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PC Won’t Boot To BIOS (10 Causes, Fixes)

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Many occasions call for booting to the BIOS, including when you’ve first built your PC, when you want to change some settings, or solve an issue.

That’s why it’s frustrating when your system doesn’t let you get into BIOS, or even worse, the operating system.

Read on to find out why your PC isn’t cooperating and won’t boot to BIOS or Operating System and learn how to fix the issue.

How To Fix PC Not Booting To BIOS

1. use uefi firmware settings.

man Sitting at His Desk Using Desktop Computer

If your operating system is Windows 10, accessing the BIOS through the UEFI firmware settings is the optimal method, given your computer boots the OS fine but doesn’t give you access to the BIOS.

  • Open the Settings app and select the Update and Security section.
  • Choose the Recovery tab from the left pane, and under the Advanced Startup section, click on the Restart Now button.
  • In the new Windows with the title reading “ Choose an option ,” click on the Troubleshoot button.
  • Next, select Advanced Options and then the UEFI Firmware Settings .
  • Now hit the Restart button so the system boots to BIOS.

2. Fix Faulty Power Connector

Assembling a computer

If the motherboard or the CPU’s power connector is plugged in wrong or faulty, you won’t be able to boot to BIOS.

The motherboard has a 24-pin connector, so make sure it’s plugged tightly in the right place, and there are no signs of damage on the cable itself.

The CPU usually has an eight-pin connector in a 4+4 shape.

Plug both ends correctly.

Check the other ends of the cables that go in the PSU and ensure their proper connection.

3. Troubleshoot The RAM Sticks

computer RAM module lies on a black surface

A RAM error can cause your computer to fail when booting to BIOS or OS.

You need to make sure all the RAM sticks are healthy and seated correctly.

Unplug the computer’s power cable and turn off the PC.

Open up the case and locate the RAM sticks on the motherboard.

Take them all out of their slots and then reseat them one by one.

When installing each RAM module, you should line up the notch in the RAM with the notch in the slot.

If you seat the stick correctly, the tabs on both sides should make a clicking sound.

Do not jam the stick in backward.

Try booting up your system again.

If it doesn’t work yet, take out all the RAM sticks again and plug only one of them in.

If the system boots now, add the other RAM sticks, one at a time, until you find the faulty stick that you’ll have to replace.

Remember that sometimes a slot on the motherboard is damaged, and you have to try different slots to get results.

4. Remove The BIOS Battery To Reset The CMOS

CMOS backup battery for powering BIOS

Since CMOS battery issues may cause boot problems, you need to clear the CMOS by removing its battery.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Turn off and disconnect any peripheral devices connected to your PC through a USB, HDMI, or other ports.
  • Unplug the computer’s power cable and open up the case.
  • Search for a flat coin-shaped battery, much like a watch battery, on the motherboard. If you can’t find it, refer to your motherboard’s manual to determine its location.
  • Now you need to remove the battery from its place gently. It may be held in position by a clip or lever. You can remove the barrier by hand or a screwdriver and then take the battery out.
  • Let the battery sit outside for about 20 minutes, and then put it back in place. Make sure it’s properly seated.
  • Close up the case, plug everything back in, and start up the PC. Note that the CMOS battery’s life is about ten years or so. If you have owned the motherboard for that long or use a second-hand motherboard, it’s safe to assume that the battery may be dead. Purchase a new CMOS battery and replace it to solve the issue.

How To Boot PC To Windows

Computer display with Windows 10

For those who have successfully entered the BIOS but still have no luck in booting the Operating System, follow along with this troubleshooting process.

1. Disconnect External Peripherals

Hand holding HDMI cable isolated on white background

The Windows operating system might have problems booting because of a conflict with one of the peripheral devices you’ve connected or their drivers.

You need to disconnect them all, restart your PC, and see if the OS comes up.

Shut down the computer and unplug all USB devices, including the mouse, external hard drive, and so on.

The only remaining cables connected to your PC should be the power cable, the display cable for the monitor, and a keyboard.

Press the power button a few times to discharge any remaining electricity.

Then turn on the system, and if Windows boots up, you’ve found the problem.

Connect the devices one by one and restart the computer until you find the faulty one.

2. Read The BIOS Error Messages

man working from home on desktop computer

When the system can’t finish up the boot process, it often gives an error message or a beep code to help you identify where the problem lies.

Either read the error message appearing on the screen or listen to the beeps when booting up and look up the meaning.

You can look for specifics in your computer or motherboard manual or on the manufacturer’s website.

If you don’t see or hear anything, continue down the list to find the issue.

3. Fix Possible Boot Device Issues

hands typing on keyboard and using mouse

If your PC boots to the BIOS and doesn’t load the Operating System, there might be a problem with the storage drive where Windows is installed or the boot order.

The boot order is how the system prioritizes different storage options and scans them for loading Windows.

The drive where the Operating System lies should be the highest in the boot order.

Here’s how you can determine the boot order:

  • Remove the flash drives and external storage and restart your system.
  • Enter the BIOS as explained in the previous sections during boot time.
  • Find the Boot section of the BIOS dedicated to storage. It could be named Boot Order Menu , Boot Priority , or something similar.
  • Put the primary drive where the OS exists at the top of the list. If you don’t know which one of the drives contains the OS, disable all but one and boot the system. Continue down the list until you find the correct drive. Prioritize it and then enable all other storage drives.
  • Don’t forget to save your changes in the BIOS and exit.

Note that the BIOS might not be detecting the OS drive at all and won’t show it in the list.

That means the drive itself has an issue.

Check the cables connected to the storage drive and confirm they are properly connected.

If your OS is on an M.2 SSD drive, ensure it’s correctly seated.

If you’re concerned that the drive might be damaged, you’ll have to test it on another working computer.

4. Update The BIOS

update

Updating the BIOS can be helpful when facing boot issues, especially if you’re building your own PC or have an older motherboard installed.

A firmware update can solve the problems caused by the newly paired hardware when you have an old motherboard.

The update process is different depending on the manufacturer, so be sure to look up the procedure in the motherboard manual or online on its dedicated website.

5. Use Windows Safe Mode

Safe mode

Booting Windows in Safe Mode can solve many boot issues because it’ll start the system with the minimum software and bypass the driver and software issues.

To enter Safe Mode , you can go through Windows Recovery.

You’ll have to interrupt the boot process three times in a row to force the computer to trigger Windows Recovery.

You should see a screen with “ Choose an option ” as the title.

Click on the Troubleshoot button , then go to Advanced Options and then select Startup Settings.

Now reboot the PC into Safe Mode .

Another way of accessing Safe Mode is with a Windows 10 recovery drive.

You’ll have to create a drive that contains the Windows 10 recovery environment.

You need access to another computer with Windows 10 installed and an external USB drive with 512MB storage or more.

On the other computer, open Control Panel and select Create a recovery drive .

