How to Use the Windows 7 Startup Repair Tool to Fix Boot Issues

Startup Repair is designed to replace damaged or missing operating system files, repair corrupted boot configuration data (BCD), and fix issues with the master boot record (MBR) or boot sector. However, it cannot detect or resolve hardware failures or protect against malware damage.

When to Use Startup Repair
You should use the Startup Repair tool when you encounter the following problems with your Windows 7 system
3
:
Computer won’t boot into Windows
Startup Repair loop or infinite loop
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors
Missing or corrupted system files
Disk write errors
Corrupted BCD
Issues after a failed Windows update
Power outages or sudden shutdowns
Virus or malware attacks
How to Access Startup Repair
To access the Windows 7 Startup Repair tool, you’ll need to boot from the Windows 7 installation media (DVD or USB drive). If you don’t have the installation media, you can create a Windows 7 recovery drive using another working computer.

Here’s how to access Startup Repair from the Windows 7 installation media:

Insert the Windows 7 installation media and restart your computer.
Press a key when prompted to boot from the installation media.
Select your language, time, currency, and keyboard input, then click “Next.”
Click “Repair your computer” in the bottom-right corner.
In the System Recovery Options window, select “Startup Repair.”
Using the Bootrec.exe Tool in Startup Repair
If Startup Repair is unable to automatically fix your boot issues, you can try using the Bootrec.exe command-line tool in the Windows Recovery Environment (RE).

To use Bootrec.exe:

Access the System Recovery Options as described above.
Select “Command Prompt” instead of “Startup Repair.”
Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOs
bootrec /RebuildBcd
These commands can help fix issues with the master boot record, boot sector, and rebuild the BCD store if corrupted.
Other Windows 7 Repair Options
If Startup Repair and Bootrec.exe don’t resolve your boot issues, you have a few other options to try
3
:
Run a CHKDSK (check disk) scan to fix file system errors
Use the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) to replace corrupted system files
Disable automatic restart on system failure to get more detailed error messages
Perform a clean install of Windows 7 using the installation media

Conclusion

The Windows 7 Startup Repair tool is a valuable utility for quickly troubleshooting and resolving common boot problems. By booting from the Windows 7 installation media and selecting Startup Repair, you can often get your computer back up and running without much hassle. If Startup Repair isn’t successful, try using the Bootrec.exe command-line tool or explore other repair options. With a bit of troubleshooting, you should be able to get your Windows 7 system back in working order.