What to Do When Windows 11 Startup Repair Fails: 7 Effective Solutions

If you’re a Windows 11 user who has encountered the frustrating issue of Startup Repair failing to resolve boot problems, you’re not alone. This common problem can be caused by various factors, including corrupted system files, outdated drivers, or hardware failures. However, don’t despair – there are several effective solutions you can try to get your computer back up and running.

1. Use a Boot Repair Tool

One of the most effective ways to fix a failed Startup Repair is to use a dedicated boot repair tool. These tools are designed to diagnose and repair various boot-related issues, including corrupted boot files, missing system files, and MBR (Master Boot Record) problems.

One popular boot repair tool is EaseUS Partition Master. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Download and install EaseUS Partition Master on a working computer.
2. Create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD using the tool.
3. Boot your computer from the bootable media.
4. In the EaseUS Partition Master interface, click “Boot Repair” under the “Toolkit” section.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair your computer’s boot issues.

Using a boot repair tool can be a quick and effective way to resolve boot problems without having to go through more complex troubleshooting steps.

2. Disable Automatic Restart

If your computer is stuck in a loop where it keeps restarting into the Startup Repair screen, you can try disabling automatic restart. This will allow you to see the actual error message and potentially identify the root cause of the problem.

To disable automatic restart:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Repair your computer” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Click “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings” > “Restart”.
4. Press “9” or “F9” to choose “Disable automatic restart after failure”.
5. Wait for your computer to boot and see if the Startup Repair loop is resolved.

If you’re able to boot into Windows after disabling automatic restart, make sure to update your BIOS, Windows updates, and drivers to prevent future issues.

3. Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is a database that stores boot configuration information for Windows. If the BCD becomes corrupted or missing, it can cause boot problems that prevent Startup Repair from working.

To rebuild the BCD:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Repair your computer” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Click “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each:

 bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd 

This will rebuild the BCD and potentially resolve any boot configuration issues that were preventing Startup Repair from working.

4. Run the CHKDSK Command

The CHKDSK command is a built-in Windows tool that scans your hard drive for errors and attempts to fix them. If your computer’s boot problems are caused by corrupted or invalid system files, running CHKDSK may help resolve the issue.

To run CHKDSK:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Repair your computer” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Click “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

 chkdsk C: /f /r 

Replace “C:” with the drive letter of your Windows installation if it’s different. The “/f” parameter fixes errors on the drive, while “/r” locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Note that running CHKDSK may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of errors it finds. Once it’s finished, restart your computer and see if the Startup Repair issue is resolved.

5. Boot into Safe Mode

If Startup Repair is failing due to a software issue, such as a conflicting driver or a malfunctioning service, booting into Safe Mode may help resolve the problem.

To boot into Safe Mode:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Repair your computer” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Click “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings” > “Restart”.
4. Press “4” or “F4” to choose “Enable Safe Mode”.
5. Once in Safe Mode, try running Startup Repair again to see if it works.

If Startup Repair is successful in Safe Mode, it may indicate that a third-party driver or service is causing the issue. You can try disabling these items in Safe Mode to resolve the problem.

6. Run the System File Checker (SFC) Command

The System File Checker (SFC) is a Windows utility that scans for and attempts to repair corrupted system files. If Startup Repair is failing due to missing or corrupted system files, running SFC may help resolve the issue.

To run SFC:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Repair your computer” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Click “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

 sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows 

Replace “C:” with the drive letter of your Windows installation if it’s different.

SFC will scan your system files and attempt to repair any corrupted or missing files. Once it’s finished, restart your computer and see if the Startup Repair issue is resolved.

7. Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

In some cases, the Early Launch Anti-Malware (ELAM) driver can interfere with the boot process and prevent Startup Repair from working. Disabling this driver may help resolve the issue.

To disable ELAM:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Repair your computer” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Click “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

 bcdedit /set {default} nointegritychecks on 

This command disables ELAM for the default boot entry. Restart your computer and see if the Startup Repair issue is resolved.

If the problem persists, you can re-enable ELAM by running the following command in Command Prompt:

 bcdedit /set {default} nointegritychecks off 

In conclusion, if Windows 11 Startup Repair fails to resolve your boot problems, don’t panic. There are several effective solutions you can try, including using a boot repair tool, disabling automatic restart, rebuilding the BCD, running CHKDSK and SFC commands, booting into Safe Mode, and disabling ELAM. By following these steps and troubleshooting methodically, you should be able to get your computer back up and running in no time.