Follow along with the instructions and save the data on the USB drive.

If you haven’t already, set the USB drives as bootable through the BIOS, as explained in the previous sections.

Set the drive as a priority.

Restart the computer and boot into Safe Mode.

6. Restore The BIOS Default Settings

Tile alphabet letter with word restore in red color rack on wood

Some specific BIOS configurations and settings can be causing issues when booting.

By disabling them, you may be able to boot your computer to Windows again.

The first setting is called Fast Boot that lets Windows load faster by preloading drives.

Some Windows updates can bring up issues with Fast Boot compatibility, causing boot issues.

You’ll have to turn this feature off through BIOS.

Once you enter the BIOS, look for Fast Boot under Advanced Options or Boot Options .

If you can’t find it there, consult your motherboard’s manual for its location on your specific computer model.

Once you get to it, you’ll have to turn it off.

The second troublesome setting is the Secure Boot.

This feature protects the system against malware by checking the loading hardware and drives when the PC is booting.

If Secure Boot doesn’t recognize hardware or a driver, it’ll stop the booting process by generating an error.

Turning this setting off through BIOS may fix your issue.

You can usually find it located under Boot Options .

Furthermore, other incorrect BIOS settings could cause booting issues, and if you don’t know how to fix them, resetting the BIOS to its default will fix the problem.

You’ll have to enter the BIOS and search for options saying, “ Load Setup Defaults ” or “ Load Default Options .”

Depending on your computer, it could be anywhere, but be sure to look in the Configuration , Security , Restart , and Exit sections.

Once you click on the option and select Yes in the dialog box, the system will restore the BIOS to its default settings.

7. Motherboard Standoffs

The technician put the computer mainboard in the computer case

Though it may seem unusual, improper installment of the motherboard standoffs may cause boot issues in some systems.

Check if all the standoffs are present and aligned with the screw holes.

8. Perform A Malware Scan

Data File Protection Firewall Malware Removal Concept

If malware or viruses has infected your PC, they may be preventing your PC from booting.

Your only option is to use a bootable antivirus rescue disk.

Here , you can find your best options for a rescue disk.

9. Use System Restore

Man looking at a computer screen, thinking about the job at hand

To solve issues caused by a change you made in your system, you can use the System Restore feature to restore Windows to a previous point when everything was working normally.

Here’s how to perform a System Restore:

  • Go to the Windows Recovery environment as explained in the previous sections.
  • Select Troubleshoot Advanced Options More Recovery Options Startup Settings .
  • Hit the Restart Now button.
  • Choose Disable driver signature enforcement from the list of startup settings by pressing the 7 or F7 key.

Wait for the process to end.

10. Factory Reset

focus on the Reset key

A Factory Reset, or as Microsoft refers to it, a “ Reset ” or “ Refresh ,” is your last resort and a more destructive solution than others.

You’ll lose some or most of your saved data and files.

Once you enter the Windows Recovery environment and head onto the Troubleshoot sections, select Restart this PC .

What Is BIOS?

close up bios (basic in put oup put system) on circuit

The BIOS or the Basic Input Output System is a ROM chip or firmware preinstalled on the motherboard containing the information that allows you to access and set up your system at its most basic level.

The BIOS is the intermediary between the OS and the hardware it runs.

It controls the data flow between the OS and the I/O devices such as the hard drive, keyboard, mouse, printer, and so on.

The computer’s microprocessor uses the BIOS to start the system after you turn it on.

A boot device is a piece of hardware that contains files that the computer needs to start up.

The BIOS ensures that all the boot devices and necessary attachments are functioning, and then it boots the OS or the main parts of it.

What Are BIOS Functions?

BIOS concept

To identify and better understand the problem you’re facing, you should know the BIOS functions and what their job is.

  • POST: The Power-On Self-Test checks the computer hardware and makes sure no errors exist before the BIOS loads the OS. If your system can’t pass the POST test, indicating an issue with one of the hardware, the system won’t boot to BIOS or the operating system. You might hear a combination of beep sounds that are codes for what is malfunctioning.
  • Bootstrap Loader: The Bootstrap Loader locates the Operating System, and if it finds a capable one, the BIOS will pass control to it.
  • BIOS Drivers: These low-level drives give the system basic operational control over the PC’s hardware.
  • CMOS: CMOS stands for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

The configuration program allows users to change the system and hardware settings, including time, date, and passwords.

How To Correctly Enter BIOS

Side view of male hands typing on laptop keyboard

Every computer and motherboard provides a unique way for users to enter the BIOS setup, so there’s no “ correct ” way.

Most newly manufactured computers have the same method of entering the BIOS, and it requires a keyboard.

You’ll have to press one of the following keys on the keyboard while the computer is booting up:

Since your computer’s details might be unique, consult your computer’s manual or the manufacturer’s official website to find out how to enter the BIOS.

If you’ve built the PC yourself, you’ll have to check the motherboard’s manual.

If you couldn’t enter the BIOS with the mentioned method, you can move on to the next section to fix the issue.

Casper Feeney

Reader Interactions

new computer bios won't start

February 5, 2022 at 9:56 am

In my case none of these worked and worked for hours trying to get in and it turned out, at least on the AMD graphics card I have that you can’t see/get into bios unless you are connected to the first display port not HDMI which I was using. The weird thing is after using the display port I could switch to the HDMI and it would work but I couldn’t get in until I used the display port to get into it.

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5 reasons your new PC won’t boot

Top troubleshooting tips for a newly built PC that refuses to turn on.

Close up of a power button

  • Front panel connectors
  • Misaligned RAM
  • Power cables
  • Overheating CPU

There is a certain satisfaction that comes from building your own PC . Researching the build, possibly saving up for the various components, and then piecing it all together can be great fun. Some builds are easier than others—assembling a custom water cooling loop is decidedly more difficult than slapping the stock air cooler into place and plugging in the preinstalled case fans. It doesn’t matter though, pressing the power button for the first time and seeing the system you carefully crafted suddenly spring to life is a euphoric moment.  

Alternatively, it can be maddeningly frustrating if nothing happens.

Even the simplest of builds can sometimes be stubborn. A newly assembled PC that refuses to boot will test both your knowledge and patience as well as your ability to troubleshoot. Sometimes it’s a bad component that stands between you and the bliss of a first boot. More often though, it’s an error in the build process. Don’t sweat it, these things happen even if you’ve been building PCs for many, many years.

We’ll assume you already checked that your system is plugged in and that the power supply’s switch is in the correct position—we've definitely never been caught out by that, honest. Once you've crossed that one off the list, here are the five main reasons why your freshly assembled PC might not boot.

1. Misplaced front panel connectors

The first place to start is with the front panel connectors. It seems silly that we still have to fumble around with a group of tiny wires while referencing positive/negative schematics outlined in the motherboard manual, but that’s how it is. These wires extend from the case’s front panel and connect the power button, reset button, and drive activity LED to a dedicated header on the motherboard.

