If your Windows computer is stuck on the “Resuming” screen or won’t boot up properly, don’t panic. There are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue and get your system back up and running. Here are 10 tips to help you fix Windows when it’s not booting or getting stuck during the boot process.
1. Try Windows Safe Mode
If Windows is stuck on the “Resuming” screen or won’t boot normally, try starting your computer in Safe Mode. This will load Windows with only the essential drivers and services, which can help identify if a third-party program or driver is causing the issue. To enter Safe Mode, restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears. Select “Safe Mode” and press Enter. If Windows boots successfully in Safe Mode, you can try uninstalling recently installed programs or drivers that may be causing the problem.
2. Check Your Battery
If you’re using a laptop, make sure the battery is properly charged and connected. A low or faulty battery can cause Windows to freeze or not boot correctly. Try removing the battery, if possible, and running your laptop on AC power only. If the issue persists, the battery may need to be replaced.
3. Unplug All Your USB Devices
Disconnect all USB devices from your computer, including external hard drives, USB flash drives, printers, and scanners. Faulty or incompatible USB devices can prevent Windows from booting properly. Once you’ve unplugged all USB devices, restart your computer and see if it boots normally.
4. Turn Off Fast Boot
Fast Boot is a feature in Windows that allows your computer to boot faster by skipping certain initialization steps. However, this feature can sometimes cause issues with booting, especially if you’re dual-booting with another operating system or if you’re experiencing hardware issues. To turn off Fast Boot, open the Power Options settings in Control Panel, click “Choose what the power buttons do,” and then uncheck the “Turn on fast startup” option.
5. Try a Malware Scan
If your computer is infected with malware, it can cause Windows to freeze or not boot properly. Boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking and run a full system scan with your antivirus software. If you don’t have antivirus software installed, you can use Windows Defender or download a free antivirus program to scan your system.
6. Boot to the Command Prompt Interface
If Windows won’t boot normally, you can try booting to the Command Prompt interface using a Windows installation disc or USB drive. Insert the installation media and restart your computer, pressing the appropriate key to enter the boot menu (usually F2, F12, or Esc). Select the option to boot from the installation media, and then choose “Repair your computer” from the options. Select “Command Prompt” and use the available commands to diagnose and fix any issues.
7. Use System Restore or Startup Repair
If you’ve recently made changes to your system that may be causing the boot issue, you can try using System Restore to revert your computer to a previous state. Boot from a Windows installation disc or USB drive and select “Repair your computer.” Choose “System Restore” and follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system to a previous restore point.
If System Restore doesn’t work, you can try using the Startup Repair tool. This tool automatically diagnoses and fixes common startup issues. Select “Startup Repair” from the “Repair your computer” menu and follow the instructions.
8. Reassign Your Drive Letter
If a drive letter is missing or incorrect, it can prevent Windows from booting properly. Boot from a Windows installation disc or USB drive and select “Command Prompt.” Use the “diskpart” command to list all available drives and reassign the correct drive letter to your Windows partition.
9. Check Your BIOS Settings
Incorrect BIOS settings can cause Windows to freeze or not boot correctly. Enter your computer’s BIOS setup utility (usually by pressing a specific key during startup, such as F2, F12, or Delete) and check the following settings:
- Make sure the correct boot device is selected as the primary boot device.
- Ensure that the SATA mode is set to AHCI or IDE, depending on your configuration.
- Check that the CPU and memory settings are correct and stable.
- Reset the BIOS to its default settings if needed.
10. Perform a Clean Boot
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you can try performing a clean boot. This process loads Windows with only the essential drivers and services, allowing you to identify if a third-party program or service is causing the problem. To perform a clean boot, open the System Configuration utility (msconfig) and select “Selective startup.” Uncheck all the services and startup items except for those provided by Microsoft. Restart your computer and see if it boots normally. If it does, you can gradually re-enable the services and startup items to identify the culprit.
If you’ve tried all these troubleshooting steps and your Windows computer is still stuck on the “Resuming” screen or won’t boot, you may need to consider more advanced options, such as reinstalling Windows or seeking professional help. However, before resorting to a full reinstallation, make sure to back up your important data to an external drive or cloud storage service.