Windows 11/10 Won't Start? Try These 6 Fixes & Protect Your Data!

"I installed Windows 11/10 right after its release... It was working fine until two days ago. After restarting my PC, it shows the wallpaper and time, then gets stuck. I can't do anything之后. Nothing I've tried works. How can I fix this?"

It can be frustrating when your computer keeps crashing and won't start. As a common issue, the Windows 11/10 won't boot problem can be fixed with several solutions. We've listed some effective methods to resolve this issue. Don't worry, your data will not be lost. Apart from the startup repair solution, we also provide a data migration tool to move your data to a safe place.

1. 1 - Run Startup Repair to fix Windows 11/10 not booting issue 2. 2 - Remove external flash drives and disks 3. 3 - Repair the Windows Boot Record via Command Prompt 4. 4 - Fix Windows 11/10 unable to start in Safe Mode 5. 5 - Check hardware connections 6. 6 - Migrate data to a new computer and reset the old one

1 - Run Startup Repair to fix Windows 11/10 not booting issue

Step 1. Boot to the Windows installation media.

Please insert your Windows installation CD into your computer and boot from the CD.

Step 2. Click on “Repair your computer” to access the Windows Recovery Environment.

Step 3. On the Choose an option screen, click on Troubleshoot.

Step 4: On the Troubleshoot screen, click Advanced options.

Step 5: Choose "Startup Repair" > select the operating system to repair.

Step 6: Windows will begin the repair process, and then restart your computer.

Note: If you don't have the media, you can get to the "Automatic Repair" screen by restarting your computer at least three times. Then select Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.

2 - Remove external flash drives and disks

If you have a USB flash drive or other external hard drive connected to your computer, Windows might be set up to boot from that device. Or there could be a conflict with a USB device. So unplug any external storage devices before starting Windows.

3 - Repair the Windows Boot Record via Command Prompt

A Master Boot Record (MBR) error is one of the main reasons why Windows won't start up. If an error occurs, you may run into booting issues. To fix it, you can run the Command Prompt from a recovery environment.

Step 1. Insert the installation CD or bootable USB device into your computer and boot from it.

Step 2: Go to “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”

Step 3. Type in the command and press Enter.

Repair MBR

Repair the boot sector

The command bootrec /rebuildbcd is a utility used in Windows operating systems to repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD). When run at the Command Prompt, this command scans for all installed operating systems and attempts to rebuild the BCD store. It is typically employed to address issues related to startup problems.

Step 4: Type exit and restart your computer.

4 - Fixing the Issue of Windows 11/10 Not Booting into Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a troubleshooting feature that lets you boot your operating system with only the necessary drivers and startup files. If your Windows 11/10 computer fails to start, you can use it to boot into a working state.

Step 1. Restart your computer.

Step 2. Press the F8 key as your computer starts to access the Advanced Boot Options.

Step 3: Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 4. You should see several boot options; press the number 4 to select "Boot into Safe Mode."

5 - Check Hardware Connections

If Windows fails to boot and displays a black screen, you'll need to check that all hardware, including the hard drive, RAM, and PCI-E cards, is properly seated on the motherboard.

Hard drive: If the hard drive that you're using to boot the computer isn't connected properly, your computer won't turn on. Try disconnecting and reseating the drive, and make sure that the SATA cable is connected properly.

PCI-E card: PCI-Express devices include network adapters, modems, sound cards, and graphics cards. You can use a PCI-E slot to add a GPU, WiFi card, RAID card, and more. Make sure it's connected properly.

RAM (memory): A bad RAM stick can cause a black screen. Try reseating your RAM.

6. Transfer Data to Your New Computer and Reset Your Old One

If none of the above five solutions fix the 'Windows 11/10 won't start' issue, we recommend migrating all your data to another computer and resetting your PC.

Procedure 1 - Restore Data using Todo PCTrans Tool

A reset will remove all third-party apps, games, and so on, so it's best to back up your data to another computer as soon as possible. You can use the Todo PCTrans tool for this. Its "Data Rescue" feature can migrate apps, files, settings, configurations, and more from one PC to another.

How to use Todo PCTrans Tool to Rescue Your Data:

Step 1: Remove the hard drive from your old computer.

• Turn off the computer and unplug it. If it's a laptop, remove the battery as well.
• Open up the case of the old computer so you can access the hard drive.
• Use a screwdriver to open up the case and locate the hard drive.
• Disconnect the hard drive from its power source and data cable, then remove it from the computer.

Step 2: Connect the hard drive to the new computer.

Multiple connectivity options:

1. External hard drive enclosure: Use this special case to connect your old hard drive and plug it into your new computer via USB.
2. USB hard drive adapter: This is a “cable” that connects one end to the hard drive and the other end to a USB port on your new computer.
3. Desktop computer: If your new computer is a desktop, you can connect the old hard drive directly as a second internal hard drive.

Step 3: Restore/migrate apps, files, and accounts from the old disk.

1. Download and run the Todo PCTrans tool. Select “Data Transfer” mode, then click “Start.”

2. Browse through the steps, then click “Scan.”

3. Make sure the hard drive is connected to your computer. Select the old drive you want to recover, then click “Continue.”

4. Choose the apps, files, and accounts you want to restore.

5. Wait a few seconds for the data to transfer.

Procedure 2 - Reset your computer

Step 1: Boot from the Windows 11/10 installation media.

Step 2: Go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files.

Judgment

In this article, we list 6 solutions to fix "Windows 11/10 won't start". The first three methods are commonly used. If none of them work, you can use the data transfer software to migrate your files in case of system corruption. Feel free to contact us via live chat or email (support@tools.com) if you have any issues.