It’s easy to plug these into the wrong pins. If you plug the power LED wires into where the power switch wires should go, for example, nothing will happen when you press your case’s power button. Fortunately, plugging them into the wrong spot won’t harm your PC.

Less critical for the power and reset switches is proper alignment of the positive and ground (or ‘negative’) wires. You still should aim to get these right though, as reversing the LED leads will result in the lights not working, which can hinder your ability to troubleshoot. On most plugs, there is a tiny arrow to indicate the positive wire. In the absence of an arrow, look at the color of the wires. Colored wires are positive, while white and black wires are both ground.

2. Incorrectly seated RAM

Systems can be finicky when it comes to RAM —memory is probably the number one cause of build problems. Typically you don’t need to limit yourself to the handful of memory kits that your motherboard maker has specifically qualified, although that isn't a bad place to start. However, you do need to make sure your RAM sticks are properly seated, as this is one of the most common reasons why a PC fails to boot.

When installing the RAM, be careful to line up the notch on the RAM module with the notch in your DIMM slot to make sure you’re not jamming the module in backwards. If it’s lined up correctly, press down firmly so that the tabs on both sides click into place. Even if the RAM appears to be installed correctly, if your system isn’t booting, try taking the modules out and reseating them.

3. Missing power supply cables

Your motherboard needs power, and so does your processor and graphics card. Depending on your specific parts, you could be looking at three or more power cables extending from your power supply that need to be plugged in, and if one of those is missing, your system will just stare at you blankly when attempting to fire it up.

It’s especially easy to overlook a critical cable on a fully modular PSU. If your PC isn’t booting, double check that the main 24-pin ATX cable is plugged into your motherboard. Some motherboards have a 20-pin connector. On most modern PSUs, the four extra pins detach from the main connector. Also be sure that you’ve plugged the appropriate PSU cables to your motherboard’s 4-pin or 8-pin CPU connector.

Separate from the motherboard, your graphics cards is going to need at least one power cable as well (there are exceptions, but they're niche), either one or two 6-pin or 8-pin connectors are common these days. If you're packing a seriously powerful GPU, then you may need up to three 8-pin connectors. These are labeled as “PCI-E” on the corresponding PSU connector.

Finally, make sure all of the cables are firmly plugged into where they belong, both on the component side and on the PSU side when using a modular PSU.

4. Missing motherboard standoffs

Many modern cases ship with standoffs already installed on the motherboard tray, while others include them in a baggie and leave it up to you to place them where they need to go. These standoffs elevate your motherboard so that it doesn’t make direct contact with the metal tray. Otherwise, you can run into two problems. One is that the motherboard won’t align correctly with your case's front I/O panel, and more critically, the second is that your motherboard could short out.

Different size motherboards use a different number of standoffs. For a standard ATX motherboard, there are nine holes to align with corresponding standoffs. You can generally get away with using less, but it’s a good idea to use all of them to ensure your motherboard isn’t going to move, and is properly supported. Regardless, be sure your motherboard isn’t sitting directly on the tray.

5. Overheating CPU

It’s rare to end up with a defective CPU, but don't discount the possibility if your system won’t boot. We’ll assume you didn’t channel your inner Hulk and mash the CPU into the socket when installing it, bending and breaking pins in the process. So, what else could it be?

It could be that your CPU is overheating. One of the telltale signs that something is amiss is if your PC powers on briefly, and then abruptly turns off. It’s possible that your CPU cooler is not making sufficient contact with the processor, and that your PC is turning off to prevent any damage. Alternatively, if you've got an AIO cooler, you may not have connected the power cable for the pump—with the same end result of an overheating CPU.

The first thing to check is the fan header. Make sure that your cooler’s fan is plugged into the CPU fan header on your motherboard. This will be somewhere close to the CPU socket, and it should be clearly labeled. If that checks out, as does everything else up to this point, remove and reinstall the CPU cooler. For a brand new build, you shouldn’t need to clean and reapply the thermal paste, not unless you used too much or too little at the outset. Hopefully by reseating the cooler, it will make proper contact with the CPU, finally allowing your PC to boot.

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Paul Lilly

Paul has been playing PC games and raking his knuckles on computer hardware since the Commodore 64. He does not have any tattoos, but thinks it would be cool to get one that reads LOAD"*",8,1. In his off time, he rides motorcycles and wrestles alligators (only one of those is true).

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How-To Geek

What to do when windows won't boot.

You turn on your computer one day and Windows refuses to boot---what do you do? "Windows won't boot" is a common symptom with a variety of causes, so you'll need to perform some troubleshooting.

Quick Links

First things first: has anything changed, if the computer won't power on at all, the computer powers on and says no bootable device, if windows freezes or crashes during boot, if windows starts and blue screens or freezes, how to recover files when windows won't boot.

Modern versions of Windows are better at recovering from this sort of thing. Where Windows XP might have stopped in its tracks when faced with this problem, modern versions of Windows will try to automatically run Startup Repair.

Be sure to think about changes you've made recently---did you recently install a new hardware driver, connect a new hardware component to your computer, or open your computer's case and do something? It's possible the hardware driver is buggy, the new hardware is incompatible, or that you accidentally unplugged something while working inside your computer.

new computer bios won't start

If your computer won't power on at all, ensure it's plugged into a power outlet and that the power connector isn't loose. If it's a desktop PC, ensure the power switch on the back of its case---on the power supply---is set to the On position. If it still won't power on at all, it's possible you disconnected a power cable inside its case. If you haven't been messing around inside the case, it's possible the power supply is dead. In this case, you'll have to get your computer's hardware fixed or get a new computer.

Be sure to check your computer monitor---if your computer seems to power on but your screen stays black, ensure your monitor is powered on and that the cable connecting it to your computer's case is plugged in securely at both ends.

no-bootable-medium-found

Related: How to Boot Your Computer From a Disc or USB Drive

If your computer is powering on but you get a black screen that says something like "no bootable device" or another sort of "disk error" message, your computer can't seem to boot from the hard drive that Windows was installed on. Enter your computer's BIOS or UEFI firmware setup screen and check its boot order setting , ensuring that it's set to boot from the correct hard drive.

If the hard drive doesn't appear in the list at all, it's possible your hard drive has failed and can no longer be booted from.

If everything looks fine in the BIOS, you may want to insert Windows installation or recovery media and run the Startup Repair operation . This will attempt to make Windows bootable again. For example, if something overwrote your Windows drive's boot sector, this will repair the boot sector. If the recovery environment won't load or doesn't see your hard drive, you likely have a hardware problem. Be sure to check your BIOS or UEFI's boot order first if the recovery environment won't load.

