While booting your Windows computer, you may encounter the following error screen ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ right after your PC performs POST or Power-On-Self-Test. However, instead of booting into Windows, you get the following error message on the screen with options to restart the PC or fix the problem.
While in most cases, a simple restart is enough to fix such issues, however, some cases require a little more than just restarting your PC. Here, we will discuss the causes behind this error and apply some methods to fix it. Let’s read further.
Reasons Behind the ‘Your PC did not start correctly’ Error
When a computer performs POST but fails to boot properly, it generates this blue screen error indicating an issue with the startup process. In most cases, this error can occur due to any of the reasons mentioned below –
- Unexpected power cut
- Improper shutdown
- Corrupt or bad drivers
- Missing or damaged system files
- Improper or bad Windows update
- Damaged BCD/MBR
These interruptions can sometimes cause your computer to get stuck in the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ loop. If you are facing the said issue, there’s no need to worry, as we have compiled a list of methods to deal with this issue.
Methods to Resolve the ‘Your PC did not start correctly’ Error Message
In this section, we will discuss some techniques you can easily employ to eliminate this annoying error and get your PC back in working condition. While going through the methods in the given order, if your PC boots up normally and doesn’t throw the error, you may skip the methods given after it.
Method 1: Restart your PC
A simple restart can fix multiple technical glitches. If you recently encountered the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error message, try clicking on the Restart button shown on the error screen.
Restarting your computer clears your computer’s current working memory and allows it to start afresh. Any temporary issues including the above error can be resolved with a PC restart. But, if it doesn’t work, you can move on to the next methods.
The Startup Repair tool is a built-in utility in Windows OS that can be used to fix startup and boot-related issues like ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’. If you encounter this error message, follow these steps –
- On the error screen, click on Advanced options.
- Then click on Troubleshoot.
- Click on Advanced options.
- Follow the instructions as displayed on the screen.
- Restart the computer once the process is finished.
Method 3: Boot into Safe Mode
Sometimes, a third-party software or a buggy Windows OS update causes this error. You can fix the ‘Your PC did not start correctly’ error by going into Safe mode and troubleshooting the causes. Here are the steps to do this –
- While you are on the error screen, click on Advanced options.
- Click on Troubleshoot and then Advanced options.
- Click on Startup Settings.
The wizard will list a number of options to choose from. Press the number corresponding to the Enable Safe mode option. This will boot your PC in safe mode.
Notes –
- If your computer boots successfully in Safe Mode, you can try restarting your PC normally. However, before doing so, take a complete backup of your data and files on an external drive.
- If you have encountered this error screen after updating your computer, you can uninstall the installed updates to resolve this issue. Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall Updates > Select the updates that you want to uninstalland click Uninstall.
Method 4: Rebuild MBR using CMD
Master Boot Record, or MBR, is the first sector on your hard drive that helps your computer identify your OS’s location and boot it from there. As it plays a vital role in the boot sequence, any corruption in the MBR can cause issues like the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error. It is easy to fix it, however. Here are the steps for it –
- On the error screen, click on Advanced options.
- Click on Troubleshoot, followed by Advanced options again.
- Type the following command – chkdsk /r.
- After this, execute the following commands one after another in the given sequence – bootrec /rebuilbcd, bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot.
- Restart your PC.
This involves restoring your computer to a previous error-free state. If you have enabled the System Restore feature on your computer well in advance, this method will help you. To use this method –
- From the error screen, click on Advanced options.
- Click on Troubleshoot and again click on Advanced options.
- Click on System Restore and follow the instructions as prompted by the wizard.
Restoring your computer to a previous healthy state should help you get rid of the ‘Your PC did not start correctly’ error screen. However, if this method doesn’t work, you will need to move to the next method to learn how to reset your PC.
Expert Advice – Before resetting your PC, we recommend using a professional data recovery software to retrieve your data from the unbootable computer stuck in the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error message loop. In this situation, you can use powerful software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
This software uses advanced data recovery algorithms to retrieve your lost data from a problematic computer in a few clicks. If you are unable to move past the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error message screen, then you can use Stellar Data Recovery’s “Create Recovery Drive” feature. This option will let you create a bootable media and recover data from an unbootable computer with ease.
If you are looking to restore lost data due to formatting or accidental deletion or from a crashed or unbootable computer, then look no further and try this software.
Method 6: Reset your PC
There are chances that none of the above methods can help you fix the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error. Here, resetting the PC is the only option. However, you should be careful before proceeding with this, as it could cause data loss. Hence, as mentioned before, take a complete backup of your data first. Once done, carefully follow the steps mentioned here –
- From the error screen, click on Advanced options.
- Click on Troubleshoot.
- On the next screen, choose between Keep my files or Remove everything.
- On the next screen, choose between Cloud download or Local install.
- Read the information displayed on the next screen, then click Reset.
This method will take some time, so be patient. However, it will resolve the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error.
Conclusion
With the methods to fix the ‘Your PC Did Not Start Correctly’ error message at your disposal, you can easily resolve this pesky issue without much hindrance. In case you have a query regarding this error, ask us in the comments section.
FAQs
Q. Why is my PC stuck on the automatic repair screen?
A. Corrupted or missing system files are the most common reason your computer is stuck on the automatic repair screen.
Q. How to start my PC in safe mode?
A. In the Windows sign-in screen, press and hold the SHIFT key while selecting Power > Restart.
Q. How long does it take the computer to complete the automatic repair?
A. Automatic repair depends on several factors, like the extent of the damage, the error, and more. Hence, the completion time may vary.
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