Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf Windows 10 won’t start, open the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and try Startup Repair first. If the problem began after an update, uninstall that update; if needed, try System Restore before resetting or reinstalling Windows. Work from the least disruptive option to the most destructive, and check for a BitLocker recovery key before you begin.
Before you start: protect your files and find your recovery key
If your files are accessible from another account or backup, make a copy before using reset or installation options. If the PC uses BitLocker device encryption, WinRE may ask for the recovery key before letting you continue. Find the key for this device before starting recovery; Microsoft explains the prompt and Startup Repair process in its Startup Repair guidance.
Disconnect unnecessary peripherals such as external drives, printers, and docks, then try starting the PC once. If it still fails, continue with recovery. A restart loop, a black screen, or an error message can all leave Windows unable to start; the steps below apply when you can reach WinRE.
How to open Windows Recovery Environment
WinRE is the recovery menu containing Startup Repair, System Restore, update removal, and reset options. Windows may enter it automatically after repeated failed starts. If it does not, use an available route:
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- From the sign-in screen or Start menu, hold Shift while selecting Power > Restart.
- Use a recovery button or key combination provided by your PC manufacturer, if your model has one.
- Boot from a Windows recovery drive, repair disc, or installation media.
The exact hardware button and boot-menu key vary by manufacturer. Microsoft lists the supported routes in its Windows Recovery Environment instructions. If you use installation media, boot from it and choose the recovery option rather than proceeding directly to installation.
Run Startup Repair first
- In WinRE, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
- Select the Windows installation if prompted, then provide the BitLocker recovery key if requested.
- Let Startup Repair scan and attempt repairs. When it finishes, restart the PC and check whether Windows starts normally.
Startup Repair targets common startup problems, including certain system-file, boot-configuration, master boot record, incompatible-driver, and registry issues. It is not a guaranteed fix for every cause of a failed start. Microsoft says that if it cannot fix the problem, “it will provide a detailed report of the issues it found.” See Microsoft’s Startup Repair instructions for its scope and steps.
If Windows stopped booting after an update
If the startup failure began immediately after a Windows update, try removing the latest update before using more disruptive recovery options.
- Open WinRE and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall updates.
- Choose the update-removal option offered, follow the prompts, and restart.
Microsoft identifies update removal as an option when a recent update may be related to the startup problem. The exact choices shown can depend on the device and available recovery state. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows recovery options.
Try System Restore if a restore point is available
System Restore can return system files and settings to an earlier restore point without affecting personal files. It is useful when Windows became unbootable after a driver, app, or system change, provided a suitable restore point exists.
- In WinRE, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
- Choose an available restore point from before the boot problem began.
- Review the changes shown, follow the prompts, and allow the PC to restart.
Restore points are not guaranteed to be available, and restoring system changes is different from recovering deleted personal files. See Microsoft’s recovery options.
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Reset this PC only after the less disruptive options fail
Reset reinstalls Windows and offers a choice between keeping personal files and removing everything. The “keep my files” option does not preserve every installed app or setting, so expect to reinstall programs and reconfigure Windows afterward. Back up what you can before proceeding.
- In WinRE, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything and review the effects presented on screen.
- Follow the prompts and keep the PC connected to power while Windows resets.
The available reset choices and their consequences are described in Microsoft’s recovery options guide.
Use recovery or installation media if WinRE options do not work
A recovery image from the PC manufacturer may include drivers or factory software intended for that model. Microsoft installation media is another route when built-in recovery does not resolve the problem. You can create the media on a working PC; Microsoft specifies a USB drive of at least 8 GB in its recovery options guidance. Creating media may erase the USB drive’s existing contents, so copy anything important from it first.
- On a working PC, use Microsoft’s installation-media instructions to prepare a Windows USB drive.
- Connect it to the unbootable PC and start the PC from that drive. If Windows Setup does not appear, the PC may not be set to boot from USB; consult the manufacturer’s boot-order instructions.
- Choose the recovery tools if you are trying to repair the existing installation. Do not start a clean installation unless you understand its effect on the data.
A clean installation removes personal files, apps, customizations, and settings. Back up files first if they are accessible. Microsoft explains the distinction and installation steps in its reinstall Windows with installation media guide.
When these steps do not restore startup
If Startup Repair reports that it could not fix the problem, or recovery cannot proceed because the BitLocker key is unavailable, do not assume another reinstall attempt will solve it. A failed start can also involve hardware failure or manufacturer-specific boot behavior; the recovery steps above do not diagnose those cases. Use the repair report, any error code, and the PC manufacturer’s support for the next diagnosis.
Windows 10 support status
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Under Microsoft’s standard support lifecycle, free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes are no longer provided after that date. A PC can still run Windows 10, but restoring its ability to boot does not change its support status. See Microsoft’s Windows recovery environment and recovery options pages.
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