Startup Repair - How to Troubleshoot Boot Issues on Windows 11/10/8/7

User Case: Windows 10 Boot Issue

“I installed a recent update to my Windows 10 pro 64-bit machine, but I can't boot it normally. I tried the SFC Scannow, and DISM command, reset this PC, and kept my files, but with no success. So can I use a Windows 10 boot repair disk to repair the OS?”

YES, you can boot Windows 10 from a repair boot tool and repair your computer with corresponding recovery tools. This article shows how to make a recovery USB drive and how to use it to fix a system with 2 free software.

Way 1. Windows Startup Repair with Free Built-in Tool

Windows provides a built-in tool for users to create a recovery drive when necessary. It can be used to troubleshoot and repair system issues, reinstall Windows, or restore the system to a previous state if the computer fails to boot properly.

This tool copies essential system files and recovery options to the USB flash drive, ensuring you have a backup solution in case of critical system failures.

1/2: Create a Windows boot repair drive

Step 1. Connect a USB drive to one of your well-run computers and ensure it can be detected.

Step 2. In the search box, type "recovery drive" and choose "Create a recovery drive."

Step 3. In the small pop-up window, check the option "Back up system files to the recovery drive" and click "Next."

Step 4. Select a USB flash drive and click "Next."

Step 5. Click "Create" to start the operation.

Tips: Any data on the USB drive will be overwritten during the operation, please backup important files in advance.

2/2: Repair Windows from a USB drive

Step 1. Insert the repair USB drive into your computer and enter BIOS to make your computer boot from the recovery USB.

Step 2. When the recovery screen appears, go to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Repair."

Tips:

• If Startup Repair can’t solve the problem, you can go to "Command Prompt" under "Advanced options" to repair Windows OS. In the command prompt window, if you need to repair damaged system files, type "sfc /scannow /offbootdir=d:\ /offwindir=d:\windows" and hit the "Enter" key (replace d: with the drive letter of the partition that contains your Windows installation).
• If you need to rebuild BCD settings, you can run the commands in turn: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd

Way 2. Startup Repair on Windows 11/10 with Free AOMEI Backupper

Another free and easy-to-use startup repair disk creator - AOMEI Backupper Standard is recommended. It allows you to create a bootable USB drive on one computer and boot from another computer. In that environment, you can even view or copy important files, and restore Windows to a previous state with the system backup image.

If you upgrade to the advanced edition, you may insert the recovery environment into your computer, and perform a startup restore without a bootable drive in the future.

1/2: How to Create A Bootable Flash Drive

Before creating bootable media:

• Insert a USB drive into a working computer running Windows and ensure that it can be detected.
• If you don’t want to lose data on the USB drive, you can make a backup before operation.
• Create a system image and save it to a safe location in case of recovery needs.

Step 1. In the main interface, click “Create Bootable Media” under the “Tools” tab.

Step 2. Select the type of bootable media. "WinPE" is recommended for more complete functions and easier operation. The created disc is compatible with both legacy/MBR and UEFI/GPT.

Step 3. Select a bootable media among three options (here, the USB Boot Device is chosen) and click “Next” to execute the operation. When the process completes, click on the “Finish” button.

2/2: Boot Computer with Windows Bootable USB Drive

With the created bootable USB drive and system image, you can fix the computer when it fails to access Windows. Here's the approach:

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the computer that needs to restore the system. Press a certain key while starting the computer to enter BIOS.

2. Select the USB drive as the first boot option. Access the main interface of AOMEI Backupper to restore the system.

Tips:

• A bootable USB drive created by AOMEI Backupper works on any computer running the same or lower versions of Windows.
• If you want to restore a system image to another computer with dissimilar hardware, you may upgrade to the advanced edition to use the Universal Restore feature.

Bonus: Ultimate Boot CD for Windows

The Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) is a free bootable recovery tool designed to fix and troubleshoot computers that won't boot. It includes diagnostic tools for testing the CPU, RAM, hard drive, video card, and other hardware components. This utility helps you diagnose issues and recover your malfunctioning computer.

It provides excellent diagnostic tools and creates a bootable ISO on a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive. This tool allows you to run floppy-based diagnostics quickly from CD-ROM or USB devices, eliminating the need for outdated floppy disks. It sets up a virtual instance of the floppy within a BIOS-like user interface.

Extended Reading: Common Causes of Windows Boot Failure

There are several common causes for Windows boot failure.

• Corrupted System Files: Essential system files may become corrupted due to malware, improper shutdowns, or software conflicts.
• Faulty Hardware: Problems with hardware components like the hard drive, RAM, or motherboard can prevent Windows from booting.
• Boot Configuration Errors: Issues with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) can cause boot failures. This might happen after a system update or improper configuration changes.
• Driver Issues: Incompatible or outdated drivers can lead to boot problems, especially after installing new hardware or updating drivers.
• Malware or Virus Infection: Malicious software can corrupt system files, alter boot settings, or damage essential components, causing boot failures.

FAQs on Windows 11/10 Boot Issues Troubleshooting

1. Can I use any USB drive to create a Windows repair boot USB?

Yes, you can use most USB drives with sufficient capacity (at least 8GB). Ensure there's no critical data on the drive, as the process will format it.

2. How do I boot from a Windows repair drive?

Insert the repair boot USB into the computer, restart it, and access the boot menu or BIOS/UEFI settings. Select the USB drive as the boot device to launch the repair options.

3. Can I use a repair boot USB on multiple computers?

Yes, you can use a Windows repair USB drive on multiple computers. However, keep in mind that repair options may vary depending on the specific system and issues.

4. Can I use a Windows installation DVD instead of a USB for repair?

Yes, you can use a Windows 10 installation DVD for repair purposes, but creating a repair boot USB is more convenient and often recommended for devices without an optical drive.

5. How often should I create a new Windows 10 repair boot USB?

It's a good practice to create a new bootable repair USB drive when you install major Windows updates or make significant changes to your system. This ensures that you have the latest tools and files.

Verdict

If your computer becomes unbootable, it is nice to fix the issue using the Windows boot repair tool. It is effective and simple to restore the system using bootable media created by AOMEI Backupper.

If you want to protect unlimited computers within your company, you can pick AOMEI Backupper Technician Plus. With the inbuilt AOMEI Image Deploy tool, you are also allowed to deploy/restore system image files on server-side computers to multiple client-side computers over a network.