You can also attempt to manually fix Windows bootloader problems using the fixmbr and fixboot commands . Modern versions of Windows should be able to fix this problem for you with the Startup Repair wizard, so you shouldn't actually have to run these commands yourself.

new computer bios won't start

Related: How to Fix Startup Problems with the Windows Startup Repair Tool

If Windows seems to start booting but fails partway through, you may be facing either a software or hardware problem. If it's a software problem, you may be able to fix it by performing a Startup Repair operation . If you can't do this from the boot menu, insert a Windows installation disc or recovery disk and use the startup repair tool from there. If this doesn't help at all, you may want to reinstall Windows or perform a Refresh or Reset on Windows 8 or 10 .

If the computer encounters errors while attempting to perform startup repair or reinstall Windows, or the reinstall process works properly and you encounter the same errors afterwards, you likely have a hardware problem.

new computer bios won't start

If Windows crashes or blue screens on you every time it boots, you may be facing a hardware or software problem. For example, malware or a buggy driver may be loading at boot and causing the crash, or your computer's hardware may be malfunctioning.

Related: How to Use Safe Mode to Fix Your Windows PC (and When You Should)

To test this, boot your Windows computer in safe mode . In safe mode, Windows won't load typical hardware drivers or any software that starts automatically at startup. If the computer is stable in safe mode, try uninstalling any recently installed hardware drivers, performing a system restore, and scanning for malware. If you're lucky, one of these steps may fix your software problem and allow you to boot Windows normally.

If your problem isn't fixed, try reinstalling Windows or performing a Refresh or Reset on Windows 8 or 10 . This will reset your computer back to its clean, factory-default state. If you're still experiencing crashes, your computer likely has a hardware problem.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About "Reset This PC" in Windows 10 and Windows 11

new computer bios won't start

Related: How to Recover Files From a Dead Computer

If you have important files that will be lost and want to back them up before reinstalling Windows, you can use a Windows installer disc or Linux live media to recover the files . These run entirely from a CD, DVD, or USB drive and allow you to copy your files to another external media, such as another USB stick or an external hard drive.

If you're incapable of booting a Windows installer disc or Linux live CD, you may need to go into your BIOS or UEFI and change the boot order setting.

If even this doesn't work---or if you can boot from the devices and your computer freezes or you can't access your hard drive---you likely have a hardware problem. You can try pulling the computer's hard drive, inserting it into another computer, and recovering your files that way.

Following these steps should fix the vast majority of Windows boot issues---at least the ones that are actually fixable. The dark cloud that always hangs over such issues is the possibility that the hard drive or another component in the computer may be failing.

Image Credit: Karl-Ludwig G. Poggemann on Flickr , Tzuhsun Hsu on Flickr

Windows 10 Won't Boot? 13 Fixes to Get Your PC Running Again

Use these helpful tips and fixes to restore your PC and get it to start up again.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with the most straightforward fixes and then move gradually to the more complex ones.
  • Try booting in Safe Mode, which can fix boot problems. Use Windows Recovery or create a Windows 10 recovery drive.
  • Check your battery and charger if your laptop won't boot. Ensure you're testing one element at a time and use the correct power adapter.

Windows 10 won't boot? It's scary, but don't despair if your laptop or PC won't start. There are many fixes out there. The trick is knowing which fix to use first. Our advice is to start with the most straightforward fixes and, in order, move to the harder ones.

Infographic on Windows won't boot_

1. Unplug All Your USB Devices

A serious issue with Windows 10 updates is that sometimes your computer won't boot because of a conflict with a USB device. You can solve this problem by unplugging all USB devices (and other unneeded peripherals) and restarting the computer. In some cases, just unplugging the USB device can unstick a stuck load screen.

If it doesn't work, plug your devices back in. If it does work, you can still re-plug your USB devices.

2. Try Windows Safe Mode

Another super easy fix for Windows 10 boot problems is Safe Mode.

Safe Mode is an alternative boot scheme that starts your computer with a minimum of software and drivers. The modified boot process can bypass driver and software problems. The weird thing is sometimes starting the computer in Safe Mode can fix boot problems. It's unclear what processes run in Safe Mode, but experience has taught me it's a practical and easy fix.

You might have problems entering Safe Mode if your computer doesn't boot. There are two relatively easy ways to get into it.

Method 1: Enter Safe Mode From Windows Recovery

Some unbootable computers freeze on the Windows splash screen.

However, you can force the computer to enter Safe Mode by interrupting the boot process three times in a row by holding the power button down, automatically triggering Windows Recovery. Once the Windows Recovery menu appears, do the following:

From the Choose an option recovery window, choose Troubleshoot , Advanced options , and Startup Settings .

From Startup Settings, you can reboot the computer into Safe Mode, either with the internet-enabled or disabled. Either option should work.

FREE CHEAT SHEET: The Ultimate List of Helpful Windows Alt Codes

Method 2: Safe Mode With a Windows 10 Recovery Drive

If you cannot enter Safe Mode, you must create a Windows 10 USB recovery drive . The recovery drive contains the Windows 10 recovery environment—which used to be accessible by tapping F8 on boot. Unfortunately, Microsoft decided to eliminate this feature.

Creating a recovery drive requires another Windows 10 or 11 computer and a USB drive with at least 1GB of storage. If you want to create a system backup (you'll see an option to back up system files to the recovery drive), you'll need at least 16GB of storage.

Launch Control Panel > Create a recovery drive .

create_recovery_drive_windows_10

Then, follow the instructions.

After creating the recovery drive, you can boot your computer from it only if you've turned on USB drives as bootable from the POST environment, also known as UEFI or BIOS . After enabling USB drives as bootable, insert the drive into your computer and restart (this may require hitting the reset button or holding the power button down for a few seconds).

It's also worth mentioning that a full installable copy of Windows 10 created with the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool offers the same features as a recovery drive.

3. Check Your Battery and Charger

If your laptop won't boot, battery or power adapter issues can cause the issue. For example, if you aren't using the correct power adapter, it might not possess enough wattage to complete a boot cycle. Furthermore, a failing power supply can output an inconsistent voltage, which leads to stability issues, particularly on boot. If an insufficient power supply or battery is the problem, you will experience a crash (rather than freezing) during the boot process.

Check that the cable works by trying it out on another laptop if both laptops use the same voltage. However, remember that using a higher voltage output power supply on a lower voltage system can damage your computer.

A second option is to remove your system's battery (if it's removable) and plug it into a power source.

The key here is to ensure you're only testing one element at any given time. If power issues interfere with the startup, you must know whether the battery or power adapter is the reason. We've covered replacing a laptop battery or troubleshooting defective hardware .

4. Turn Off Fast Boot

A setting inside your BIOS or UEFI called Fast Boot allows Windows 10 to start faster by preloading drivers. Unfortunately, Windows Update can break Fast Boot compatibility. Fortunately, you can turn Fast Boot on and off through your BIOS rather than from inside Windows 10.

