8 Fixes To "Your PC Did Not Start Correctly in Windows"

Imagine you are all set for a presentation, but your computer doesn't turn on and declares "Your PC did not start correctly" error. Instead of seeing a familiar Windows login screen, experiencing this error must be frustrating. When you try to restart multiple times, but the issue persists, many individuals panic due to their files inside and deadlines around.

Despite advanced technologies, situations like these are inevitable, but several fixes exist to bypass them. To know the most effective ones, read this article and quickly recover your Windows PC. Here, you will get 8 fixes and a recovery tool to restore your important system files that you lost accidentally.

Part 1. Why Did Your PC Did Not Start Correctly?

Situations like “Automatic repair your pc did not start correctly" could happen to anyone, often at the worst possible moment. Before resolving it, everyone must know the reasons behind the error. Thus, navigate the given possible reasons causing your PC not starting properly, helping you find the most suitable fix.

1. Windows Update Failure: Sometimes, your Windows update effort fails to install new firmware, and the PC is stuck in an automatic repair loop. This could happen due to a conflict between the update and system drivers or corrupt update files.
2. Corrupt Boot Configuration Data (BCD): As you know, Windows stores boot-related settings in a database which is called BCD. If this data becomes corrupt due to misconfigured dual-boot setup or hard drive errors, your system will not start.
3. Hardware & SSD Issues: Your operating system lies within a hard drive or SSD; if this storage device contains issues, errors are obvious. The reason for error could be physical damage to the hard drive or failing SSD with corrupted firmware.
4. Corrupted System Files: Since Windows relies on critical system files to boot, a damaged or missing one can stop a system from starting. This could happen due to viruses, power failures during updates, or the uninstallation of software.

Part 2. Solutions To PC Did Not Start Correctly: Comprehensive Options

If your PC turns off abruptly because of a forced shutdown or power outage, it can show a system not starting error. Thus, despite the reasons, you must know "your PC did not start correctly” fixes as it only matters. Below are the 8 solutions demonstrated through detailed steps to ensure quick recovery of the system.

1. Restart Your PC: Simple Approach

In case the error occurs due to temporary glitches, the most straightforward solution is a restart. It can wipe out temporary issues, clear out the system's state, and fix the error without further action. Also, this initiative can figure out whether the issue is persistent or just a one-time glitch. For this purpose, you need to press the "Restart" button that appears under the Automatic Repair screen.

2. Perform Startup Repair on PC

After restarting the PC, if the issue persists, try the Windows startup repair tool. It can automatically fix the problems causing the “Windows 10 your PC did not start correctly.” This advanced troubleshooting technique is designed to address deeper issues bringing boot failures. You can learn to use this startup repair tool through following the steps next.

Step 1. From the error screen, choose the “Advanced Options” button next to the “Restart.”

Step 2. Moving forward, click the "Troubleshoot" option followed by the next screen’s "Advanced Options."

Step 3. Using the “Advanced Options” screen, tap "Startup Repair" and enter your password to let the system scan for automatic repair.

3. Boot PC in Safe Mode

While fixing "Your PC did not start correctly loop," you can try booting your PC in safe mode. It can force a system to load with the bare minimum set of drivers and essential components. Using this mode can help you troubleshoot errors that occur by driver or software issues. If you are unfamiliar with this fix and need a safe recovery of the system, follow the instructions given.

Step 1. Proceed with the “Advanced Options” button that appears on the Automatic Repair error screen. Locate the “Troubleshoot” option to enter another screen for making the “Advanced Options” selection.

Step 2. Next, pick the “Startup Settings” option and click the “Restart” option to get a list of startup options after the PC restarts.

Step 3. From the list of startup settings, select the "Enable Safe Mode" or "Enable Safe Mode with Networking" option as needed.

Step 4. If your Windows boots successfully, uninstall recent software or driver that is causing conflict. To do so, access the "Windows Update" settings and press the "Update History" option. Next, use the "Uninstall Updates" option and end the process by tapping "Uninstall" again.

4. Use SFC Scan To Search Missed System Files

As discussed above, your Windows may have trouble booting if one or more system files are missing. You can fix the "PC did not start correctly Windows 11" issue through the System File Checker (SFC) utility. It's a built-in repair tool that scans a computer for corrupted files and attempts to restore it. Being a non-technical person, if you need assistance, below is a guide you can follow:

Step 1. Start with the "Advanced Options" button from the error Window and the next "Troubleshoot" option. Moving forward, pick the "Advanced Options" and locate the "Command Prompt" to run the SFC utility.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt, enter the “sfc/scannow” prompt and hit enter to let the tool begin scanning. You can type “exit” and hit the “Enter” key to end the task and restart your PC with the issue resolved.

5. Make Changes Through Boot Configuration Data

Boost Configuration Data or BCD is the information that the Windows runtime environment depends on. Through it, Windows boot leaders get instructions and know where to search for the boot data. If none of the previous fixes work, chances are that BCD is corrupted or missing. Rush towards the steps next and try this approach to resolve the “Your PC did not start correctly” issue:

Step 1. Using the “Advanced Options” button on the error screen, proceed and tap the “Troubleshoot” option. Following that, choose “Advanced Options” and access “Command Prompt” to enter the coding window.

