c4dabc41-6d65-11f0-b77e-3417eb820eae}
displayorder {default}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 3

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {default}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 10
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {c4dabc41-6d65-11f0-b77e-3417eb820eae}
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard

X:\>bcdedit /set [default] osdevice partition=C:
An error occurred while attempting to reference the specified entry.
The system cannot find the file specified.

X:\>C:

C:\>bcdedit /set [default] osdevice partition=C:
An error occurred while attempting to reference the specified entry.
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\>bcdedit /enum all

Firmware Boot Manager
---------------------
identifier {fwbootmgr}
displayorder {988c6f3c-6cd6-11f0-bab8-806e6f6e6963}
{97b67f6e-fca2-11e8-828a-806e6f6e6963}
{bootmgr}
{6efe75b0-6c91-11f0-bab3-806e6f6e6963}
{6efe75b1-6c91-11f0-bab3-806e6f6e6963}
{6efe75b2-6c91-11f0-bab3-806e6f6e6963}
{97b67f6f-fca2-11e8-828a-806e6f6e6963}
{97b67f70-fca2-11e8-828a-806e6f6e6963}
timeout 0

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume3
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-us
inherit {globalsettings}
default {default}
resumeobject {c4dabc41-6d65-11f0-b77e-3417eb820eae}
displayorder {default}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 3

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {6efe75b0-6c91-11f0-bab3-806e6f6e6963}
description Hard Drive
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {6efe75b1-6c91-11f0-bab3-806e6f6e6963}
description USB Storage Device
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {6efe75b2-6c91-11f0-bab3-806e6f6e6963}
description Network
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {6f86f217-6d3e-11f0-aa29-806e6f6e6963}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume12
description USB1-1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {97b67f6e-fca2-11e8-828a-806e6f6e6963}
description EFI USB Device
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {97b67f6f-fca2-11e8-828a-806e6f6e6963}
description EFI DVD/CDROM
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {97b67f70-fca2-11e8-828a-806e6f6e6963}
description EFI Network
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {988c6f3c-6cd6-11f0-bab8-806e6f6e6963}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume3
path \EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi
description ubuntu
custom:250000c2 1

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {229e59c9-0dfb-11e5-8cba-44a842e9e24c}
device ramdisk=[unknown]\Recovery\WindowsRE\Winre.wim,{229e59ca-0dfb-11e5-8cba-44a842e9e24c}
path \windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows Recovery Environment
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
displaymessage Recovery
osdevice ramdisk=[unknown]\Recovery\WindowsRE\Winre.wim,{229e59ca-0dfb-11e5-8cba-44a842e9e24c}
systemroot \windows
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard
winpe Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {c4655088-da80-11ee-9636-9ae5770d1866}
device ramdisk=[I:]\Recovery\WindowsRE\Winre.wim,{c4655089-da80-11ee-9636-9ae5770d1866}
path \windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows Recovery Environment
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
displaymessage Recovery
osdevice ramdisk=[I:]\Recovery\WindowsRE\Winre.wim,{c4655089-da80-11ee-9636-9ae5770d1866}
systemroot \windows
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard
winpe Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {default}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 10
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {c4dabc41-6d65-11f0-b77e-3417eb820eae}
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {fd89e40b-48a0-4ef9-a6f6-f705281741a2}
device ramdisk=[C:]\Aomei\AomeiBoot.wim,{f9d3be1f-29eb-4363-be86-05f07df3867f}
description Aomei PE
osdevice ramdisk=[C:]\Aomei\AomeiBoot.wim,{f9d3be1f-29eb-4363-be86-05f07df3867f}
systemroot \Windows
detecthal Yes
winpe Yes

Resume from Hibernate
---------------------
identifier {c4655086-da80-11ee-9636-9ae5770d1866}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winresume.efi
description Windows Resume Application
locale en-US
inherit {resumeloadersettings}
recoverysequence {c4655088-da80-11ee-9636-9ae5770d1866}
recoveryenabled Yes
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
filedevice partition=C:
filepath \hiberfil.sys
bootmenupolicy Standard
debugoptionenabled No

Resume from Hibernate
---------------------
identifier {c4dabc41-6d65-11f0-b77e-3417eb820eae}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winresume.efi
description Windows Resume Application
locale en-us
inherit {resumeloadersettings}
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
filedevice partition=C:
filepath \hiberfil.sys
bootmenupolicy Standard
debugoptionenabled No

Windows Memory Tester
---------------------
identifier {memdiag}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume3
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\memtest.efi
description Windows Memory Diagnostic
locale en-us
inherit {globalsettings}
badmemoryaccess Yes

EMS Settings
------------
identifier {emssettings}
bootems No

Debugger Settings
-----------------
identifier {dbgsettings}
debugtype Serial
debugport 1
baudrate 115200

RAM Defects
-----------
identifier {badmemory}

Global Settings
---------------
identifier {globalsettings}
inherit {dbgsettings}
{emssettings}
{badmemory}

Boot Loader Settings
--------------------
identifier {bootloadersettings}
inherit {globalsettings}
{hypervisorsettings}

Hypervisor Settings
-------------------
identifier {hypervisorsettings}
hypervisordebugtype Serial
hypervisordebugport 1
hypervisorbaudrate 115200

Resume Loader Settings
----------------------
identifier {resumeloadersettings}
inherit {globalsettings}

Device options
--------------
identifier {4860cf53-a41c-4f6e-8e14-ea254969fbf2}
ramdisksdidevice partition=C:
ramdisksdipath \Aomei\AomeiBoot.sdi

Device options
--------------
identifier {a108f81e-8805-4baa-9803-4a812ceca109}
ramdisksdidevice partition=C:
ramdisksdipath \Aomei\AomeiBoot.sdi

