Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart - On Windows 10/11

The solution to "Your PC ran into a problem" varies depending on the situation. Here's a quick navigation to all the available solutions, allowing you to jump directly to the section that interests you:

Applies to: Fix "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" issue on the latest Windows 10 20H2 October Update, Windows 10 2004, Windows 10 1909/1903/1809/1803/1709, etc. If you are not tech-savvy and unable to solve the system startup error, you can use the Data Recovery Service tool. The technical team will help you fix system startup errors, including system crashes, blue screens, and devices that fail to boot.

Windows Recovery Utility

Contact our experts for a free assessment.

Consult with our Data Recovery Tool experts for one-on-one manual recovery service. After a free diagnosis, we offer the following services:

• Fix Windows boot issues, including Blue Screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Restore systems that won't start
• Optimize Windows computers for improved performance

"Your computer encountered a problem and needs to restart"

Some Windows users have encountered an unexpected system crash that displays the scary Blue Screen of Death. There can be various reasons behind such a system failure, and different error messages are reported. Among these blue screen errors, “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart” is quite common.

Symptoms

You may encounter an error message during the Windows startup process or while using your PC normally: "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you."

The reason is that…

Each stop/error code points to a possible cause. However, there are over 100 different error messages related to “your PC needs to restart.” As such, there are many reasons this error can occur. I boil them down to the following:

• Registry changes
• Damaged system files
• Buggy drivers
• Virus/malware infection
• Cable connections loose on the hard drive
• Incorrect system shutdown

These issues can also lead to other Blue Screen errors, like the DPC Watchdog Violation, boot loops, and so on.

11 Solutions to Fix "Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart" in Windows 11/10/8/8.1

If you see this error, your computer might work fine after a restart, but that's unlikely. More commonly, your PC will restart and prepare to automatically fix itself, but it usually can't resolve the problem and shows “Your PC didn't start correctly.” Or, you might be stuck in a loop where your PC repeatedly restarts with the message “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart.” Try the appropriate fix for your situation.

Scenario 1: You can start Windows

Even if you can still boot your computer, you'll want to take some troubleshooting steps to prevent this error from happening again. However, if you have a bootable computer, you can fix the error more easily.

Method 1: Boot into Safe Mode, then Start Normally

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode of Windows that loads only the most essential programs and services to start your computer. In this mode, you can troubleshoot system-related issues by uninstalling incompatible software or drivers, removing problematic files, or getting rid of viruses. Even if you don't perform any specific actions, simply booting into Safe Mode can help fix certain system errors, as it allows the operating system to be accessed and repaired more easily.

On a functioning computer, you can access Safe Mode through Settings:

Step 1: In Windows 10, click Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Step 2: Click on “Advanced startup” and then “Restart now.”

Step 3. After the restart, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 4. You should now see the "Startup Settings" screen. Here, you can choose one of the three Safe Mode options: "Enable Safe Mode," "Enable Safe Mode with Networking," or "Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt."

5. Restart your computer and see if it starts up normally.

Method 2: Check Your Disk

Scanning the disk is equivalent to running the CHKDSK command, which is used to fix hard drive errors such as bad sectors and file system issues. If you encounter the "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" error with the "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE" message, it could be due to a file system error on your hard drive. This is why scanning the disk becomes necessary.

Step 1: Open “This PC,” right-click on your disk, and select “Properties.”

Step 2. Go to the Tools tab and click Check > Scan Hard Disk.

Check and fix file system errors

Method 3: Reserve enough space for the system disk

Both the Windows operating system and some installed applications require enough free space to run properly. If your system drive (usually the C drive) is almost full, you should consider extending the system partition to create more space for your OS.

Method 4: Check the System Log in Event Viewer

Checking the System log in the Event Viewer can help identify the cause of the “Your PC ran into a problem” error in Windows 11/10/8/8.1, especially for problematic devices or drivers.

Step 1: Click on the Start menu and type Event Viewer.

Step 2. Right-click on Event Viewer and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: Click on “Windows logs” and then select “System.”

Step 4: Look for any error messages that appeared with the blue screen, and search for solutions based on those messages.

Of course, there are other avenues to explore, such as updating the device driver through Device Manager or running hardware diagnostics using a built-in Windows feature. If the above solutions fail, proceed with these methods to troubleshoot the issue.

Read Also: How to Fix Windows 10 Error Code 0xc00000e on Startup

Scenario 2: You can't start Windows and see “Your PC didn't start correctly”

Sometimes, after the error message, your PC might automatically restart and prepare for Automatic Repair, leading to the “Your PC didn't start correctly” screen. Here, you'll see two options: Restart and Advanced options.

If you click “Reboot,” your computer will almost certainly end up back at the same error screen. So select “Advanced options” instead, and then continue to “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options.”

Here, you'll see five or six options (depending on your version of Windows), including System Restore, System Image Recovery, Command Prompt, Startup Settings, and Go back to the previous version. Here's a quick rundown of what these do:

• If you have created a restore point, using System Restore will get your computer working again. If not, this option will be ineffective. • Similarly, if you have created a system image, you can perform a System Image Recovery to get your system back on track. If not, this won't be the choice for you. • In this case, the computer has already attempted a startup repair but failed. Hence, there's no need to try it again. • At the Command Prompt, you can execute operations via command lines. • In the Startup Settings, you can enter Safe Mode, disable auto-restart after a failure, and so on. • "Go back to an earlier version" will roll your computer back to a previous version.

Method 1: Perform a System Restore

If a system restore point is available, you can perform a system restore.

Step 1. From the Windows Boot Options menu, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.

Step 2: Choose a working state (a snapshot) from which to restore your computer.

Step 3: Wait for Windows to restore your system, and then restart your computer.

