Windows startup error

First, we'll need to launch the Command Prompt in admin mode. Another possible cause for this issue could be a corrupted user account.

To fix this, create another user account and see if the start menu works in this new account:. Then, select Accounts. In Windows 11, this option is shortened to Add User. Then, follow these prompts to create a user. Make sure you choose Administrator as this user's account type. If you've recently made a change to Windows like installing a new program or tweaking a setting , performing system restore is a great way to roll-back any changes to a past instance. While system restore will try not to touch your documents and saved work, make a backup of anything important just in case.

Follow the on-screen prompts to select and restore from a past system restore point. Windows should automatically make some system restore points, although if you have the feature turned off, you're out of luck. This is the final nuclear option. Reinstalling Windows allows any corrupted files or bugs to be resolved through a fresh install of Windows. Here's how to do this:. Then click Recovery.

Follow these prompts to install a fresh version of Windows to your PC. There you go, nine great solutions for solving the critical error, Windows start menu not working.

Carefully follow the above steps to help you get out of the trouble. If you have any other questions, please be free to contact us or just leave a comment below. These diagnostics include analyzing startup log files to determine the cause of the problem. When the Startup Repair tool determines the cause, the tool tries to fix the problem automatically. Start the system to the installation media for the installed version of Windows.

For more information, see Create installation media for Windows. The Startup Repair tool generates a log file to help you understand the startup problems and the repairs that were made. You can find the log file in the following location:. For more information, see A Stop error occurs, or the computer stops responding when you try to start Windows Vista or Windows 7. If the corruption in the MBR affects the partition table, running Fixmbr may not fix the problem.

If methods 1, 2 and 3 do not fix the problem, replace the Bootmgr file from drive C to the System Reserved partition. To do this, follow these steps:. If Windows cannot load the system registry hive into memory, you must restore the system hive.

If the problem persists, you may want to restore the system state backup to an alternative location, and then retrieve the registry hives to be replaced. Starting in Windows 10, version , Windows no longer automatically backs up the system registry to the RegBack folder.

This change is by design, and is intended to help reduce the overall disk footprint size of Windows. To recover a system with a corrupt registry hive, Microsoft recommends that you use a system restore point. For more details, check this article. If the system gets stuck during the kernel phase, you experience multiple symptoms or receive multiple error messages.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:. For example, "0xC2" , "0xB" , "inaccessible boot device" and so on. The screen is stuck at the "spinning wheel" rolling dots "system busy" icon. If either of these options works, use Event Viewer to help identify and diagnose the cause of the boot problem. To view events that are recorded in the event logs, follow these steps:. The DISM utility has other options as well like "checkhealth" or "cleanup-image". From here, you can view the exact reason for Startup failure.

If you are not able to boot your system or can't access your data, then you can use Recoverit as well. With the support of Windows PE, you can create a bootable media. This can help you recover your content if your system has been crashed or can't boot. Scan and restore Windows system files Solution 7. Rebuild damaged Master Boot Record Solution 1. Solution 2. Remove any hardware you recently installed From the error message, we can get that a recent hardware change might be the culprit.

Solution 3. Solution 4. Boot the computer from the Windows installation media. Solution 5. Solution 6. Scan and restore Windows system files If your Windows crashes and cannot boot up normally, you can use the System File Checker tool. Solution 7. Still Need Help? Have your problem been solved?