Device options
--------------
identifier {ba500124-c2fd-4aa8-95e3-6580485af808}
ramdisksdidevice partition=C:
ramdisksdipath \Aomei\AomeiBoot.sdi

Device options
--------------
identifier {c4655089-da80-11ee-9636-9ae5770d1866}
description Windows Recovery
ramdisksdidevice partition=I:
ramdisksdipath \Recovery\WindowsRE\boot.sdi

Device options
--------------
identifier {f70f919f-009c-4af7-ad1b-813288ce4d13}
ramdisksdidevice partition=C:
ramdisksdipath \Aomei\AomeiBoot.sdi

Device options
--------------
identifier {f9d3be1f-29eb-4363-be86-05f07df3867f}
ramdisksdidevice partition=C:
ramdisksdipath \Aomei\AomeiBoot.sdi

Check Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
I've tried both but no success

Grub and Dual Boot Considerations
Somehow (probably me , I had changed the BIOS boot order. I fixed this earlier today.

AOMEI Backupper and Boot Services

It seemed to be only the first attempt at booting yesterday. I'm getting no indication that there is a service still waiting to run but clueless on this now.

If Problems Persist: In-Place Repair or Reinstall

A year ago I did this and my whole drive was taken over, over-writing my Ubuntu install so VERY reluctant to attempt this.

Thanks again!
Glenn

 

[ChatGPT]

Thank you for sharing the detailed BCD configuration and your current troubleshooting steps—this helps narrow things down significantly.

Key Observations​

1. BCD Structure Looks Healthy:
   Your BCD entries appear largely intact. The {default} entry points to partition=C: with the correct winload.efi path. Your Boot Manager and Boot Loader configurations look reasonable, and there’s no sign of missing or obviously invalid entries.
2. AOMEI Boot Entries:
   The extra Aomei PE and related device options are visible, but currently, they do not appear to be the default boot target, so their impact should now be minimal.
3. The Critical Loop:
   The fact that you see the Windows login background, but no password/PIN box, then a blue/fuzzy screen, then back to the background, suggests:
   • Windows is technically booting but encountering a critical failure at the credential provider or user profile load stage.
   • This is often seen in user profile corruption, system file corruption, or low-level driver/service load failures (sometimes triggered by third-party tools or failed updates).

---

Targeted Steps to Continue​

1. Offline User Profile and System File Repair​

Boot from Windows Recovery Media and choose "Repair your computer" > "Troubleshoot" > "Command Prompt".

a) Check for Corrupt User Profiles​

1. In the command prompt, load the Software and System registry hives:
   

   reg load HKLM\tempsoft C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE
   reg load HKLM\tempsys C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM

2. Check for third-party logon providers or issues under:
   reg query "HKLM\tempsoft\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon"
   Look for suspicious Userinit, Shell, and GinaDLL.
   • Userinit should be: C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe,
   • Shell should be: explorer.exe
   • GinaDLL should not exist in modern Windows.
   If any values are wrong, correct them with:
   

   reg add "HKLM\tempsoft\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Userinit /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe," /f
   reg add "HKLM\tempsoft\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Shell /t REG_SZ /d explorer.exe /f
   reg delete "HKLM\tempsoft\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v GinaDLL /f

b) Attempt a System File Scan (SFC) from Recovery​

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows
Watch for and note any errors.

c) Check Disk/Partition Health​

chkdsk C: /f

d) Driver Check:​

In rare cases, video drivers or critical system drivers cause failures at this phase. If you suspect drivers:
dism /image:C:\ /get-drivers
Review for recently added drivers and consider removing only if you suspect a major change right before failure.

---

2. Hidden User Profile Loop or Service (Rare but Possible)​

Sometimes the login phase fails due to a stuck or corrupted service.

• Boot to recovery, enter the Offline Registry as above.
• Check for odd entries (third-party login provider, custom shell).
• If comfortable, try creating a temporary local admin user (Google “offline add user to Windows using registry”)—to use during login.

---

3. Safe Mode with Command Prompt​

Have you tried Safe Mode with Command Prompt? Sometimes, even if Safe Mode GUI fails, Command Prompt works, allowing:

   net user /add tempadmin P@ssw0rd!
   net localgroup administrators tempadmin /add

Then reboot and try logging into this new user from the regular login screen.

---

4. Repair Install Without Data Loss​

I understand your reluctance—Windows Setup can wipe the drive if not very careful!

• Use a modern Windows 11 installer USB, boot it from within Windows (if possible), and choose “Upgrade” not “Custom."
• If you can only boot from outside, you may be forced into a “Custom” install, risking data/other OS loss. Back up data first if you try this.

---

If All Else Fails​

• From Ubuntu, back up your critical Windows data (the files remain accessible unless system encryption is used).
• After a full backup, you may be able to safely delete/rename the C:\Users\<user>\NTUSER.DAT files to force a new profile (as a last resort).

---

Final Note​

If you want, upload recent Windows event log files or any dump/logs from C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs or the logs/outputs from SFC, and I can review them for additional clues.
Let me know how these next steps go or provide any logs/messages you spot—I'm here to help dig deeper if needed!

 

[glennpm]

Escellent, great next steps.

I'm off for a week long family visit very early tomorrow so I won't be able to try these steps for another week, although I'd like to


Thanks again for your excellent guidance!

Glenn

 

[ChatGPT]

Thank you, Glenn! I’m glad you found the guidance helpful.
Enjoy your family visit—sometimes a break is as valuable for troubleshooting as the most advanced diagnostics! When you're ready to pick this up again, just update the thread with any new info, logs, or progress. I'll be here to walk through the next steps or analyze any files you share.
Safe travels, and enjoy your time away!

 

[tweaking]

Dual boot issue: Windows boots but shows a blurred login screen followed by a blue spinning loop—possible user profile corruption or graphics driver fault.

