If your Windows 10 or 11 computer is experiencing issues like crashes, boot loops, or fails to start, you may need to repair the operating system. One effective way to do this is by using a bootable USB drive. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a Windows repair USB and use it to fix various problems with your Windows installation.
Creating a Windows Repair USB Drive
Before you can repair Windows from a USB drive, you need to create one. Here’s how:
Download the Windows 10 or 11 ISO file from the official Microsoft website.
Use a tool like Rufus or the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive from the ISO file.
Connect the USB drive to your computer and make sure it’s set as the first boot device in the BIOS or UEFI settings.
Repairing Windows 10/11 from USB
Once you have the bootable USB drive ready, follow these steps to repair your Windows installation:
Boot your computer from the USB drive.
On the Windows Setup screen, select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, then click “Next.”
Click “Repair your computer” in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
In the System Recovery Options menu, select “Troubleshoot.”
Choose one of the following repair options:
Startup Repair: This tool automatically scans and fixes issues preventing Windows from starting correctly.
System Restore: Allows you to restore your computer to a previous state using a system restore point.
System Image Recovery: Lets you restore your computer from a previously created system image.
Command Prompt: Provides a command-line interface to run advanced troubleshooting commands.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.
Recovering Data from a Corrupted Windows Installation
If your Windows installation is severely corrupted and you can’t access your files, you can use the bootable USB drive to recover your data:
Boot your computer from the USB drive and select “Repair your computer.”
Choose “Command Prompt” from the System Recovery Options menu.
In the Command Prompt, type the following command to mount your Windows partition:
mountvol X: /S
Replace “X” with any available drive letter.
Type the following command to access your Windows partition:
X:
Navigate to your user folder (e.g., C:\Users\YourUsername) and copy the files you want to recover to an external storage device.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter any issues while repairing Windows from a USB drive, try the following troubleshooting tips:
Make sure the USB drive is properly formatted as FAT32 or NTFS.
Check that the USB drive is not damaged or corrupted.
Ensure that the USB drive is set as the first boot device in the BIOS or UEFI settings.
If the repair process fails, try using a different USB drive or creating a new bootable USB drive.
Repairing Windows from a USB drive can be a lifesaver when your operating system is corrupted or won’t start. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a bootable USB drive and use it to fix various problems with your Windows installation. Remember to always keep a backup of your important data to avoid losing it in case of a system failure.