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PC did not Start Correctly on Windows 10: Why & How to Fix

Perform a Startup Repair to restore normalcy on your PC

6 min. read

Updated onAugust 2, 2024

updated onAugust 2, 2024

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You may have encountered an issue where your Windows PC doesn’t start as it should. It denotes this with an error right out of the blue that reads: YourPCdid not start correctly.

This could happen for a variety of reasons and can sometimes be fixed by simply restarting your PC. However, the problem might be much deeper than that, in which case, it will require the technical fixes detailed in this guide.

Why is my computer not starting up properly?

Below are some of the reasons you are getting your PC did not start correctly error message on your device:

Your PC won’t start properly? Fix it with these solutions

1. Safe Mode/Startup Repair

YourPCshould be in Safe Mode now. You must run Startup Repair from the Advancedbootoption:

2. Disable antivirus

Some reports suggestyour antivirus is causing the problem. That’sa common thing in Windows 10, as the system is known for interfering with third-party antivirus software.

AlthoughWindows10 antivirusmainly affects updates and how they’re installed. It can sometimes cause a system error including, your PC did not start correctly.

So, try pausing yourantivirusprotection for some time. If the problem doesn’t occur while yourantivirusis disabled, consider changing it or switching to Windows Defender.

You can also try to use a different security tool. Thebest antivirus software for Windows 10is specifically configured to protect you without causing any issues in your system.

3. Use sfc/scannow

The next thing we will try is running the sfc/scannow command in the Command Prompt. This command acts as a troubleshooter for various system-related issues and might fix your PC did not start correctly prompt.

4. Update Windows

In some cases, your PC might not start correctly because the OS is outdated. You can put an end to the error message by updating the latest version and restarting your PC.

5. Restore the system

There’s a chance some unwanted changes have been made on your computer. This can be the cause of your PC did not start correctly error message.

The best thing to do, in this case is to perform a system restore to a time when your PC was working well.

6. Rebuild Boot Configuration Data

If you’re unable to boot normally even though you’ve performed all the previous steps, there’s a chance that the Boot Configuration Data is corrupted.

This can be the reason you are getting a prompt that your computer did not start correctly.

Also, some essential files may get deleted, or the system update can cause issues. Either way, you’ll need to rebuild the Boot Configuration Data to resolve this problem.

7. Fix the corrupted Master Boot Record

Master Boot Record (MBR) is a special boot sector that saves the boot configuration and information on your HDD.

If it’s corrupted or incomplete, you won’t be able to boot your computer normally, leading to errors like your PC did not start correctly.

A large variety of errors can occur because of this issue, and it’s not exactly easy to resolve it, especially without the installation orrecovery media. However, there’s always a way, and you should be able to perform this action by following the steps above.

8. Delete updates

If this error occurred after the latest update, there’s a good chance you’ll need to uninstall it and revert to the previous working version of the system.

That is all you need to fix the prompt that says your PC did not start correctly. If you still can’t fix the issue after following the steps in this guide, you will need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

If yourcomputer won’t restartfor some reason, check our detailed guide to fix the issue quickly.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix the issue in the comments below.

In case the issue persists, Microsoft advises you to contact support for further troubleshooting.

PC did not Start Correctly on Windows 10: Why & How to Fix#

Why is my computer not starting up properly?#

Your PC won’t start properly? Fix it with these solutions#

1. Safe Mode/Startup Repair#

2. Disable antivirus#

3. Use sfc/scannow#

4. Update Windows#

5. Restore the system#

6. Rebuild Boot Configuration Data#

7. Fix the corrupted Master Boot Record#

8. Delete updates#