 

[ChatGPT]

You're on the right track: a blurred login screen followed by an endless blue spinning loop during Windows startup, especially in a dual-boot scenario, most commonly suggests one of these root causes:

1. User Profile Corruption​

Corrupted user profiles are a leading cause of login issues and can trigger symptoms like stuck spinning circles, temporary profiles, and missing desktop items. Triggers include abrupt shutdowns, failed updates, disk errors, or malware. If other accounts log in without issue, your primary profile is almost certainly at fault.
Recommended Steps:

• Try to log in with another account or access Safe Mode.
• If you gain access, back up all important data from C:\Users\[corrupt-profile] (avoid copying system or hidden files).
• Create a new user account from Safe Mode or another admin account.
• Migrate your data (Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.) to the new profile—do not copy the full old profile folder to avoid propagating corruption.
• Consider running sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to fix underlying system file problems before or after repair.

2. Graphics Driver Fault​

A corrupted or incompatible graphics driver—especially after OS updates or dual-boot swaps—can lead to visual artifacts (blurred screen) and prevent proper login.
How to address it:

• Boot into Safe Mode.
• Uninstall and reinstall your graphics drivers using Device Manager or DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller).
• Download the latest drivers from your GPU manufacturer’s website.
• Reboot and check if the issue persists.

3. Disk or Permission Errors​

Disk issues (bad sectors, NTFS corruption) can block access to your profile or driver files and result in similar symptoms.
Checks:

• From WinRE or Safe Mode, run chkdsk /f /r on the Windows partition.
• Use Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) to look for disk or profile service errors.

---

Summary of Recovery Steps​

1. Try login in Safe Mode.
2. Test with another user profile.
3. Back up all irreplaceable data immediately.
4. Run repair tools:
   • sfc /scannow
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   • chkdsk /f /r
5. Create a new user profile and transfer files.
6. Uninstall and reinstall graphics drivers.
7. If all else fails, use System Restore or Reset This PC (preserving files, if possible).

---

For more detail—including advanced steps like registry edits for persistent profile issues—see Microsoft’s official approach and proven community troubleshooting guides.
If you need step-specific help (Safe Mode, backup, profile migration, registry repair) or want to confirm with error codes from the Event Viewer, just let me know—I'm here to walk you through it!

 

[glennpm]

Today I was able boot in recovery mode, create a new user and boot in normally after revising msconfig. It boots slower than before, still not quite satisfied and I'm working on adding and modifying to get in back to the same general boot state. Today I used these links after searching a bit and a few false attempts.

How to Enable Administrator Offline using Registry (Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista).
windows 11 how to add user under safe mode at DuckDuckGo
msconfig boot settings "safe boot" ? at DuckDuckGo

Thanks!
Glenn

 

[ChatGPT]

That’s excellent progress, Glenn! Being able to create a new user and access Windows normally is a huge step forward, especially in complex scenarios like yours.
A few quick points to help you optimize further:

• Slow Boot After Recovery:
  This can sometimes happen if Safe Boot options were left enabled in msconfig, or if there are residual issues with startup drivers/services. Double-check that “Safe boot” and related flags are disabled in msconfig.
• Old User Profile Issues:
  If your previous user profile is still inaccessible or slow to load, it’s often best to migrate settings/files to your new user. Corruption in the user hive is a common cause of login and speed issues after a major recovery event.
• Startup Optimization:
  Use Task Manager’s Startup tab (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to disable unnecessary startup programs. You can also run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow from an admin Command Prompt to repair any lingering Windows file issues.
• Driver or Service Delays:
  Boot delays can also be caused by outdated drivers or missing services. Check Device Manager for yellow exclamation marks and update as needed.

Thanks for sharing those resource links—others with similar issues will find your experience valuable. If you have log files or boot traces you’d like reviewed, feel free to share them here (you can upload files directly, and I can analyze them for bottlenecks or errors).
You’re on the right track! If you need any deep-dive troubleshooting or want to optimize boot further, just let me know—happy to help with targeted advice or analyze specific logs.
Welcome back, and congrats again on regaining access!

 

[glennpm]

Today I copied the user settings from the broken user onto an external drive and then deleted that user with regedit deletion as below:

Delete the User Profile via Registry Editor​

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

*****

I have the new user completely setup but my boot time is awful, taking almost a minute so I need some help again please. Note that I had made NO changes to my Windows installation prior to the booting , fuzzy screen issue.

What would be the proper options within my BIOS?
Presently I have UEFI boot, Secure Boot is Disabled, Legacy Option ROMs is also disabled.
Since I dual boot HDD1-Ubuntu, HDD2-Windows boot manager is the order which brings up the GRUB boot loader from which I select Windows

 

[ChatGPT]

Great work, Glenn—that’s real progress. Now let’s hunt down the slow boot and tighten up your firmware/boot configuration for a clean dual‑boot.
First, a quick check: where is the delay?

• Time each phase once:
  1) Power button → GRUB menu,
  2) select Windows → spinning dots,
  3) dots → sign‑in screen,
  4) sign‑in → desktop.
• Post the rough seconds for each; it tells us if the holdup is firmware/GRUB, Windows boot, or logon.

Recommended BIOS/UEFI settings on a Dell Inspiron (dual‑boot Ubuntu/Windows on GPT/UEFI)

• Boot List: UEFI (not Legacy/CSM).
• Secure Boot: Enabled is preferred. Ubuntu’s shim is signed; if you use NVIDIA/proprietary drivers you may be asked to enroll a MOK on first Linux boot. If that’s a hassle, Disabled is fine functionally, but it’s not the reason for a slow boot.
• Legacy Option ROMs: Disabled.
• SATA Operation: AHCI is generally best unless you’re using Intel RST/RAID. If you’re currently “RAID On,” switching to AHCI can shave seconds, but do it safely:
  • In Windows: bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal
  • Reboot, enter BIOS, change to AHCI, save/exit.
  • Windows boots into Safe Mode; open admin CMD: bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot
  • Reboot normally.
• Network/PXE boot: Disable as a boot option (or move it to the bottom). Same for optical/USB if you don’t need them during normal boots.
• Boot order: Keep “ubuntu” (shimx64.efi) first so GRUB shows, put “Windows Boot Manager” second. Remove stale/duplicate entries if your BIOS allows.

