How to fix Your Computer Was Unable to Start

We all experience that moment when we press the power button, hoping the PC will boot normally, only to be greeted by the message:

“Your computer was unable to start.”

That is very cryptic and frustrating. With no information provided, one can only assume that the device is defective and, for some unknown reason, the user will always be stuck in a difficult position.

If this is your case and you are running Windows 10 or 11, do not worry, since we have a step-by-step guide. We will ensure that we explain the issue to you while showing you efficient ways to solve it, utilizing the device’s built-in tools and culminating with smart third-party tools, such as Advanced Driver Updater.

What Does “Your Computer Was Unable to Start” Mean?

Most often, this error appears because Windows fails to start correctly and attempts to automate repair. Some other typical areas of problems with this alert could be:

“Startup Repair couldn’t repair your PC.”
“Preparing Automatic Repair”
“Your PC did not start correctly.”

Most often, the offender could be:

System files could be corrupted or missing
System drivers are corrupted, outdated, or not compatible
The Windows installation or update is incomplete or has failed
Files on the drives are corrupted or disk errors
Hardware issues may also be involved, like faulty drives or defective RAM

The worst thing to assume from this is that you would need to reinstall the Windows system. Otherwise, take comfort in the fact that the device can be repaired without getting without hardly any cost.

Fixes for “Your Computer Was Unable to Start” on Windows 10/11

Are Windows 10 and 11 showing an error to you? Take a deep breath! Owing mainly to a faulty file or a faulty driver, you can resolve this. Here are some instant steps that will get your PC back to normal.

1. Let Startup Repair Try to Fix It

There’s another wonderful feature in Windows called Startup Repair that contains an automated option to repair issues holding up Windows boot.

Step 1: Press the Start button, and once you see the Windows logo, you can switch it off now. You can do so 2-3 times to be able to activate Recovery Mode.
Step 2: On the blue screen with choices, choose:

Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.

Step 3: Choose the account you wish, and let Windows scan and repair the problem.

Tip : Be patient because the repair process can take a few minutes.

2. Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode boots Windows with minimal files and is great in pinpointing a rogue file or obstinate third-party program that’s interfering with the machine.

How to access Safe Mode:

Step 1: Enter Windows Recovery Mode as outlined above.

Go to:

Step 2: Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
Step 3: From now on, when your PC is being restarted, press number four repeatedly.

Upon entering Safe Mode, I suggest you first do:

Delete the recently installed applications and drivers.
Run an antivirus scan for malware.
Restart the computer to check whether it boots normally.

3. Use SFC and DISM to Repair System Files

Windows refusing to boot can happen due to commonly damaged system files. Fortunately, Microsoft gives us tools to scan and remedy.

To use SFC and DISM:

Step 1: In the Recovery Mode:

Advanced Options > Command Prompt

Step 2: Then type this and hit enter:

sfc /scannow

Now, wait for the scan to finish.

Step 3: Type this:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

It will go to the Windows Update to address a more damaging issue.

Step 4: Restart your PC, and see if it boots.

4. Perform a System Restore

If your PC has installed a Windows update, driver, or app that is causing the issue, you can always just load a System Restore and bring online to the same state as before.

To Restore:

Step 1: In Recovery Mode, select:

Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.

Step 2: Then, select a restore point before the issue initiation.
Step 3: Then follow the on-screen prompts until it is complete.

Do not worry – it will not delete your files, only system changes after the restore point.

5. Repair the Bootloader (MBR/BCD) Repair

Sometimes, if the bootloader files are corrupt, Windows won’t start up. You can fix this problem by accessing the Command Prompt via Recovery Mode.

Step 1: Once you’re in Recovery Mode, select:

Advanced Options > Command Prompt

Step 2: Issue these commands one after the other:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

Step 3: If you get “Access Denied” after bootrec /fixboot, run:

bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr

Step 4: Power on your PC and check if it boots.

6. Update Drivers with Advanced Driver Updater (Recommended)

Outdated drivers, or incompatible drivers, particularly related to display, storage, or chipset, can cause Windows not to start. The easiest and safest way to remediate is to use a program like Advanced Driver Updater.

Why use Advanced Driver Updater?

Scans your computer for outdated drivers.
Downloads and installs the certified drivers for you automatically.
Prevents system crashes from bad drivers.

How to use it:

Step 1: Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.

Step 2: From the program, click Start Scan Now.

Step 3: Then, click Update All after the scan is complete.

Step 4: Reboot your computer.

Many have simply fixed the “Your Computer Was Unable To Start Windows 10/11” just by updating the driver.

7. Scan for Disk Errors Using CHKDSK

Occasionally, your hard disk forms bad sectors that lead to boot issues.

