Fixing a Laptop That Shows 'Your PC Didn't Start Correctly'

When you encounter the message 'Your PC didn't start correctly' on your laptop, it can be quite frustrating. However, before you consider a more drastic solution such as reinstalling Windows, there are several steps you can take to try and fix the issue. This guide will walk you through the troubleshooting process, ranging from simple restarts to more advanced steps like booting into Safe Mode and using System Restore.

1. Restart Your Laptop

One of the easiest and most common solutions is to simply restart your laptop. Sometimes, temporary glitches can be resolved by turning the device off and on again. This is usually the first step you should try before moving on to more complex troubleshooting steps.

2. Boot into Safe Mode

If your laptop is capable of booting into Safe Mode, this can often help you identify and potentially resolve the issue that's causing problems with your PC. Here’s how to do it:

Start your laptop and when you see the Microsoft logo, press and hold the F8 key to access the Advanced Boot Options screen. Use the arrow keys to navigate to Safe Mode and press Enter. Once in Safe Mode, try uninstalling any recently installed software or drivers that may be causing the issue.

3. Use System Restore

If your laptop allows you to access the Advanced options in the Startup menu, you can use System Restore to revert your system to a previous state when it was working properly. Here’s how:

Select System Restore from the Advanced options menu. Follow the on-screen prompts to choose a restoration point.

4. Run Startup Repair

Another useful tool within the Advanced options menu is Startup Repair. This tool can help fix issues that prevent Windows from loading correctly. Here’s how to use it:

Go to the Advanced options menu and select Startup Repair. The tool will automatically diagnose and attempt to fix any issues it finds.

5. Check Disk for Errors

If you have access to the Command Prompt from the Advanced options menu, you can use it to check your disk for errors. Here’s the process:

Select Command Prompt. Run the following command and press Enter: chkdsk /f /r C:

Replace C: with the appropriate drive letter if Windows is installed on a different drive.

6. Repair the Boot Configuration

You can also try to repair the boot configuration using the Command Prompt:

Again, select Command Prompt. Run the following commands and press Enter after each one: bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd

7. Reset Your PC

If the above methods do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider resetting your PC. This will not affect your personal files unless you choose to remove them:

Go to the Reset this PC option and select either Keep my files or Remove everything.

8. Reinstall Windows

As a last resort, you may need to reinstall Windows. This should only be done if you have backed up all important data, as it will erase everything on your drive.

Additional Tips

If you cannot access the recovery options, you may need to create a Windows installation media using another computer. You can download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB drive.

If the issue persists even after trying all these steps, it may indicate a hardware problem. In such cases, it's best to consult a professional technician.