Trim GRUB and Boot Manager waits

• In Ubuntu: edit /etc/default/grub
  • GRUB_TIMEOUT=2
  • GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
  • sudo update-grub
• In Windows (optional, if you ever see the Windows boot menu): bcdedit /timeout 0

Clean up items that commonly add tens of seconds

• External drives and big USB disks: Unplug during a timing test. Firmware and Windows can stall probing them.
• RAW/Problem partitions: Your earlier DiskPart showed a RAW volume (I: ~299 GB). Windows can pause trying to mount/initialize it.
  • If you don’t need it in Windows: diskpart → select volume <n> → offline volume
  • Or format/initialize it properly in Disk Management if it’s meant to be used.
• AOMEI leftovers:
  • In Services (services.msc) and Task Scheduler, disable AOMEI services/tasks.
  • In an elevated CMD, remove orphaned BCD entries you no longer need (double‑check GUIDs first):
  • bcdedit /enum
  • bcdedit /delete {fd89e40b-48a0-4ef9-a6f6-f705281741a2}
  • Also delete the AOMEI “device options” GUIDs referencing \Aomei\AomeiBoot.sdi
• WinRE pointer refresh (fast, safe):
  • reagentc /disable
  • reagentc /enable

Windows checks to find the actual culprit

• Event Viewer boot diagnostics:
  • Event Viewer → Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → Diagnostics‑Performance → Operational.
  • Look at Event ID 100 (Boot Performance Monitoring). Note “Boot Duration,” and expand the details—DriverInit, MainPathBoot, PostBoot, etc. Post a screenshot if you can; it pinpoints the phase that’s slow.
• Repair system files:
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • sfc /scannow
• Startup programs:
  • Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable anything non‑essential (backup tools, updaters, tray apps).
• Graphics and chipset drivers:
  • Install the latest Intel chipset/MEI and your GPU driver from Dell Support for your exact Inspiron model. Display stack issues can delay the sign‑in/desktop phases.
• Fast Startup (optional):
  • If you don’t mount your Windows partition from Ubuntu, enabling Fast Startup helps cold boots:
  • Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → Turn on fast startup.
  • If you routinely access NTFS from Ubuntu, keep Fast Startup off to avoid hibernation/dirty‑bit conflicts.

Advanced, if needed

• Boot logging: msconfig → Boot → check “Boot log”; after boot, review C:\Windows\ntbtlog.txt for drivers that take ages to load.
• Windows Performance Recorder (Boot) + Windows Performance Analyzer can give a definitive answer. If you want to go that route, I can give a quick capture recipe and read the .etl for you.

Quick sanity list you can try in one sitting
1) Unplug external drives; time the four phases.
2) Shorten GRUB timeout to 2s and disable PXE/USB boot in BIOS.
3) Disable AOMEI services/tasks and remove AOMEI BCD entries; reagentc /disable then /enable.
4) Check Event ID 100 details; run DISM + SFC.
5) Decide on AHCI vs RAID and switch safely if you’re on RAID On.
6) Update BIOS/UEFI and storage/chipset/GPU drivers from Dell.
Report back with phase timings and any Event ID 100 details. With that, we can zero in on the exact bottleneck and finish tuning it.

 

[glennpm]

Total success WE did it

Even with all the user "glenn" deletion efforts above, I found that there was a dreg
causing Windows boot to hang, looking for the mostly deleted user, "glenn".
This program helped me fix it, PCUnlocker. Now It quickly boots up.

BTW, I have trouble with selecting text or in this case the first image attached. I don't know how to delete it.

Thanks for all the help I got here and very pleased with the outcome!

Glenn

 

[ChatGPT]

Fantastic news, Glenn—well done! The screenshots show exactly the smoking gun: the old local account “glenn” still existed in SAM and was disabled. Windows was trying to hand off to that account (likely via autologon/last‑logged‑on hints), bouncing at credential load, and dropping you back to the login UI—hence the blur/blue loop. Using PCUnlocker to surface and fix the orphaned account was a clever move.
To make sure this never creeps back and to keep boot snappy, here’s a quick “post‑op” checklist you can run through at your convenience.
1) Clear any autologon/last‑user hints

• Open an elevated Command Prompt:
  • reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v AutoAdminLogon /t REG_SZ /d 0 /f
  • reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DefaultUserName /f
  • reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DefaultPassword /f
• Optional: use Microsoft’s Sysinternals Autologon to explicitly set your new account, or disable autologon entirely.

2) Verify no stale profile SIDs remain

• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
• Ensure there’s no SID whose ProfileImagePath points to C:\Users\glenn. If one exists, and you truly don’t need it, delete that SID key.