Follow this to scan your disk:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt from Recovery Mode.
Step 2: Enter: chkdsk C: /f /r /x

(Use C: in case your system drive is different)

Step 3: Press Enter and allow the scanning to finish. This can be time-consuming.

Note : If CHKDSK detects and fixes issues, your computer may boot normally subsequently.

8. Uninstall the Most Recent Windows Update (If Causing Boot Failure)

Sometimes the latest Windows update is corrupt and causes startup failures. It may be possible to manually uninstall your most recent update.

How to do it:

Step 1: Select from the Recovery Mode options:

Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates

Step 1: Choose:

Uninstall the latest quality update
Or Uninstall the latest feature update

This is especially recommended if the malfunction has occurred since the update was loaded.

9. Turn Off Automatic Restart on Failure

If your computer is restarting too quickly for you to even read error messages, disabling automatic restart will help you diagnose the issue.

To turn it off:

Step 1: Navigate to Startup Settings through Recovery Mode.
Step 2: Press the “Disable automatic restart on system failure” key.

That way, if there’s a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), it will remain on screen, providing you with error codes to refer to later.

10. Restore or Reset the PC (Last Resort)

If none of these work, you can reset your PC. This provides you with a clean Windows install, and you even have the option to keep your files.

To reset your PC:

Step 1: Select Troubleshoot > Reset This PC.
Step 2: Select:

Keep my files (to preserve personal files)
Remove everything (for a complete reset)

Warning: Apps and settings will be removed. Back up important files if possible.

Bonus Tips to Prevent This Error in the Future

While the above solutions can assist you in recuperating from this error, it is always ideal to attempt to prevent such problems from occurring again. Below are some things that you can do to maintain your Windows 10/11 OS in a healthy state and make this error less likely to be triggered in the future:

1. Update Drivers Automatically

Old or corrupted drivers will be responsible for a vast majority of the reasons why Windows won’t boot. Rather than updating drivers manually (which can be time-consuming and a bit risky), I like to utilize a good tool such as Advanced Driver Updater. This utility will handle most of the driver updates automatically, maintaining your drivers current, compatible, and stable, reducing boot issues, crashes, and blue screens.

2. Monthly System Maintenance

Don’t let issues accumulate.

Run disk cleanup programs to remove trash files.
Use System File Checker (sfc /scannow) to detect damaged system files before they become an issue.
Use a good virus scanner.

3. Set Automatic Restore Points

Whenever you’re doing a big batch of changes to your system, i.e., drivers, significant updates, etc., be sure to take a restore point, in case something goes wrong, and you can roll back without losing all your stuff.

Path to create a restore point:

Control Panel > System > System Protection > Create

4. Don’t Perform Forced Shutdown During Updates

Turning your PC off while it is in the process of an extended update might seem like the best thing to do. But this can cause files to be corrupted that you consider vital, hence causing boot problems. Always let the update complete and restart your PC normally.

5. Back Up Your Data Regularly

Even if you can recover your System, there is always a chance of losing important data or files during severe system faults. You should at all times back up all your vital files using external storage or cloud services such as OneDrive or Google Drive.

Final Words

The “Your Computer Did Not Start Correctly” error occurring in Windows 10 or Windows 11 can be a daunting thing to deal with, especially since it can pop up out of nowhere and lock you out of your system. But as you have seen in this article, typically you can deal with it fairly easily if you sequentially work through the procedures.

Whether your problem is a faulty recent update, a corrupted system file, or an outdated driver, you do not need to panic or race to a local computer repair service. With repair tools such as Startup Repair, System Restore, and especially Advanced Driver Updater, you can certainly save yourself time and hassle as you are able to handle the source issue directly.

So with the applied fixes, your PC should be back to its efficient self. Just don’t forget to stay on top of keeping your PC updated, regularly backing up files, and using safe PC health maintenance methods, and you’ll be more prepared to handle any recurring issues.

FAQs - Fixing “Your Computer Was Unable To Start” on Windows 10/11

If I come across the message: Your Computer Was Unable to start?

That usually means that the Windows boot process was halted by system corruption, a driver, or some hardware failure.

Can driver problems lead to startup failure?

Of course. A faulty or incompatible driver, probably of your GPU or storage, will prevent Windows from booting. That is why Advanced Driver Updater is needed.

Will System Restore or Reset erase my files?

System Restore will not erase documents and other files. Reset lets you retain or delete files, so just be smart about it, depending on your circumstances.

Can I rely on Advanced Driver Updater?

Yes, it is a formal product of Systweak Software and employs verified driver filters and WHQL-issued certificates. Additionally, backup duplicates of older files can be created before the updates.

What if I don't have Recovery Mode?

In such a case, the ideal action is to make a bootable USB Windows 10/11 on another computer because it will enable you to utilize the Advanced Startup Options.

Srishti Singh