Fixed: "Restart to repair drive errors" issue on Windows 10

If you're getting the “Restart to repair drive” error, you're not alone. Numerous Windows 10 users report receiving these notifications in their Action Center and not knowing what to do about them. If you encounter this problem, don't worry. In this article, we'll show you how to fix it using several methods. But before we proceed, let's first learn more about the error and its causes.

What is a restart to fix drive errors?

The "Restart to repair drive errors" message usually means there's something wrong with your computer's hard drive. Don't worry, though – you can fix the storage device, and there are several ways to do it.

Many users report that the issue started appearing after they upgraded to the latest version of Windows. Specifically, if this error appears frequently in your notifications, you need to restart your computer and perform the necessary troubleshooting steps to fix it permanently.

Why does my computer keep prompting me to restart to fix drive errors?

This error usually occurs due to hard drive issues, a bloated Windows Registry, or failed updates. Until the problem is fixed, you won't be able to access files and folders on your computer, as the disk data causing the issue becomes inaccessible. If you're seeing this error repeatedly, it means that Windows detected an error while reading from or writing to one of your drives.

Hard drive errors are perhaps the most common reason behind this issue. It could be due to improper system maintenance, malware, or human error. To fix hard drive errors, you can use a tool called Chkdsk on Windows-based computers. This article will delve into the steps required.

Aside from that, failed Windows updates can also be an important reason behind this error. If there's not enough disk space, the update might fail because your PC doesn't have enough memory to install it entirely. However, freeing up some extra space might solve the issue, but in some cases, this can lead to the “Restart to repair drive errors” notification.

How to fix drive errors in Windows 10 without losing data

Here is a list of methods and tools to address this particular issue. We will go through each one of them. But before you proceed with these methods, there are a few things you should do, such as data rescue and recovery.

Priority One: Save and Restore the Data

Note that when you see the "Restart to repair drive" error, you may not be able to access your computer. Also, some of the methods we use might result in data loss. So, it's highly recommended that you back up your data using a data recovery tool before proceeding. We recommend using the Data Recovery Wizard, which can help recover data in a WinPE environment when your computer or hard drive fails to boot.

In such cases, a data recovery software is your ideal tool as it helps you recover data in a WinPE environment. It comes equipped with excellent features to completely recover deleted files or retrieve data from scenarios like OS crash, lost partitions, documents, videos, and other data loss situations. It's an all-encompassing platform that aids in data recovery from a damaged hard drive.

Before trying the methods we're about to discuss, we recommend using a data recovery wizard tool.

Step 1. Create a Bootable Disk

Launch Data Recovery Wizard, select “Crashed PC Recovery” and click “Start Recovery”.

Select "Crash Computer Recovery"

Select an empty USB drive to create the bootable drive, then click “Create.”

Caution: The Data Recovery Wizard will delete all data stored on the USB drive when creating the bootable disk. Back up important data in advance.

Create a Bootable USB

Step 2. Boot your computer from the bootable USB drive

Connect the bootable disk to the unbootable computer, and change the computer's boot order in BIOS. For most users, this will involve restarting the computer and pressing F2 as it boots up to enter BIOS.

Set the “Boot Device” to “Removable Devices” (your bootable USB drive), not the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Restart from the bootable USB

Step 3: Recover data from a crashed system/computer

Boot from the Data Recovery Wizard Bootable Media, select the drive you wish to scan for all lost files, preview and recover desired files to a safe location.

After minimizing important data, try the methods below to fix the "Restart to repair drive" issue on Windows 10 or Windows 11. If one method doesn't work, proceed to the next one.

Method 1: Restart Your Computer

The first and most basic step to resolve this issue is to restart your computer. In many cases, this is effective, as Windows can automatically detect and fix minor errors if it didn't shut down properly the last time. This doesn't necessarily address the root cause, but it can work in certain situations.