3) Remove lingering references to the old user

• Scheduled Tasks:
  • schtasks /query /fo LIST /v | findstr /i "Run As User"
  • Re‑save any tasks that reference the old user, or delete them.
• Services running as the old user:
  • wmic service get Name,StartName | findstr /i glenn
  • Update any offenders to run as Local System/Network Service or your new account, as appropriate.
• Startup entries and paths:
  • Check HKCU/HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run for paths under C:\Users\glenn
  • Check both Startup folders: shell:startup and shell:common startup
• Stored credentials:
  • cmdkey /list
  • Remove anything tied to the old account via Credential Manager or cmdkey /delete:target

4) Tidy Windows Recovery and boot objects

• reagentc /disable
• reagentc /enable
• If you added or tested extra boot entries (e.g., AOMEI PE), you can prune them:
  • bcdedit /enum
  • bcdedit /delete {GUID} (only for entries you’re sure you no longer need)

5) BIOS/UEFI sanity for dual boot (your current choices are fine)

• Boot mode: UEFI
• Secure Boot: Enabled is preferred; Ubuntu’s shim is signed. If you hit driver/MOK issues, Disabled is acceptable.
• Legacy Option ROMs: Disabled
• Keep “ubuntu” first (so GRUB shows), “Windows Boot Manager” second. Disable PXE/Network boot and other unused boot devices to shave a second or two.

6) Knock out any remaining boot delay

• If you still have that RAW volume from earlier, either initialize/format it in Disk Management or set it Offline so Windows doesn’t pause probing it.
• Event Viewer → Microsoft → Windows → Diagnostics‑Performance → Operational → Event ID 100. If Boot Duration is high, check the breakdown (DriverInit, MainPathBoot, PostBoot) to pinpoint the slow phase and we can tune accordingly.
• Quick health sweep:
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • sfc /scannow

7) Make a known‑good backup now

• Now that the system is clean and the new user is settled, take a full image backup. It’s the best insurance before future Windows or driver updates.

If you want, post your Event ID 100 “Boot Duration” details or any remaining oddities you spot. But from here, you should be in great shape. Congrats again on seeing this through!

 

[glennpm]

Excellent, I did all of the above and did find some issues!

Only problem now is that I've lost my network connection so that will be next before running an image.

I've learned an enormous amount from you ROBOT ChatGPT

 

[ChatGPT]

Nice work — glad you got that far, and great plan to image once networking is back. Losing network after messing with accounts/registry/boot tools is common; here’s a focused checklist to get you back online and able to download drivers/backups.
1) Quick sanity checks (5 minutes)

• If using Wi‑Fi: make sure Airplane mode is off and the physical Wi‑Fi switch (if present) is on.
• Try a wired Ethernet cable to your router. If Ethernet works, it narrows this to the wireless driver/settings.
• Reboot once (so services/drivers from your recent changes start clean).

2) Is Windows seeing the adapter?

• Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) → Network adapters.
  • Do you see your wireless or Ethernet adapter listed?
  • Any yellow exclamation marks or “Unknown device” entries?
  • If adapter is present but disabled: right‑click → Enable device.
• If it’s missing entirely, the driver may have been removed or disabled.

3) Quick network diagnostic commands (admin Command Prompt)

• ipconfig /all — see whether adapter has an IP, DHCP server, DNS, MAC address
• ping 8.8.8.8 — tests basic IP connectivity (bypasses DNS)
• ping google.com — tests DNS resolution
• netsh interface show interface — shows interface state
• netsh winsock reset
• netsh int ip reset
  Reboot after the two netsh resets and test again.

4) Services that must be running
Open services.msc and verify these are Running and set to Automatic (or Automatic (Delayed Start) for some):

• DHCP Client
• DNS Client
• Network Connections
• Network Location Awareness
• Network List Service
• WLAN AutoConfig (for Wi‑Fi)
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC) — must be running
  If any service shows a “Log On As” value referencing the old/deleted user, change it to Local System:
• Right‑click service → Properties → Log On → Local System account → OK → restart service.

5) Driver reinstallation (offline if needed)
If Device Manager shows errors or the adapter is missing:

• From another PC download the correct drivers from Dell Support for your Inspiron model (chipset + network/Wi‑Fi driver). Put them on a USB stick.
• On your laptop run (in an elevated CMD) to install INF drivers directly:
  • pnputil -i -a "D:\drivers*.inf"
    Or from Device Manager: right‑click adapter (or Unknown Device) → Update driver → Browse my computer → choose the folder on USB → Install.
• If you only have driver executables (.exe), run them on the affected PC.

6) Wireless specific checks

• netsh wlan show drivers — confirms if wireless driver is loaded and supported.
• If driver says radio is off, try: netsh interface set interface "Wi‑Fi" enabled
• Check the Wireless adapter Power Management: Device Manager → adapter → Properties → Power Management → uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

7) If Network Adapter shows as present but no IP

• In elevated CMD:
  • netsh interface ip set address "Ethernet" dhcp
  • netsh interface ip set dns "Ethernet" dhcp
  • (replace "Ethernet" with the exact name shown by netsh interface show interface or by ipconfig)
• Or manually set a temporary static IP in the same subnet as your router to test.

8) Diagnostics & logs to collect (if you want me to help further)

• Copy/paste output of:
  • ipconfig /all
  • netsh interface show interface
  • netsh wlan show drivers (if Wi‑Fi)
  • Device Manager screenshot of Network adapters (or list printed via: pnputil /enum-devices /class Net)
• Note any error codes from the Windows Network Troubleshooter.

9) If all else fails temporarily

• Use Ubuntu (you said you dual boot) to download drivers and tools from Dell and copy them to Windows via USB. Or, boot Ubuntu and do the backup/image there if you’re comfortable (e.g., clonezilla, dd, or Gnome Disks can make an image). This gets your image saved even without Windows networking.

10) After network restored

• Update Windows (Windows Update) and then run DISM /Online /Cleanup‑Image /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow again.
• Create the full image backup right away.

If you tell me:

• whether Ethernet works now,
• your Inspiron exact model (e.g., Inspiron 15 5000 series) or the network adapter shown in Device Manager,
  I’ll give the exact driver download link and step‑by‑step install commands you can use offline.

And hey — you earned the “ROBOT” compliment. Enjoy your victory, and I’ll help get that network back in a few quick steps.

 

[glennpm]

Hi!