Method 2: Perform a System Image Recovery

Or, if you created a system image before the problem occurred, you can perform a system image recovery.

Step 1: Connect the external drive with the system image to your computer.

Step 2. In the Windows Startup Options menu, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Image Recovery.

Step 3: Choose the system image you want to restore.

4. In the Restore Your Computer wizard, select the system image, and click Next.

Step 5: Follow the wizard to format the drive and restore the system.

Step 6. Restart your computer.

Method 3: Restore Registry Settings

No System Restore points or System Images? No worries. Based on the details above, I'd recommend you use the Command Prompt to restore the Registry.

The Registry is a database that contains configuration data for Windows and most of its applications. As such, changes to the Registry can affect how your computer or a program functions. Registry files can be accidentally deleted by you or a program, which can lead to serious issues like “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart.” Fortunately, you can use a Registry backup file through Command Prompt to restore these changes.

Step 1: Select "Command Prompt" from the options.

Step 2: Choose your account and enter your password.

Step 3. Enter the following commands in order at the command prompt:

C: Change to the directory: CD Windows\System32 Switch to the config directory: CD config List files and subdirectories in the current directory: DIR Go up one level in the directory: CD.. Rename the default file to default1: REN default default1 Rename the sam file to sam1: REN sam sam1 Rename the security file to security1: REN security security1 Rename the software file to software1: REN software software1 Rename the system file to system1: REN system system1 Change back to the regback directory: CD regback Copy all files in the current directory to C:\Windows\System32\Config: COPY * C:\Windows\System32\Config

Step 4. Type exit. On the Choose an option screen, select Shut down, and then restart your computer.

In short, this command replaces the potentially modified System32 config files with the backup copies from the System32 folder. If the “Your PC ran into a problem” error is due to changes in the registry, this method should work.

If a System Restore doesn't work, choose 'Startup Settings' and boot into Safe Mode to try more fixes.

Scenario 3: Your PC is stuck in a “Your PC ran into a problem” loop

Unlike the two previous cases, you have no options to choose from. You're stuck in a continuous reboot and error loop. In this situation, you can either recover data from a corrupted Windows OS or use a Windows installation CD/DVD to fix the problem. If you don't have the installation disc, you can create a Windows installation media as an alternative. With the Windows installation media, you can access the Advanced Options to repair your PC, which you can't do right now.

Prepare: How to access advanced options through the Windows installation media:

Step 1. Follow Microsoft's official instructions to create a Windows installation media.

Step 2. Connect the bootable media to your computer, and then start your computer from that device.

Step 3: Wait for the installer to load.

Step 4: In the Windows installer window, click “Next.”

Step 5: In the Setup window, click on Repair your computer and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

In Scenario 2, I explained what these advanced options do. To fix the “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart” error on Windows 10/11, try the solutions in the order below.

Method 1: Run Startup Repair

The Startup Repair feature can help fix certain system problems that might prevent Windows from starting. It's always a good option to try when your computer fails to start.

Method 2: Perform a System Restore/System Image Recovery

Prerequisites for using these options include having a restore point or system image available. If you don't, switch to another feasible method.

Method 3: Restore the Registry from Command Prompt

Have you recently made changes to your computer's registry? If you have, open Command Prompt and follow the steps in Situation 2 to restore the registry to its normal state.

Method 4: Boot in Safe Mode

As mentioned, Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that allows you to perform some troubleshooting steps. In Safe Mode with Command Prompt, you can take several measures to address the issue, such as:

• Uninstall incompatible software
• Update drivers
• Remove viruses/malware
• Run a system file checker tool

Uninstall the problematic software:

Step 1: Click on Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.

Step 2. Click on the program you want to uninstall, then click "Uninstall."

To update the hard drive/motherboard driver: Since your computer isn't starting up properly, you'll need to use a CD or USB with the drivers on it to update the hard drive or motherboard. You can download the drivers from the manufacturer's official website.

To remove the virus, use antivirus software or Windows Defender. I'll show you how to run Windows Defender.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security.

Step 2: Click on Virus & threat protection.

Step 3: In the Threat History section, click on Scan Now to scan for viruses on your computer.

Run the System File Checker tool:

Corrupted or missing system files can cause all sorts of issues with your computer, whether minor or major. A blue screen error that says "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" may also be caused by system file errors. Fortunately, the Windows System File Checker tool can scan for and repair any corrupted or missing system files. Type sfc /scannow in Command Prompt to start repairing system files.

Extra Tip: Recover Data After 'Your PC Ran Into a Problem' Error

If you've lost some files after attempting to fix the "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" error in Windows 10/11, try using the Data Recovery Wizard tool - a data recovery software to get them back. This software can recover files lost due to deletion, formatting, system crashes, and more. Launch the software immediately once you notice data loss to maximize your chances of saving your files.

Step 1: Select the hard drive and start scanning

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, and hover over the partition where you lost your data. This might be an internal hard drive, an external disk, a USB, or an SD card. Click “Scan.”

Step 2: Review and Preview the Scanned File

You can use the left-side panel or the file format filter in the top-right corner to narrow down the scan results until you find the needed file. Then, you can click on the "Preview" button or double-click on the file to preview its content (if needed).

Select the files to recover

Step 3: Recover the lost data to a secure location

Check the box next to the files you wish to recover, then click “Recover” to save your recovered data to a secure location. We advise against saving recovered data to the same disk where it was lost.

Let's get to work on fixing that.

The "Your PC needs to be repaired" error can be frustrating, but you'll find relief knowing there are viable solutions available to save your computer. If you know the cause of the problem, you can address it more directly. If not, describe your situation in detail and try potential fixes to eliminate the error.

Hopefully, you can successfully resolve the issue with the "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" message.