The method of entering the BIOS/UEFI screen differs between PC brands. For most people, tapping the Delete key while booting should enter the BIOS. The two other keys that might work are F2 and Escape .

After entering BIOS or UEFI, the Fast Boot option is usually part of the Advanced options, although it can be anywhere.

If you don't see any Fast Boot entry, your computer was made before 2013, as they did not include a Fast Boot option.

5. Check Your Other BIOS/UEFI Settings

A misconfigured BIOS/UEFI can prevent your desktop computer from starting. Some laptops have an accessible BIOS/UEFI, but many do not.

BIOS/UEFI is a pre-boot environment containing the hardware settings for your computer. They're helpful for recovery because they work even when Windows doesn't. Accessing these settings requires launching your computer in BIOS mode. Once in BIOS mode, check the following settings:

Secure Boot

windows 10 secure boot mode can interfere with startup

Secure Boot on the wrong setting can cause your computer not to start. You can disable Secure Boot in the BIOS , but doing so may require resetting Windows 10 to factory settings and/or your BIOS. But, disabling Secure Boot may stop you from upgrading to Windows 11 .

The reason Secure Boot causes problems is that it's designed to protect computers against malware. Because it checks the drivers and hardware loaded by Windows at startup, any driver or hardware component not recognized by the system will generate an error at boot.

Secure Boot settings are located under Boot options. You can turn it on or off. It should be set to Windows UEFI mode instead of Other OS (usually Linux).

Compatibility Support Module (CSM)

windows 10 boot issue uefi bios utility

A boot drive formatted using a BIOS system requires an MBR partition table. A UEFI-formatted disk requires a GPT partition table. CSM allows for the UEFI system to function as the older MBR system.

convert-mbr-gpt

How to Convert MBR to GPT Without Losing Data in Windows

Reset your bios configuration.

If your BIOS settings are incorrect, but you don't know how to fix them, sometimes resetting the BIOS/UEFI to factory defaults fixes the issue.

6. Try a Malware Scan

Malware is a major cause of an unbootable computer. The best method for dealing with malware is a bootable anti-malware rescue disk. I prefer Kaspersky's free disk as it only requires downloading the image and using Etcher to image a flash drive or other writable disk. Etcher works in Windows, macOS, and Linux.

You can then boot into the afflicted computer using the rescue disk and remove malware preventing the computer from booting.

Please note that Kasperkey's disk image requires a UEFI system. See Step 5: Check Your Other BIOS/UEFI Settings for details.

Download: Kaspersky Rescue Disk (Free)

7. Boot to Command Prompt Interface

Even if your PC can't boot into Windows, it might still be possible to boot into the Command Prompt. Using this interface, you can perform more troubleshooting procedures. You'll need Windows 10 on a bootable disk or USB drive to perform the procedure, so use another computer to set that up before you start.

To boot to the Command prompt, start your computer. While it's initializing, watch out for details of a combination of keys allowing you to enter the BIOS. This information is typically delivered alongside the vendor logo.

Navigate to the Boot tab and make the USB or DVD drive the first bootable device. Your choice here will depend on where your copy of Windows 10 is located. Again, the specifics of this process may vary from one system to another, so consult the on-screen instructions.

Next, insert the disk or drive containing Windows 10 into your system, save your configuration, and restart your PC.

When prompted, use your keyboard to specify that you want to boot using the disk or drive.

Enter the requested language, currency, and input preferences, then select Repair your computer on the next screen. Next, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. You should then see a window to enter commands.

windows command prompt showing dism error

What Is the Difference Between CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM in Windows?

8. use system restore or startup repair.

Windows 10 choose a recovery option

If you're already booting Windows 10 from a disk or drive, it's well worth using a couple of utilities that are available as part of the process. Once you've booted from the drive as detailed above, you'll get access to options to get your PC back on track. Look for System Restore and Startup Repair on the Advanced Options screen.

System Restore is a utility that allows you to return to a previous Restore Point when your computer is working normally. It can remedy boot problems caused by a change you made rather than a hardware failure.

Startup Repair is a general-purpose troubleshooter for issues that prevent Windows from starting up. If you're struggling to find the source of your boot issues, running the utility can find a solution.

9. Re-assign Your Drive Letter

A system with more than one drive installed can cause boot issues for Windows 10 users if their operating system (OS) volume has its drive letter unintentionally unassigned. However, you can fix this problem with minimal fuss by booting to the command prompt interface.

Boot to a command prompt window as explained above, then enter the following to run the disk partition utility:

Once this is done, input list volume to print the details of all the volumes currently on your system. If your boot volume doesn't have a letter drive, you must assign one.

command promp diskpart list disk

To assign a letter to a drive, you can use the select and assign letter commands.

For instance, if I wanted to assign the letter E to the Audio CD volume in the above image, I would first input select volume 0 and then input assign letter=E to complete the process.

As always, be very careful when making changes in the command prompt. Making mistakes here can cause further problems with your PC.

10. Replace the Windows 10 Bootloader

If you run into problems while trying to reinstall Windows 10, you may encounter the new version of the bootloader utility. This can sometimes interfere with booting an existing copy of Windows.

Fortunately, there's a relatively straightforward fix. Boot to the command prompt interface and enter the following:

Restart your computer, and you should find that the legacy bootloader interface has replaced the Windows 10 iteration. You should have no further problems entering Windows 10 Safe Mode or accessing your existing OS installation.

11. Try a Third-Party Utility

Figuring out the cause of the problem is the most challenging part of remedying boot issues. When your system can't even boot, diagnosing the problem is difficult. However, a third-party utility called Boot Repair Disk might have more success.

Boot Repair Disk is an open-source rescue disk that you can use to find and fix issues preventing your PC from booting automatically. You only have to select whether you're using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows . Tests and any fixes are carried out automatically, although there are options that allow for tighter control.

It does not guarantee fixing your PC, but it may identify hidden problems.

12. Factory Reset

We're getting into more difficult and destructive repair options. Aside from a factory reset, the more difficult options include restoring and refreshing your computer. Each has its advantages and weaknesses.

A factory reset destroys some apps and other data, but you can opt to keep some of your files. A Windows 10 factory reset (Microsoft refers to this process as just "reset") restores the computer to its default operating state.

13. Repair Update ("In-Place Upgrade")

The repair installation is similar to a factory reset, except in one big way: it completely reinstalls your operating system. Unfortunately, it requires downloading the entire Windows operating system, and you'll need a functional Windows computer with an internet connection.

This method requires a functional computer, a DVD or USB drive, and an internet connection. More or less, you must download and run the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool and use it to create a bootable installer.

This method is fairly complex, but if you feel up to it, here's how to use the in-place upgrade method for fixing Windows corruption issues .