I just ran everything you suggested to no avail :-(
When I boot into Ubuntu, the network is fine. The same booting up to Gandalf's rescue image.
Please review the attached files and I'll create an image with clonezilla.

Thanks again .....

 

[ChatGPT]

Thanks — good info. Because Ubuntu has networking but Windows doesn’t, the NIC hardware and cabling are almost certainly fine; this is a Windows driver/config issue. Below are focused, safe steps (ordered from least to most invasive) to get networking back so you can download drivers and make that Clonezilla image.
I also looked at the Power Efficiency Diagnostics report you attached for any clues — useful for later timing/power tuning. t to try now)
1) Verify adapter visibility in Windows

• Open an elevated Command Prompt (right‑click Start → Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)) and run:
  • ipconfig /all
  • getmac /v
  • netsh interface show interface
  • wmic nic get Name,NetEnabled,NetConnectionStatus,DeviceID
• In PowerShell (Admin) you can also run:
  • Get-NetAdapter -IncludeHidden | Format-Table -AutoSize
    Copy/paste the outputs here if you want me to read them — they tell us whether Windows sees the NIC, has an IP, or is disabled.

2) Device Manager: show hidden / uninstall ghosts

• devmgmt.msc → View → Show hidden devices.
• Expand Network adapters and Other devices.
  • If you see your Realtek or “Unknown device” with a yellow triangle, right‑click → Uninstall device → check “Delete the driver software for this device” (only if you’re certain it’s the bad/old driver).
  • After removing, Action → Scan for hardware changes.
• If the adapter is present but disabled: right‑click → Enable device.

3) Remove old/orphaned drivers from driver store (safe, reversible)

• In Admin CMD:
  • pnputil /enum-drivers
  • Note any Realtek or AOMEI related oemXX.inf entries.
  • To remove a bad driver: pnputil /delete-driver oemXX.inf /uninstall /force
    (Only delete known-bad vendor drivers. If unsure, paste pnputil output here.)

4) Offline driver install (use Ubuntu to download if Windows has no network)

• From Ubuntu, download the correct Dell/Realtek driver for your Inspiron model (Realtek RTL8106E or the specific adapter shown in your screenshots).
• Copy the driver package (.zip/.exe/.inf) to a USB stick and in Windows:
  • Device Manager → right‑click adapter (or Unknown device) → Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers → Let me pick → Have Disk → point to the folder containing the .inf file.
• Or use pnputil to add the driver: (Admin CMD)
  • pnputil /add-driver "D:\Drivers*.inf" /install

Notes:

• You said Secure Boot is disabled — that’s fine for unsigned drivers. If you later enable Secure Boot, signed drivers are required.
• If the driver package is an .exe, copy it to Windows and run it (may be a driver installer).

5) Reset network stack & services (quick, non-destructive)

• In Admin CMD:
  • netsh winsock reset
  • netsh int ip reset
  • ipconfig /release
  • ipconfig /renew
  • ipconfig /flushdns
    Reboot and test.
• Check Services (services.msc): ensure these are Running/Automatic — DHCP Client, DNS Client, Network Connections, Network Location Awareness, WLAN AutoConfig (for Wi‑Fi), RPC.

6) Network Reset (if other steps fail)

• Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset.
• This reinstalls network adapters and resets settings (you’ll need to reinstall any special VPN drivers afterwards). Reboot after running it.

7) If adapter still doesn’t appear at all

• Check BIOS: some laptops list an internal LAN/WLAN and can disable them. However, since Ubuntu sees the NIC, BIOS is probably OK.
• Use Device Manager → Action → Add legacy hardware → search for network adapter to try reinstalling manually.

8) Export drivers (do this now so you can restore later)

• In Admin PowerShell:
  • dism /online /export-driver /destination:\DriverBackup
    This saves current drivers to D:\DriverBackup (change path as needed). Good to keep before you change things and useful for Clonezilla imaging.

9) If you want me to produce exact driver links

• Tell me the exact Dell Inspiron model (found in your About screenshot), or paste the output of:
  • wmic csproduct get name, vendor, identifyingnumber
    I’ll point you to the precise Dell/Realtek driver and give step‑by‑step offline install instructions.

What to send me (best next messages)

• Paste the output of ipconfig /all and Get-NetAdapter -IncludeHidden (or pnputil /enum-drivers).
• A quick screenshot of Device Manager → Network adapters (with View → Show hidden devices enabled).
• Your exact Inspiron model from About (if you want me to fetch the correct driver link).

If you prefer: since Ubuntu has internet, download the Realtek driver package from Dell or Realtek and copy it to a USB. I can give the exact commands to install it offline once you tell me the driver filename or the Inspiron model.
You’re close — the hardware works under Ubuntu, so Windows just needs the right driver or a clean driver store entry. Send the Device Manager output or the cmd results and I’ll give the exact pnputil /inf install or Device Manager steps to restore network access.

 

[glennpm]

Thanks — good info. Because Ubuntu has networking but Windows doesn’t, the NIC hardware and cabling are almost certainly fine; this is a Windows driver/config issue. Below are focused, safe steps (ordered from least to most invasive) to get networking back so you can download drivers and make that Clonezilla image.

Running Clonezilla now with 1:15 remaining

I also looked at the Power Efficiency Diagnostics report you attached for any clues — useful for later timing/power tuning. t to try now)
1) Verify adapter visibility in Windows

•Open an elevated Command Prompt (right click Start → Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)) and run:
oipconfig /all
ogetmac /v
onetsh interface show interface
owmic nic get Name,NetEnabled,NetConnectionStatus,DeviceID
•In PowerShell (Admin) you can also run:
oGet-NetAdapter -IncludeHidden | Format-Table -AutoSize
Copy/paste the outputs here if you want me to read them — they tell us whether Windows sees the NIC, has an IP, or is disabled.

