Common Windows boot/startup problems fix

Having boot problems on your Windows PC? Everything was fine but the computer just didn’t want to boot; Windows Update stuck loop; boot to a black screen; received errors like: Windows wouldn’t recognize disk one day; got error messages: Invalid Boot.ini, Windows could not start, Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM. Most of the common Windows boot or star up problems appears because of a corruption in the Windows registry. You can fix most problems by doing the following procedures.

1. Using Last Known Good Configuration

This method will replace the corrupt Windows configuration and restore the “Last Known Good Configuration”.

• Restart your Windows
• Press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you’ll need to try again by shutting down and restarting your computer.
• On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Last Known Good Configuration (advanced), and then press Enter.
• Windows will then resume starting normally.

2. Using System Restore

• Restart your Windows
• Press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you’ll need to try again by shutting down and restarting your computer.
• Use the arrow keys to select the Safe mode with a Command prompt option.
• Log on as an administrator or with an account that has administrator credentials.
• At the command prompt, type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.
• Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to a functional state.

To open the System Recovery Options menu using the Windows installation disc or a USB flash drive, or a system repair disc To use this method, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the disc or USB flash drive.

• Insert the Windows installation disc or USB flash drive, or a system repair disc, and then shut down your computer.
• Restart your computer using the computer’s power button.
• When prompted, press any key, and then follow the instructions that appear.
• On the Install Windows page, or on the System Recovery Options page, choose your language and other preferences, and then click Next.
• If you are using the Windows installation disc or USB flash drive, click Repair your computer.
• Select the Windows installation you want to repair, and then click Next.
• On the System Recovery Options menu, click a tool to open it.

3. Restoring Windows Boot Loader

• Boot from Windows installation disc or USB

• Choose to Repair your computer.

• In the System Recovery Options dialog box click Command Prompt and type the following:

  Bootrec.exe /FixMbr
  Bootrec.exe /FixBoot

• *If you want to completely rebuild Windows Boot Configuration Data, then you should issue the following command:

  Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

4. Perform an in-place upgrade installation

You can perform an in-place upgrade installation to repair a flaky existing install while keeping all your programs, personal data, and user accounts intact. To initiate in-place upgrade is easy, insert the Windows Installation disc or USB and Run setup.exe In the initial phase of the installation process, you must choose the ‘Upgrade’ option to perform a repair install. After the installation complete, clean up the old files using Disk Cleanup or Ccleaner.

5. Run Check Disk from a Command Line to Check for and fix Disk Errors

Check Disk examines disks and can correct many types of common errors on FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS drives.

• Boot from Windows installation disc or USB

• Choose to Repair your computer.

• In the System Recovery Options dialog box click Command Prompt and type the following:

  chkdsk C: /p

6. Use tool like “Easy Recovery Essentials” (paid option)