Windows 10 PC Not Booting? You Can Fix It Yourself

We recommend starting with the easy repair methods and progressing to the more information-destructive options. The easiest fixes are often the most successful, such as removing USB devices, using recovery disks, and performing soft resets. The more complex options, such as the in-place repair install, and hard reset, will destroy your data and are less likely to succeed.

Remember that "booting" a computer differs from Power On Self Test (POST). A computer that doesn't display a splash screen and can't even enter its BIOS or UEFI mode needs its hardware diagnosed for problems.

Unfortunately, solving Windows 10 and 11 boot problems is more difficult than in previous Windows versions, thanks to removing an easy-to-access Safe Mode. Yes, you read me right. Microsoft removed the F8 option for booting in Safe Mode to give us a two-second faster boot. That's why it's extra essential that you use a 16GB flash drive to create a system recovery drive.

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Advanced troubleshooting for Windows boot problems

  • 3 contributors

This article is intended for use by support agents and IT professionals. If you're looking for more general information about recovery options, see Recovery options in Windows 10 .

Applies to:   Windows 10

There are several reasons why a Windows-based computer may have problems during startup. To troubleshoot boot problems, first determine in which of the following phases the computer gets stuck:

PreBoot: The PC's firmware initiates a power-on self test (POST) and loads firmware settings. This pre-boot process ends when a valid system disk is detected. Firmware reads the master boot record (MBR), and then starts Windows Boot Manager.

Windows Boot Manager: Windows Boot Manager finds and starts the Windows loader (Winload.exe) on the Windows boot partition.

Windows operating system loader: Essential drivers required to start the Windows kernel are loaded and the kernel starts to run.

Windows NT OS Kernel: The kernel loads into memory the system registry hive and other drivers that are marked as BOOT_START.

The kernel passes control to the session manager process (Smss.exe) which initializes the system session, and loads and starts the devices and drivers that aren't marked BOOT_START.

Here's a summary of the boot sequence, what will be seen on the display, and typical boot problems at that point in the sequence. Before you start troubleshooting, you have to understand the outline of the boot process and display status to ensure that the issue is properly identified at the beginning of the engagement. Select the thumbnail to view it larger.

Diagram of the boot sequence flowchart.

Each phase has a different approach to troubleshooting. This article provides troubleshooting techniques for problems that occur during the first three phases.

If the computer repeatedly boots to the recovery options, run the following command at a command prompt to break the cycle:

Bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no

If the F8 options don't work, run the following command:

Bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

To determine whether the system has passed the BIOS phase, follow these steps:

If there are any external peripherals connected to the computer, disconnect them.

Check whether the hard disk drive light on the physical computer is working. If it's not working, this dysfunction indicates that the startup process is stuck at the BIOS phase.

Press the NumLock key to see whether the indicator light toggles on and off. If it doesn't toggle, this dysfunction indicates that the startup process is stuck at BIOS.

If the system is stuck at the BIOS phase, there may be a hardware problem.

Boot loader phase

If the screen is black except for a blinking cursor, or if you receive one of the following error codes, this status indicates that the boot process is stuck in the Boot Loader phase:

  • Boot Configuration Data (BCD) missing or corrupted
  • Boot file or MBR corrupted
  • Operating system Missing
  • Boot sector missing or corrupted
  • Bootmgr missing or corrupted
  • Unable to boot due to system hive missing or corrupted

To troubleshoot this problem, use Windows installation media to start the computer, press Shift+F10 for a command prompt, and then use any of the following methods.

Method 1: Startup repair tool

The Startup Repair tool automatically fixes many common problems. The tool also lets you quickly diagnose and repair more complex startup problems. When the computer detects a startup problem, the computer starts the Startup Repair tool. When the tool starts, it performs diagnostics. 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.

To do this task of invoking the Startup Repair tool, follow these steps.

For additional methods to start WinRE, see Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) .

  • Start the system to the installation media for the installed version of Windows. For more information, see Create installation media for Windows .
  • On the Install Windows screen, select Next > Repair your computer .
  • On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot .
  • On the Advanced options screen, select Startup Repair .
  • After Startup Repair, select Shutdown , then turn on your PC to see if Windows can boot properly.

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:

%windir%\System32\LogFiles\Srt\Srttrail.txt

For more information, see Troubleshoot blue screen errors .

Method 2: Repair boot codes

To repair boot codes, run the following command:

To repair the boot sector, run the following command:

Running BOOTREC together with Fixmbr overwrites only the master boot code. If the corruption in the MBR affects the partition table, running Fixmbr may not fix the problem.

Method 3: Fix BCD errors

If you receive BCD-related errors, follow these steps:

Scan for all the systems that are installed. To do this step, run the following command:

Restart the computer to check whether the problem is fixed.

If the problem isn't fixed, run the following commands:

Restart the system.

Method 4: Replace Bootmgr

If methods 1, 2 and 3 don't fix the problem, replace the Bootmgr file from drive C to the System Reserved partition. To do this replacement, follow these steps:

At a command prompt, change the directory to the System Reserved partition.

Run the attrib command to unhide the file:

Navigate to the system drive and run the same command:

Rename the bootmgr file as bootmgr.old :

Navigate to the system drive.

Copy the bootmgr file, and then paste it to the System Reserved partition.

Restart the computer.

Method 5: Restore system hive

If Windows can't load the system registry hive into memory, you must restore the system hive. To do this step, use the Windows Recovery Environment or use the Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) to copy the files from the C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack directory to C:\Windows\System32\config .

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 1803, 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 information, see The system registry is no longer backed up to the RegBack folder starting in Windows 10 version 1803 .

Kernel phase

If the system gets stuck during the kernel phase, you experience multiple symptoms or receive multiple error messages. These error messages include, but aren't limited to, the following examples:

  • A Stop error appears after the splash screen (Windows Logo screen).
  • Advanced troubleshooting for Stop error 7B or Inaccessible_Boot_Device
  • Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41 "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"
  • The screen is stuck at the "spinning wheel" (rolling dots) "system busy" icon.
  • A black screen appears after the splash screen.

To troubleshoot these problems, try the following recovery boot options one at a time.

Scenario 1: Try to start the computer in Safe mode or Last Known Good Configuration

On the Advanced Boot Options screen, try to start the computer in Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking . 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:

Use one of the following methods to open Event Viewer:

  • Go to the Start menu, select Administrative Tools , and then select Event Viewer .
  • Start the Event Viewer snap-in in Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

In the console tree, expand Event Viewer, and then select the log that you want to view. For example, choose System log or Application log .

In the details pane, open the event that you want to view.

On the Edit menu, select Copy . Open a new document in the program in which you want to paste the event. For example, Microsoft Word. Then select Paste .

Use the up arrow or down arrow key to view the description of the previous or next event.

To troubleshoot problems that affect services, do a clean boot by using System Configuration ( msconfig ). Select Selective startup to test the services one at a time to determine which one is causing the problem. If you can't find the cause, try including system services. However, in most cases, the problematic service is third-party.