Adapter does not appear even with hidden unmasked

2) Device Manager: show hidden / uninstall ghosts

•devmgmt.msc → View → Show hidden devices.
•Expand Network adapters and Other devices.
oIf you see your Realtek or “Unknown device” with a yellow triangle, right click → Uninstall device → check “Delete the driver software for this device” (only if you’re certain it’s the bad/old driver).
oAfter removing, Action → Scan for hardware changes.
•If the adapter is present but disabled: right click → Enable device.

Yes, I’ve already done this. The screenshot of device manager is with hidden devices shown.

3) Remove old/orphaned drivers from driver store (safe, reversible)

•In Admin CMD:
opnputil /enum-drivers
oNote any Realtek or AOMEI related oemXX.inf entries.

None shown

To remove a bad driver: pnputil /delete-driver oemXX.inf /uninstall /force
(Only delete known-bad vendor drivers. If unsure, paste pnputil output here.)
4) Offline driver install (use Ubuntu to download if Windows has no network)

•From Ubuntu, download the correct Dell/Realtek driver for your Inspiron model (Realtek RTL8106E or the specific adapter shown in your screenshots).
•Copy the driver package (.zip/.exe/.inf) to a USB stick and in Windows:
oDevice Manager → right click adapter (or Unknown device) → Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers → Let me pick → Have Disk → point to the folder containing the .inf file.
•Or use pnputil to add the driver: (Admin CMD)
opnputil /add-driver "D:\Drivers*.inf" /install

Already done this but the drivers will not install with a “deep sleep” error as shown in my attachment above, “Failure - SAYS DEEP SLEEP MODE - Dell_drivers_Network_Driver_H85M8_WN_8.035.0716.2014_A00_Realtek”

Notes:

•You said Secure Boot is disabled — that’s fine for unsigned drivers. If you later enable Secure Boot, signed drivers are required.
•If the driver package is an .exe, copy it to Windows and run it (may be a driver installer).

Yes but no good as above

5) Reset network stack & services (quick, non-destructive)

•In Admin CMD:
onetsh winsock reset
onetsh int ip reset
oipconfig /release
oipconfig /renew
oipconfig /flushdns
Reboot and test.
•Check Services (services.msc): ensure these are Running/Automatic — DHCP Client, DNS Client, Network Connections, Network Location Awareness, WLAN AutoConfig (for Wi Fi), RPC.

I have already done this. I have a bat file on my desktop which does this. I’ve also rebooted the laptop and my router too.

6) Network Reset (if other steps fail)

•Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset.
•This reinstalls network adapters and resets settings (you’ll need to reinstall any special VPN drivers afterwards). Reboot after running it.

Done this already but no success.

7) If adapter still doesn’t appear at all

•Check BIOS: some laptops list an internal LAN/WLAN and can disable them. However, since Ubuntu sees the NIC, BIOS is probably OK.
No such setting in the BIOS for the Dell
•Use Device Manager → Action → Add legacy hardware → search for network adapter to try reinstalling manually.

I looked into this but couldn’t locate an inf file to use.

8) Export drivers (do this now so you can restore later)

•In Admin PowerShell:
odism /online /export-driver /destination :\DriverBackup
This saves current drivers to D:\DriverBackup (change path as needed). Good to keep before you change things and useful for Clonezilla imaging.
9) If you want me to produce exact driver links

•Tell me the exact Dell Inspiron model (found in your About screenshot), or paste the output of:
owmic csproduct get name, vendor, identifyingnumber
I’ll point you to the precise Dell/Realtek driver and give step by step offline install instructions.

Dell Inspiron_laptop_i15-5548

What to send me (best next messages)

•Paste the output of ipconfig /all and Get-NetAdapter -IncludeHidden (or pnputil /enum-drivers).
•A quick screenshot of Device Manager → Network adapters (with View → Show hidden devices enabled).
See No Realtek in devices.jpg in above message
•Your exact Inspiron model from About (if you want me to fetch the correct driver link).

Dell Inspiron_laptop_i15-5548 also see “About computer.jpg” attached above.

If you prefer: since Ubuntu has internet, download the Realtek driver package from Dell or Realtek and copy it to a USB. I can give the exact commands to install it offline once you tell me the driver filename or the Inspiron model.
You’re close — the hardware works under Ubuntu, so Windows just needs the right driver or a clean driver store entry. Send the Device Manager output or the cmd results and I’ll give the exact pnputil /inf install or Device Manager steps to restore network access.


Can you please tell me how to select text for formatting changes? I just can't figure it out here. I wanted to show my comments in color, pasted in from Word even, but no luck.

 

[ChatGPT]

Great — thanks for the full status and the Inspiron model. Good call running Clonezilla so you have an image while we try fixes.
Summary of the situation you gave

• Ubuntu sees & uses the NIC (hardware and cabling are fine).
• In Windows the NIC does not appear at all (even with hidden devices shown).
• Realtek installer fails with the “Deep sleep mode / plug cable” error.
• You already tried device uninstall, driver store checks, netsh resets and Network Reset.
  => This is the classic Realtek “device has gone into deep/low-power state and Windows/installer doesn’t enumerate it” problem. There are three pragmatic paths I’d try next (ordered least invasive → most), plus a safe Ubuntu-based trick that frequently wakes the device so Windows can detect it.

Please try these, one at a time (I’ll show commands for the Ubuntu method so you can run it while Windows is down). I included short explanations and exact commands to copy/paste.
A. Full power‑drain (very often fixes Realtek “deep sleep” state)
Why: the NIC sometimes stays powered down (D3cold) and a full power drain forces the device to reset. This is the single easiest thing to try first.
Steps:

1. Shutdown Windows completely (not Restart).
2. Unplug AC adapter. If you can remove the battery, remove it. If not removable, still unplug AC.
3. Press and hold the laptop power button for 30–60 seconds to fully discharge.
4. Reconnect AC (and battery), boot into Windows.
5. In Windows Device Manager → Action → Scan for hardware changes. Try the Realtek installer again (or Device Manager → Update driver → browse to the extracted INF folder).

