How to Use Windows Startup Repair Tool to Fix Boot Problems

Windows 10 includes a built-in tool called Startup Repair that can help fix common boot issues. This guide will walk you through the steps to access and use Startup Repair to resolve problems preventing your computer from booting correctly.

Accessing Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

To use Startup Repair, you first need to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). There are a few ways to do this:

1. When PC isn’t loading: If your computer is stuck during boot or isn’t loading at all, you can interrupt the boot process by pressing the power button as soon as the Windows logo appears, repeating this two more times. On the third interruption, Windows will open into the recovery environment.
2. From bootable media: If your device isn’t booting up, you can use a USB installation media to access WinRE. Start the computer with the bootable USB drive, making sure to change your system’s BIOS settings if it doesn’t automatically boot from the USB.
3. From the Settings app: Open the Settings app, go to Update & Security, select the Recovery tab, and under “Advanced startup” click “Restart now”.

Using Startup Repair

Once you’ve accessed WinRE, follow these steps to use Startup Repair:

1. Click the Troubleshoot button.
2. Click the Advanced options button.
3. Click the Startup Repair button.
4. Select your Windows 10 account.
5. Confirm your account password.
6. Click the Continue button.
7. Wait as Startup Repair scans and attempts to fix any problems.
8. Once complete, click Shutdown, then start your PC again.

Startup Repair creates a log file called “SrtTrail.txt” in the “C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt” folder that you can review to understand the diagnostics and repairs made.

If Startup Repair is unable to fix the issue, you may need to consider performing a clean reinstall of Windows 10. This will take longer and erase all data, but can help resolve persistent boot problems, performance issues, and other system instability.