Step 2. There, run "bootrec /rebuildbcd," and if the bootrec command identifies one or more Windows installations, press the A or Y keys. Afterward, enter all the given prompts, and once done, hit Y and Enter keys from your keyboard.

bcdedit /export c:bcdbackup

attrib c:bootbcd -h -r -s

ren c:bootbcd bcd.old

bootrec /rebuildbcd

6. Perform System Restore

You should perform System Restore if you know the changes you made that are causing errors. It can time travel your system to the point where everything was previously running fine. This Windows recovery tool can deal with the "Automatic Repair your PC did not start correctly" error on Windows 7, 8, and 10. If your system has installed one of such Windows versions, look into the given steps:

Step 1. Click the "Advanced Option" button in the Automatic Repair error interface. Next, choose "Troubleshoot" and "Advanced Option," respectively, whenever you need to select. Finally, access "System Restore" at the bottom-right and log in with an administrator account if you have multiple.

Step 2. As you enter the “System Restore” screen, select the point when your system worked fine. Later, hit the “Next” button to finish the process with further necessary confirmations.

7. Uninstall Windows Update and Reinstall

When you think the issue occurred after your recent Windows update, it's a good idea to uninstall it. Using this fix is usually considered helpful when your computer slows down, shows boot errors, and is missing features. However, this fix only applies if you install the updates 10 days before. Go through the given guide to uninstall an update and fix the "Windows 10 your PC did not start correctly" error:

Step 1. Navigate to the “Troubleshoot” option that you accessed after choosing the “Advanced Option” button from the error screen. Selecting “Troubleshoot” will make you further choose “Advanced Option” and access its menu for “Uninstall Updates.” Upon hitting it, you will be asked which recent update you intend to install and manage the error.

Step 2. Since you have shifted to the previous Windows update version, head towards its "Windows Update" Settings. There, you just have to click the "Check for Updates" button and wait for the recent update detection and installation.

8. Reset PC For Extensive Recovery

By now, your PC did not start correctly loop must be resolved, but if it doesn't, reset is the only option left. It will reset your PC to its native settings and reinstall the entire OS to default. Also, remember the process might be slightly different on Windows 8 and 10, but serves the same purpose. Initiate extensive recovery by resetting your PC through the simple instructions given:

Step 1. From the error screen, tap “Advanced Options” followed by “Troubleshoot” to access its menu and the “Reset This PC” option.

Step 2. After choosing “Reset This PC,” pick whether to “Keep My Files” or “Remove Everything” based on your needs.

Part 3. Lost Important System Files? Resolve PC Issues With the Best Recovery Tool

As evident, unintentionally deleting vital system files can cause PC issues other than the PC did not start correctly. To handle this issue, you should use a dependable recovery tool like Wondershare Recoverit. It can quickly retrieve your lost system files with a 99.5% success rate and fix PC issues. Whether you are using Windows 7, Vista, or later versions, it can recover files from all devices.

Other than Windows, users can recover their important files from Mac and Linux systems. Besides, this recovery tool is renowned for fixing more than 500 scenarios with 100% security. Its security guarantee means your system files will be recovered without malware and no integrity loss. Additionally, it supports batch recovery of files and facilitates preview so you can ensure everything is on point.

Key Features

1. Diverse File Type Recovery: Beyond system file recovery, this tool can rescue other crucial files, emails, images, and videos. In this regard, it is reported to retrieve more than 1000 file formats in their original quality.
2. Retrieve Files from Nearly Everywhere: Recoverit can bring lost files from over 2000 storage devices. Among them are SD cards, HDDs, external devices, and even crashed systems.
3. Easy Setup and Quick Recovery: Unlike other fixes, it doesn’t require any cognitive efforts and extra setups. Additionally, it automatically scans lost files with deep scanning for effortless recovery.

How to Recover an Important System File Through Recoverit? Quick Tutorial

Despite recovering files, this software can help users recover crashed Windows systems. For now, focus on learning how it can recover lost system files and resolve PC issues other than Your PC did not start correctly:

Step 1. Choose a Hard Disk to Begin Recovery

Install the newest version of Recoverit and launch it to access the "Hard Drives and Location" tab selected by default. There, you need to choose a Hard Disk Drive from where you think the file was lost.

Step 2. Specify Location or Witness Deep Scanning

Witness the Deep Scanning, exploring all the lost files and letting you track progress from the bottom left. Optionally, you can use the "Filter" at the top right and specify a location for recovery.

Step 3. Recover By Choosing A Path on the PC

Once you get all the recovered files, review them and select a path to save them through the “Recover” button. You are advised not to choose the same Hard Disk again where it was lost from your Windows.

Conclusion

In summary, countless reasons are causing you to be stuck in the "Your PC did not start correctly” loop. This article demonstrates 8 solutions to resolve the error to regain access to your PC. However, if you are facing other PC issues and you think it's due to a lost system file, try Wondershare Recoverit. It will conduct deep scanning and retrieve all your lost and deleted files.