The error message offers you a couple of options. You can either restart your PC or use advanced options. We’re sure you must’ve tried that already. If restarting your PC didn’t help, then roll up your sleeves and try out these troubleshooting tips to get past the error.
1. Run Startup Repair Tool
As suggestive of its name, you can run the Startup Repair tool to fix any issues your PC might have run into while booting up. This is the best place to start. Step 1: When you’re prompted with the ‘Your PC did not start correctly’ prompt, select Advanced options. Step 2: Next, click on Startup Repair. The tool will scan and fix any problems that may have prevented your PC from loading correctly. This process might take a while.
2. Try Safe Mode
If you’re desperately in need of accessing your PC, then you can try booting in the Safe Mode instead. However, this will boot your PC with only bare essentials. Step 1: While your PC is booting, press and hold the physical power button on your for a few seconds until your PC restarts. Interrupt the boot process three consecutive times, and you shall be greeted with the startup repair screen on the fourth occasion. Then, select Advanced options. Step 2: Next, click on Troubleshoot. Step 3: Then go to Advanced Options. Step 4: On the Advanced Options screen, click Startup Settings. Step 6: Click on the Restart button to visit the Startup Settings menu. Step 7: Lastly, press 4 or F4 on your keyboard to restart your PC in Safe Mode. Once you’re done using your PC in Safe Mode, restart your PC to see if it boots normally now.
3. Run DISM & SFC Scan
Corrupted or missing system files can also be the reason behind the startup error. If that’s the case, you can run DISM, and SFC scans to fix any issues with the system files on your PC. Here’s how. Step 1: On the error screen, select Advanced options and click the Command Prompt tile. Alternatively, you can also access the command prompt in the Safe Mode. Step 2: In the console, type the following command and press Enter. Once the DISM scan has scanned and repaired the system image, you can run the SFC scan to repair the current setup. Type the following command in the console and press Enter. After the scan is complete, type shutdown/r in the console to restart your PC.
4. Repair the Boot Configuration Data
Boot Configuration Data contains files used by Windows to boot your PC. Naturally, if Windows fails to access those files while starting, you may encounter the ‘Your PC did not start correctly’ error. Follow the steps below to repair the Boot Configuration Data on Windows. Step 1: On the error screen, select Advanced options and then click on Command Prompt. Step 2: Type the command given below and press Enter. This will scan your PC for any Windows installations that aren’t included in the Boot Configuration Data. If it finds any, you’ll see a message that reads ‘Total identified Windows installations: X’, where X is the number of Windows installations found. Step 3: Type Y and press Enter to add them to the boot list. If the above command fails to find any Windows installation files, run the following commands one by one and hit Enter after each one. Step 3: After that, run the command. For the prompt, type Y and press Enter to add them all to the boot list. Step 4: Type shutdown /r in the console and hit Enter to restart your PC.
5. Repair the Master Boot Record
If you’re still interrupted by the error, then there might be an issue with the Master Boot Record (MRB) on your PC. Similar to BCD, MRB is an essential part that helps your PC locate the operating system on your hard drive. So, if MRB has become inaccessible or corrupted, here’s how you can repair it. Step 1: Select Advanced options on the error screen and open the command prompt. Step 2: Run the following command one by one. Restart your PC by running the shutdown /r command and see if the error is resolved.
6. Try System Restore
Such error can also occur if you’re PC has undergone any system-level changes recently. So, if none of the above solutions work, then you’ll have to perform a system restore as a last resort. With it, you can revert your PC to a point before the error first appeared. Do note that any changes made to your PC in the meantime will be lost. Thankfully, your files won’t be affected. Step 1: On the error page, select Advanced options and then click on System Restore tile. Step 2: Choose a restore point before the error’s appearance and hit Next. Step 3: Review the restore point one more time and hit Finish to perform a system restore.
Jump Start Windows
Running into an error while starting your PC is never a good sign. Plus, your troubleshooting options are often minimal at this stage. Hopefully, the above solutions have helped you fix the error for good.