Disable any service that you find to be faulty, and try to start the computer again by selecting Normal startup .

For detailed instructions, see How to perform a clean boot in Windows .

If the computer starts in Disable Driver Signature mode, start the computer in Disable Driver Signature Enforcement mode, and then follow the steps that are documented in the following article to determine which drivers or files require driver signature enforcement: Troubleshooting boot problem caused by missing driver signature (x64)

If the computer is a domain controller, try Directory Services Restore mode (DSRM).

This method is an important step if you encounter Stop error "0xC00002E1" or "0xC00002E2"

Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft can't guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Error code INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE (STOP 0x7B)

To troubleshoot this Stop error, follow these steps to filter the drivers:

Go to Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by putting an ISO disk of the system in the disk drive. The ISO should be of the same version of Windows or a later version.

Open the registry.

Load the system hive, and name it test .

Under the following registry subkey, check for lower filter and upper filter items for non-Microsoft drivers:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class

For each third-party driver that you locate, select the upper or lower filter, and then delete the value data.

Search through the whole registry for similar items. Process as appropriate, and then unload the registry hive.

Restart the server in Normal mode.

For more troubleshooting steps, see Advanced troubleshooting for Stop error 7B or Inaccessible_Boot_Device .

To fix problems that occur after you install Windows updates, check for pending updates by using these steps:

Open a Command Prompt window in WinRE.

Run the command:

If there are any pending updates, uninstall them by running the following commands:

Try to start the computer.

If the computer doesn't start, follow these steps:

Open a command prompt window in WinRE, and start a text editor, such as Notepad.

Navigate to the system drive, and search for windows\winsxs\pending.xml .

If the pending.xml file is found, rename the file as pending.xml.old .

Open the registry, and then load the component hive in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE as test.

Highlight the loaded test hive, and then search for the pendingxmlidentifier value.

If the pendingxmlidentifier value exists, delete it.

Unload the test hive.

Load the system hive, name it test .

Navigate to the following subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\TrustedInstaller

Change the Start value from 1 to 4 .

Unload the hive.

If the Stop error occurs late in the startup process, or if the Stop error is still being generated, you can capture a memory dump. A good memory dump can help determine the root cause of the Stop error. For more information, see Generate a kernel or complete crash dump .

For more information about page file problems in Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016, see Introduction to page files .

For more information about Stop errors, see Advanced troubleshooting for Stop error or blue screen error issue .

Sometimes the dump file shows an error that's related to a driver. For example, windows\system32\drivers\stcvsm.sys is missing or corrupted. In this instance, follow these guidelines:

Check the functionality that's provided by the driver. If the driver is a third-party boot driver, make sure that you understand what it does.

If the driver isn't important and has no dependencies, load the system hive, and then disable the driver.

If the stop error indicates system file corruption, run the system file checker in offline mode.

To do this action, open WinRE, open a command prompt, and then run the following command:

For more information, see Using system file checker (SFC) to fix issues .

If there's disk corruption, run the check disk command:

If the Stop error indicates general registry corruption, or if you believe that new drivers or services were installed, follow these steps:

  • Start WinRE, and open a command prompt window.
  • Start a text editor, such as Notepad.
  • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Config\ .
  • Rename the all five hives by appending .old to the name.
  • Copy all the hives from the Regback folder, paste them in the Config folder, and then try to start the computer in Normal mode.

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Desktop computer won't boot after BIOS changes

I have an iBuyPower desktop that is a couple years old. I was doing windows updates and it notified me that my computer didn't support windows 11 due to no trusted platform module. (Warning, idiocy ahead). I booted into the BIOS and found an Intel trusted something or other setting that was disabled. I enabled it. Now my computer won't boot. I just get a weird graphical glitch and then it goes away and nothing. Fans still spin. No post beeps. Nothing.

enter image description here

Other things I changed:

  • Disabled Overclocking
  • Disabled "full screen boot"
  • Enabled "beep on boot"

Motherboard: Z370 IB-R

  • desktop-computer

THE JOATMON's user avatar

  • 1 "an Intel trusted something or other setting" ... Was it Intel Trusted Execution Technology ? –  fuzzydrawrings Jan 6, 2022 at 22:13
  • That sounds right. :( –  THE JOATMON Jan 6, 2022 at 22:21
  • And POST fails so you cannot get to the BIOS/UEFI screen? –  fuzzydrawrings Jan 6, 2022 at 22:24
  • What's in the screen capture is all I see. I've tried spamming F8, F9, F12, DEL. Nothing different happens. The glitch appears for about 3 seconds then it goes black again. No beeps. –  THE JOATMON Jan 6, 2022 at 22:30
  • 2 You'll need to clear the CMOS. intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025368/… –  fuzzydrawrings Jan 6, 2022 at 22:38
Now my computer won't boot. I just get a weird graphical glitch and then it goes away and nothing. Fans still spin. No post beeps. Nothing.

If changes to BIOS/UEFI settings caused the computer to fail POST, clearing the CMOS (either with a jumper or by removing the CMOS battery for 5 minutes then reseating) will restore the settings to factory defaults.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025368/processors.html

fuzzydrawrings's user avatar

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new computer bios won't start

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Solved: PC Not Booting After BIOS Update – Recovery & Repair

You may be wondering “Do I need to update my BIOS” since it is more dangerous to update motherboard BIOS than updating drive-based software. Sometimes, your PC will refuse to boot after you updated the BIOS. At this time, how can you recover data from the PC not turning on? How to fix the computer that won’t start?

Basically speaking, BIOS update refers to the update of the motherboard BIOS on a computer. Unlike other types of updates, the BIOS update will not bring us the system performance improvement.

Yet, it also causes problems:

  • Black screen after BIOS update : computer won’t boot up and shows a black screen after you updated BIOS.
  • No display after BIOS update : computer turns on but there is no display on the monitor, so you can’t access the system.
  • Infinite loop /Endless loop : PC keeps restarting after BIOS update.

Once something goes wrong during the update process, your PC may become completely unbootable. Therefore, you’ll lose access to your system and all the files stored on the internal hard drive.

So what are you going to do when finding PC not booting after BIOS update ?

Actually, you can recover data from hard disk without OS and bring the PC back to life when updated BIOS leads to a black screen. But how? Let’s just dive into this PC boot failure problem.

PC not booting after BIOS update

Issue: PC Not Booting after BIOS Update

Are you stuck with the computer not powering on problem after a BIOS update? manuntd7 said yes to this question.

Laptop Not Boot after BIOS Update

So I noticed that there was a BIOS update on my laptop and thought I’d update it. After flashing, the laptop was no longer booting in the OS and was simply launching the BIOS every time I turned it on. In the BIOS, when I select boot options, it states that there are no bootable devices but it detects my SSD. I tried reverting back to the old BIOS firmware but no luck. My laptop is an Asus F556UAK – manuntd7 posted in Tom’s Hardware Forum, waiting to get help.

