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Read this article if you're encountering issues with your Windows 11 failing to boot or experiencing a black screen when trying to start Windows 11. We'll also address problems where Windows 11 won't boot after an update. The solutions provided in this guide have been thoroughly tested by professionals and are 100% effective. Continue reading to resolve your unbootable Windows 11 problems.
"Windows 11 not booting, displaying a black screen, or encountering a black screen with a cursor" is a common issue that you might experience for the following reasons:
Whenever a "Windows won't boot" error occurs, the initial step should be to troubleshoot the PC for potential issues as outlined above. This involves checking the power supply, hard drives, scanning for software corruption, and examining any connected external devices.
How to Backup Data without Booting into Windows
When a hard drive failure or Windows fail-to-boot issue arises, reinstalling the operating system can assist in rebuilding the OS.
The following methods may assist in troubleshooting your computer when it fails to boot Windows 11.
When Windows 11 fails to boot or display any signs of power, attempt any of the following solutions:
Step 1. Press the power button and listen to see if you can hear the cooling fans or the sound of the hard drive(s) spinning up. If there is no startup sound, it's likely that the PC is not receiving power.
Step 2. Please unplug the power cable and plug it back in. If it's a laptop, try charging it for additional hours.
Step 3. Use a different power cable to confirm that the original one is not defective.
Step 1. If the PC seems to be running internally, the next step is to check the monitor.
Step 2. Reconnect the monitor power cables, and also try using new ones.
Step 3. Unplug and reconnect all system peripherals.
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Sometimes, computers may encounter issues following a new Windows update, but there's no need to panic. Below are steps to address the problem if your Windows 11 fails to boot after an update.
Check the system requirements: ensure that your PC meets the minimum specifications for the latest version of Windows.
Restart the system: the boot error might be temporary. Turn off the PC and start it up again.
Additionally, follow this method if Windows 11 fails to boot after an update.
Step 1. Force shutdown and restart the system several times to force it to enter Automatic Repair mode.
Step 2. Click Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.
Step 3. Type chkdsk c: /f /r and press Enter.
Step 4. If the issue was with the disk, the previous step should have resolved the unbootable Windows problem. If not, the problem might lie with the MBR. Follow the previous steps, but input a different command. After each line, type the following and press Enter.
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
< i > bootrec /RebuildBcd This command translates to "bootrec /RebuildBcd" in English. It is a command used in the Windows operating system to repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, which contains information about bootable operating systems on the computer.
Step 5. Restart the system and check if Windows boots correctly.
Step 1. Force Shutdown repeatedly: Hold down the power button for approximately 5-7 seconds. Turn the system back on and force another shutdown. Repeat this process around four times. The PC should automatically start in Automatic Repair mode the next time it boots up.
Step 2. When the Automatic Repair screen appears, click on Advanced Options.
Step 3. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Follow the on-screen instructions and ensure that Windows 11 starts up correctly during the next boot.
Apply any recommended fixes below if Windows 11 fails to boot after installation.
Issues with the Master Boot Record (MBR) could be the reason why Windows 11 fails to boot. The solution is to access the Command Prompt through an installation media.
Step 1. Insert the Windows Installation Media and boot from it.
Step 2. Navigate through Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
Step 3. In the CMD, enter the following commands. Make sure to press Enter after each command.
bootrec /fixmbr This command translates to: Bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot This command translates to: Bootrec.exe /fixboot In the context of the Windows operating system, this command is used to repair the boot sector on your hard drive. It writes a new boot sector to the system partition, which can help resolve issues related to the boot process.
bootrec /rebuildbcd This command translates to: Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd In the context of the Windows operating system, this command is used to rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, which contains information about bootable operating systems on your computer. It helps in troubleshooting and fixing issues related to the boot process.
Step 4. Restart your PC and check if the booting issues continue.
Execute a system restore to revert your PC to its original state prior to installing the new Windows.
Step 1. Continuously force shut down and restart your PC to enter Automatic Repair mode.
Step 2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
Step 3. Click Next when the System window opens.
Step 4. Select the most recent restore point and click Next to proceed.
Step 5. Choose Finish.
Dealing with a Windows 11 that won't boot with a black screen can be quite perplexing. The fans are operational, indicating that the system is running, yet all you see on the display is a blank screen accompanied by a mouse cursor. There's no error message to provide clues about the problem! Isn't it confusing? Let's delve into troubleshooting Windows 11 boot issues when encountering a black screen.
Restart the computer: Forcefully shut down the computer and restart it. Press the power button for approximately 5 seconds to force a shutdown.
Check the connections: Ensure that the video card or other port connectors are properly plugged in. Try using a different connector if the original one appears to be defective.
Reconnect peripherals: Try this if you recently changed or disconnected any peripherals.
Follow Solution 3 under Method 2.
Attempt these methods if Windows fails to boot after updating into Safe Mode.
Step 1. Insert the Windows installation media and restart your PC.
Step 2. Click the Repair your computer option to access the Choose an Option menu.
Step 3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
Step 4. Select the operating system and wait for Windows to finish the repair process.
Follow Solution 3 under Method 2.
See Solution 2 under Method 3 for assistance.
Explore how to fix issues with Windows 11 not booting from USB or SSD.
Step 1. Connect the USB or SSD to your computer using a SATA cable.
Step 2. Restart your PC and press F2, F8, F10, F12, or Del continuously while starting up. This should lead you to the BIOS setup.
Step 3. Select the Boot option, and set the USB or SSD boot disk as the first priority.
Step 4. Save the changes.
Step 5. Restart the PC.
See Also Other Related Guides: Translation: See Also Other Relevant Guides:
The aftermath of an unbootable Windows 11 computer is the loss of access to your data. Hence, it's crucial to create a bootable backup to safeguard against significant data loss in case your system encounters a permanent shutdown, black screen, or crash in the future. You might need to reinstall Windows 11 to restore bootability to your computer.
< a href="/backup-software/tb-home.html">Tools Todo Backup can create a bootable backup for you, enabling you to restore your backups without needing to boot into Windows 11. Here are the key features:
Follow the steps below to create a bootable Windows 11 backup:
Step 1. Prepare a USB drive that can be written to and read from.
Step 2. Launch and install Todo Backup on Computer B.
Step 3. Look for and click "Tools", then choose "Create Emergency Disk".
Step 4. Select the Boot Disk location. You can choose to create an ISO file, a bootable USB, or a CD/DVD disc.
Step 5. Click "Create" to begin.