Method 2: Run CHKDSK in Safe Mode

Since we know that "Restart to Repair Drive Errors" is a disk-related issue, we can address this problem thoroughly using the CHKDSK utility. CHKDSK is a tool specifically designed for fixing disk-related errors in Windows computers.

Run CHKDSK in safe mode:

Step 1: Restart your computer. Press F8 repeatedly while it is booting up. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options.

Step 2: There, you'll see an option for "Safe Mode with Command Prompt." Choose that.

Step 3: Your computer will now boot up and display a list of drives. Run CHKDSK. Wait for the wizard to finish the repair process; if the errors aren't too severe, it should fix them automatically.

Method 3: Run DISM and SFC Scans

DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. It is a powerful tool that can fix corrupted system files by scanning and repairing them, thus addressing common disk errors.

Step 1. Boot from the bootable USB drive and open the Command Prompt in Safe Mode as instructed above (How to Boot into Safe Mode).

Step 2. Enter the following command in your terminal:

This is the command-line syntax for repairing Windows system files. In Chinese, it can be expressed as: 使用dism.exe工具在线清理并恢复系统映像健康状态 Translation: Use the dism.exe tool to online clean and restore the health of the system image.

Step 3. If that doesn't work, it might be because DISM can't download the files online. You can use your installation DVD or USB instead. Insert it and enter:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

Replace C:RepairSourceWindows with the path to your installed DVD or USB drive.

This is how you run CHKDSK. However, you can also use SFC as your primary tool for fixing drive-related errors.

Run an SFC scan:

Step 1: After opening the Command Prompt in the recovery environment, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Step 2: The program will now scan and fix your file. Please wait until the program finishes.

If the problem persists, follow these steps.

Method 4: Run Automatic Repair

You will also need a bootable USB drive with Windows on it to use this method. Automatic Startup Repair has been known to fix this error. Here's how to use it:

1. Plug the USB installation drive into your computer's USB port. Restart your computer and enter the [BIOS](/resource/how-to-enter-bios.html). Make sure that USB is set as the first boot device. Save and exit, then restart your computer to boot from the USB drive.

Step 2: The Windows Setup will begin. Choose your language preferences and click "Next." In the bottom left corner, click on "Repair your computer." You'll be presented with a selection screen. Tap "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Automatic Repair" or "Startup Repair."

Step 3: Wait for the Windows automatic repair process to finish. When it's done, restart your computer and boot into Windows.

This is one of the most effective solutions to this issue, and we hope that your problem has been resolved. If not, there's one final remedy you can try.

Method 5: Perform a System Restore

Step 1: Enter Advanced Recovery Mode and tap on “Advanced options”.

<Step 2> Click "System Restore" to launch the wizard.

Select “System Restore”

Step 3: The System Recovery Options wizard looks similar to Windows. Click Next to view the date list.

Step 4: Choose a date that you remember your computer was working fine. Click Next to have the wizard restore your computer to that state.

You could try to restore your computer to a previous state, thus returning it to a point where it was known to be functioning correctly. The next logical step would be to back up your data and, should the problem recur, replace the hard drive.

Method 6: Repair the drive manually and restart

The last option is to use the manual Data Recovery Service by our tool. Our experienced technicians can help you fix any system startup issues, including system crash, blue screen, black screen, etc.

Windows Recovery Services Tool

Click here to contact our experts for a free assessment

Get one-on-one consultation with our data recovery experts and benefit from manual recovery services. After a free diagnosis, we offer the following:

• Fix Windows boot issues, including blue screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Recover your system when it fails to start
• Optimize your Windows computer for faster performance

Conclusions

This article covers all the basic methods and tutorials to fix the "Restart to repair drive errors" issue. Disk errors can be caused by various factors, including hard disk problems, failed updates, and more.

This post also offers a range of solutions to the problem, from the simple to the extreme. The safest bet is to first recover any lost data using the Data Recovery Wizard tool. This is crucial, as the methods described here might result in data loss. The Data Recovery Wizard can help retrieve your files when your computer or hard drive fails to boot. Hopefully, you found this article helpful.