If you need to boot into repair mode in Windows 10 & 11 to fix boot issues for your computer, you can read this article to check more details.
The Startup Repair program will automatically identify the known typical problems when the computer detects a startup issue. Among these diagnostics is studying startup log files. And this helps one ascertain the reason of the issue.
Once the Startup Repair tool finds the cause, it seeks to correct the issue automatically. Should it not be able to address the issue automatically, you can utilize it to diagnose more intricate startup issues far-reaching and fix them. This guide will walk you through entering Startup Repair on Windows 10 and leveraging the Windows 10 boot repair tool.
Not all boot problems will cause your computer boot failed, sometimes, you can still enter the system when you find some boot problems appear. So, in this part, we’ll show you how to enter Startup Repair within the system and without.
Step 1. Go to Start Menu and click on Settings (the gear icon). Navigate to Update & Security. Click on Recovery in the left sidebar.
Step 2. Under Advanced Startup, click the Restart now button. This will restart your computer and take you to the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). In the WinRE, click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.
You can select Startup Repair, Command Prompt, or other options like System Restore.
Try the aforementioned if you can normally view the lock screen. But if you can see so little on the lock screen, what should you do?
Actually, should the starting fail a few times, typically the starting Repair should be triggered. Should it not, however, you can use these guidelines.
Step 1. Power system on, before you see Windows loading screen, press the power button again to power the system off.
Step 2. Repeat this operation 3-5 times. And the Startup Repair tool should be awakened.
Step 3. After that, you will see a message saying Windows failed to boot and is now running Startup Repair.
If you have a Windows Installation disk, you can also use it to boot into repair mode.
Step 1. Firstly, you need to boot to BIOS and set the first boot device to USB.
Step 2. Then, connect the installation USB to the PC you want to start.
Step 3. Power the computer on and wait for the Windows 10 installation screen to appear.
Step 4. After that, select the Windows 10 edition, language, etc.
Step 5. Lastly, click on Repair your computer to access Startup Repair.
Although Windows prepares reliable tool to help users when their computer can’t boot as usual, the error “Windows startup repair not working” happens time to time. When this issue appears, you can’t summon Startup Repair to fix your OS.
In this case, you can try AOMEI Partition Software. This tool has a Boot Repair tool that scans and addresses different boot problems. It easy-to-use interface will help you to navigate a seamless repair process without calling for human involvement. What’s more, this tool can also run without entering Windows system, so it can help you when computer can’t turn on successfully.
✨ AOMEI Partition Software can assist you when you face:
The system fails to boot: Error warnings like "Boot Configuration Data file is missing" or "Boot Configuration Data file is corrupted" appear.
Boot failure after an update: The boot configuration becomes corrupted after a system update or upgrade.
Multiple-system boot conflict: Boot configuration files may conflict or be incorrectly configured in a multi-OS environment.
Damaged boot sector: Boot sector corruption can occur due to a malware assault or for another reason.
★ Preparations: Install AOMEI Partition Software on a Windows machine. If you want to fix a non-booting PC, please insert a blank CD/DVD or attach a USB flash drive.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Software. In the Main Tab, please click the "Recover" tab and select "Boot Repair".
Step 2. The Boot Repair tool will pop up. Please click "Next" to start the system’s boot entries scan process.
Step 3. After the process is completed, it will display the scan result: system paths, system versions, and boot status. And, all repairable boot entries will be available to select.
Advanced Settings: Select a location to store the repaired boot entry.
Repair to the current disk: The system will boot from the current disk and ensure the boot files are complete and functioning properly. (By default)
Repair to another disk: This operation will repair the boot entry or create a new system boot entry to ensure the system can boot from the disk you select.
Step 4. Select one/multiple repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the "Repair" button to start the boot repair.
Step 5. Wait for the repair process to finish. Once it is finished, you can check the repair result. If it succeeds, you will get a "Repair Successfully" result.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Software on a working PC, click"Recovr"-"Boot Repair"and then click the"create a bootable disk"option to create a WinPE"Boot Repair"disk.
Step 2. Plug the bootable disk you created into the target computer you wish to repair the boot issue.
Step 3. Enter BIOS in your computer, choose the bootable disk as the boot drive to access AOMEI Partition Software.
Step 4. The PC that cannot boot into WinPE will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and start the boot entries scan process. All boot entries will be displayed. Then you can follow the same operations as the above shows.
Also, you can choose"Rebuild MBR" and "Check Disk" functions to help you. These two functions are often used to repair boot issues for Windows systems.
When computer boots fail, you can boot into repair mode in Windows 10/11. Windows has many ways to help you access Startup Repair, but when this tool can't help you, AOMEI Partition Software can save you immediately. This tool avoids difficult operations for normal users. All users can easily fix boot repair issues.
Q1: How do I force Windows 10 to boot into repair mode from a black screen?
A: If your PC won't boot properly or is stuck on a black screen, you can force it into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) using the "hard reboot" method. Turn on your PC, and the moment the Windows logo appears, press and hold the physical power button for 5-10 seconds to force a shutdown. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times. On the third or fourth boot, Windows will detect the repeated failures and automatically trigger the "Preparing Automatic Repair" screen, which leads to the repair mode menu.
Q2: Is there a shortcut key (like F8) to enter Windows 10 repair mode?
A: Unlike older versions of Windows (like Windows 7), where pressing F8 during startup would load the Advanced Boot Options, Windows 10 and 11 boot too quickly for the F8 key to work reliably. However, if you are able to reach the Windows login screen or are on the desktop, there is a very easy shortcut: simply hold down the Shift key while clicking the Restart button from the power menu. This will bypass the normal boot process and take you instantly into repair mode.
Q3: Can I enter Windows 10 repair mode directly from the BIOS?
A: No, you cannot directly enter the Windows 10 repair mode from the BIOS or UEFI settings. The BIOS is a hardware interface on your motherboard, while WinRE is a software feature tied to your Windows operating system. However, you can use the BIOS to change your boot priority so that your PC boots from a Windows 10 Installation USB or an AOMEI bootable USB. Once booted from the USB, you can select "Repair your computer" to access the repair tools.
Q4: What should I do if the Windows Recovery Environment is missing or won't start?
A: If you cannot access repair mode, your WinRE partition might be disabled, corrupted, or accidentally deleted. If you can still get into Windows, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type reagentc /info to check its status. If it says "Disabled," type reagentc /enable to turn it back on. If Windows won't boot at all and WinRE is broken, your best option is to create a bootable rescue USB using AOMEI Partition Software on a working computer, plug it into the broken PC, and run the "Boot Repair" tool from there.
Q5: Will running Startup Repair delete my personal files?
A: No. Using the "Startup Repair" tool inside the Windows Recovery Environment will not delete your personal files, photos, or documents. It only scans and repairs missing or corrupted OS system files (like the Master Boot Record or registry errors) required for Windows to boot. Note: If you go deeper into the repair menu and choose "Reset this PC," you must be careful to select the "Keep my files" option, as choosing "Remove everything" will wipe your data.