If you’re experiencing Windows 10 or 11 startup problems, such as a blue screen, black screen, or your computer keeps crashing, you may need to repair your Windows installation. While Windows 10 startup repair is a built-in feature that can automatically troubleshoot some issues, it doesn’t always work. In such cases, you can use the command prompt to fix startup problems and get your computer back up and running.
Preparing to Use Command Prompt for Windows Repair
Before you can use the command prompt to repair Windows, you’ll need to access it from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). You can do this in one of two ways:
- If Windows 10 can boot: Press Windows I to open Settings, click Update & Security > Recovery, and under Advanced startup, click Restart now. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
- If Windows 10 can’t boot: Force restart your PC three times, and you’ll be taken to WinRE. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
If your computer won’t boot at all, you can create a bootable Windows 10 installation media or recovery USB drive to make your PC bootable and access WinRE.
Using Command Prompt to Repair Windows Startup
Once you have the command prompt open in WinRE, you can enter various commands to fix Windows startup or other problems. Here are some of the most common methods:
Run SFC Scannow to Repair Corrupted System Files
If there are corrupted system files causing your startup issues, you can use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan for and repair them. In the command prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Use DISM to Repair Windows Image
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can repair the Windows image and fix corruption issues. In the command prompt, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This command will download the required files from Windows Update to repair the image.
Run Bootrec Commands to Fix Boot Issues
If the issue is with the Master Boot Record (MBR) or boot sector, you can use the Bootrec tool to fix it. In the command prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
bootrec /fixmbr– This command will attempt to fix any corruption issues with the MBR.bootrec /fixboot– This command will attempt to write a new boot sector on the hard disk if Windows detects damage.bootrec /rebuildbcd– This command will scan all disks for installations compatible with Windows and rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store.
If all goes well, you should see “The operation completed successfully” after each command.
Perform a System Restore
If the problem is too severe, you can try restoring your Windows 10/11 to a previous state using System Restore, as long as you have enabled it. Keep in mind that this will not restore documents, music, emails, or personal files, so make sure to back up important data before proceeding.
To run System Restore from the command prompt, type rstrui.exe and press Enter. Follow the on-screen instructions to select a restore point and complete the process.
If none of the above methods work, you may need to consider more advanced options, such as reinstalling Windows or seeking professional help. However, before taking drastic measures, make sure to exhaust all the command prompt repair methods to give your Windows 10/11 the best chance of recovery.