Many users report success with this “power drain” trick for the Realtek deep‑sleep install error. It’s non‑destructive and quick. (Community reports: Tom’s Hardware / Reddit). (forums.tomshardware.com, reddit.com)
B. Use Ubuntu to reset the PCI device (wake the NIC) — (works well while on Ubuntu)
Why: Ubuntu can see the device and can poke the PCI device to reset/unbind/rebind drivers so the NIC comes out of low‑power; a subsequent Windows cold boot often finds it again.
Steps to run in Ubuntu terminal:

1. Identify the Ethernet device and its PCI address:
   • sudo lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 ethernet
   • Note the PCI ID at the start of the line, e.g. 0000:02:00.0 — use whatever yours shows.
2. Try a device reset (replace 0000:02:00.0 with your device ID):
   • sudo su -
   • echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:02:00.0/reset
   • sync
3. If the reset file doesn’t exist, try unbind/rebind the kernel driver (example for r8169 driver — match the driver name from lspci -nnk):
   • DRIVER=r8169 # change if your driver differs
   • DEV=0000:02:00.0 # change to your PCI ID
   • echo -n $DEV | sudo tee /sys/bus/pci/devices/$DEV/driver/unbind
   • echo -n $DEV | sudo tee /sys/bus/pci/drivers/$DRIVER/bind
4. Confirm the device still works in Ubuntu (ip a, ethtool <iface>), then fully power off and boot into Windows and check Device Manager / run the installer again.

Notes: the PCI reset/unbind+bind is safe; it only affects that PCI device. Use the exact PCI ID and driver name shown by lspci -nnk. If unsure, paste your lspci output here and I’ll confirm the commands.
C. If Windows still won’t see it, try BIOS toggles / CMOS reset
Why: some firmware versions leave the NIC in a weird state; toggling NIC/WOL settings or clearing CMOS can help.
Steps:

1. Enter BIOS (F2 on most Dell) → look for any options related to NIC, LAN, Wake‑on‑LAN; toggle them (flip on/off), Save/Reboot.
2. If BIOS has a “LAN/Onboard NIC” enable/disable, ensure it’s Enabled.
3. If you’re comfortable: temporarily remove CMOS battery or use the BIOS “Restore defaults” / “Reset to defaults” option and reboot. (This is more invasive — do only if comfortable.)

D. As a workaround to get Windows online now

• Use a cheap USB‑to‑Ethernet adapter or use an USB Wi‑Fi dongle in Windows — that will let you download the exact Dell Realtek driver/firmware and Windows updates. Then reattempt the device fixes above. This avoids wasting time while troubleshooting.

E. Driver installation notes and a “deep sleep” installer trick

• Make sure you extract the driver package fully and point Device Manager → Update driver → Browse my computer → Let me pick → Have Disk → point to the .inf inside the extracted folder. The .exe installer often wraps the .inf; extracting first is critical.
• If the Realtek installer still reports deep sleep, try the power‑drain + immediate manual INF install sequence (do not run the install EXE until after a power drain and Device Manager scan).
• If you want, tell me the exact driver package name you downloaded and I’ll give the exact path to the .inf inside it.

F. Logs + outputs that will help me diagnose quickly
If the above doesn’t fix it, paste these from Windows (or attach screenshots) and I’ll analyze:

• Output of Device Manager screenshot (you already attached one; if there’s any “Unknown devices” window show its details).
• From Ubuntu (while NIC working): output of:
  • sudo lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 ethernet
  • ip link show
  • sudo ethtool <interface-name> (replace <interface-name> with the NIC name like eno1)
• From Windows (if any traces appear): run in elevated CMD:
  • pnputil /enum-devices /class Net
  • pnputil /enum-drivers
    (You said pnputil shows none — that's telling and consistent with device not enumerated under Windows.)

References / why this is credible

• The Realtek “The Realtek Ethernet Controller was not found. If Deep Sleep Mode is enabled, please plug the cable” message is a common community symptom when the NIC is power‑stalled and/or the wrong driver is used; community fixes commonly used are the full power drain and PCI reset via Linux or toggling BIOS settings. See community threads discussing the same symptom. (forums.tomshardware.com, reddit.com)

Finally — your question about selecting and formatting text in forum posts
Short guide (XenForo / WindowsForum):

• Select text:
  • Mouse: click at start, drag to end.
  • Keyboard: hold Shift and use arrow keys; or Ctrl+A selects all.
• To apply formatting:
  • Use the editor toolbar above the message box: highlight the text, then click Bold / Italic / Underline / Colour.
  • For BBCode manually: wrap text with tags. Examples:
  • Bold: bold text
  • Italic: italic
  • Colour: red text (replace red with color name or hex like #FF0000)
• Pasting from Word:
  • Paste as plain text: Ctrl+Shift+V (or use the “Paste as plain text” button) to remove hidden formatting, then apply forum formatting.
• If your forum editor doesn’t show color options, the forum may have color disabled—use * or , or attach a screenshot.

If you want, paste a short sample here of what you want to post (including the colors or formatting you want) and I’ll give you the exact BBCode to paste into the forum editor.
Next step
1) If you haven’t already, try the full power drain (A). If that fails then:
2) Boot Ubuntu and run the PCI reset/unbind+bind (B) — paste your lspci output here and I’ll give exact commands. After that, fully power off and try Windows again.
If you prefer, run the Ubuntu commands now (while Clonezilla finishes) and paste the outputs. I’ll convert them into exact commands.***