The user manuntd7 described his personal experience in this post: he chose to update the BIOS after he had noticed the update push in the system. But after the work had been done, he discovered that his laptop won’t boot after BIOS update.

In fact, PC won’t boot after BIOS update has long been a hot topic on various forums. No matter you’d like to update BIOS in Windows 10 or other operating systems, PC not boot may become your worries.

Why the computer not booting after bios screen draws so much attention?

There are mainly two reasons:

  • All the data can’t be accessed when a computer doesn’t boot after BIOS update.
  • Ordinary computer users don’t know an effective way to fix when the PC doesn’t boot up.

Taking all these factors into account, I plan to share the practical recovery & repair solutions with you after the update of Windows BIOS failed.

How Can You Recover Lost Files After Windows Update?

Recovery: How to Access Data When BIOS Update Failed

In this part, I’ll tell you how to do the data recovery job when Windows 10 PC won’t boot after BIOS update, from two aspects (if Windows 7 won’t boot after BIOS update, the recovery solutions are roughly the same).

Recover Data from Unbootable Windows 10

Backup is important.

People often say that backup is very important, but very few of them really realize its importance. Only a small number of people form the habit of backing up useful data, let alone keep the backup updating from time to time. This is how you get yourself into the dilemma of data loss.

Data recovery from unbootable PC is possible.

Yet, the good news is PC data recovery is possible.

  • If you do have a backup, please resort to it directly.
  • If you don’t have one, please rescue your data by using Data Recovery of MiniTool Partition Wizard – a safe and reliable program.

Which version to choose?

Can all versions help you recover all data from a PC this can’t boot? Of course not! You should choose a version that contains the WinPE-Based Bootable Media ( click to know more about the bootable disc ). I suggest a Pro Ultimate license since it allows you to recover data.

license comparison

How to recover data from PC not turning on?

Step 1 : stop doing anything on the PC that refuses to boot.

Step 2 : find another computer that works fine to build a MiniTool Boot Disk on a USB flash drive or CD/DVD disc.

create bootable disk

Step 3 : remove the boot disk you have made safely from another computer and then connect it properly to your PC that doesn’t boot.

Step 4 : restart your computer and enter BIOS by pressing the corresponding button . After that, change the old boot order to make the boot disk the first boot device.

Step 5 : exit BIOS and click to save changes.

Step 6 : be ready to launch the software.

  • Let the computer restart.
  • Click on the OK button when you see the screen resolution setting window.
  • Click on the OK button when you see the software launching window.

click on the OK button

Step 7 : afterward, you’ll see the MiniTool PE Loader window, in which you should choose the first option – Partition Wizard.

Partition Wizard

Step 8 : choose Data Recovery from the following software interface.

choose Data Recovery

Step 9 : scan the disk.

  • Choose the disk containing needed files.
  • Click on the Scan button in the lower right corner.

select disk and Scan it

Step 10 : choose files to recover.

  • Browse the found files.
  • Confirm which files are needed.
  • Click on the Save button to set a storage location.
  • Click on the OK button to confirm your selection.

Save files from the scan result

This is how to perform data recovery when the PC doesn’t boot up.

When you have found back all the files you need, you can do a data backup immediately for security reasons.

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There’s how to flash BIOS when computer won’t boot

Repair: Computer Won’t Boot Windows 10

As for how to fix the computer startup problems in a Windows 10 system, I’ll give my suggestions in this part.

Method 1: Rebuild MBR

To rebuild MBR, you have 2 choices.

Choice one: rebuild with third-party software.

Step 1: create a bootable disk.

  • Also, you need to create a bootable USB/CD/DVD disk on another computer.
  • Then, repeat step 3 ~ step 7 mentioned in the Recover Data from Unbootable Windows 10 part.

Step 2 : choose Launch Application .

Step 3 : select disk to Rebuild MBR .

  • Select the boot disk.
  • Click on Rebuild MBR from left action panel.
  • Click on Apply button to execute the pending operation.
  • Choose Yes in the pop-up window to confirm changes.

Rebuild MBR

This is how to use MiniTool Partition Wizard to try to fix the problem when the computer won’t boot up after a BIOS update.

Choice two: repair with Command Prompt.

Also, you can use other tools, like Command Prompt, to repair MBR (Master Boot Record) for your non-bootable computer.

Main steps are:

  • Enter the Windows Boot Options menu. If you can’t see this menu, please create a Windows installation disk and then boot your computer from it so as to access the menu.
  • Select Troubleshoot , Advanced Options , and Command Prompt one by one.
  • Type bootrec  /fixmbr and press Enter .
  • Type bootrec  /fixboot and press Enter .
  • Type bootrec  /rebuildbcd and press Enter .

fix MBR

Method 2: Check & Fix Hard Drive

You can check and fix a hard drive by using the Command Prompt.

  • You should enter the Windows Boot Options menu.
  • Select Troubleshoot .
  • Select Advanced Options .
  • Select Command Prompt .
  • Type chkdsk c: /r /x and press Enter in the keyboard.
  • Now, just wait for the automatic completion of the operation.

CHKDSK Deletes Your Data? Now Recover Them In Two Ways.

Method 3: Use Startup Repair

Two situations are involved in this method.

Situation one: you have the installation disc.

  • Please set your PC to boot from the installation disc firstly and wait for loading files.
  • In the Windows Setup interface, you should select the language, time and currency format, keyboard or input method and then click on the Next button.
  • Then, select Repair your computer , Troubleshoot , Advanced options , and Startup Repair one by one.
  • Finally, choose a target operating system to repair and let Windows diagnose & fix the problem for you.

Startup Repair

Situation two: you don’t have the installation disc.

  • Please access the recovery environment by turning your computer on and off three times.
  • After that, Win 10 will boot into the diagnostics mode.
  • Now, you should click on Advanced options on the recovery screen.
  • Then, choose Troubleshoot , Advanced options and Startup Repair in order.
  • Choose the operating system to repair.

Method 4: Roll Back to the Previous Build

The previous few steps are the same as those mentioned in method 3.

The difference lies in:

After selecting Troubleshoot and Advanced options in order, you should choose Go back to the previous build (instead of Startup Repair).

Go back to the previous build

Method 5: Make Use of System Restore

Also, the previous few steps are the same as those mentioned in method 3.

After selecting Troubleshoot and Advanced options in order, you should click on System Restore in the Advanced options window.

System Restore

Method 6: Uninstall the Windows Update

  • Start your Windows 10 computer in Safe Mode .
  • Navigate to Programs and Features .
  • Choose View installed updates from the left pane.
  • Select the problematic update from the list carefully and then click on the Uninstall

Method 7: Reset BIOS to Default

  • As I mentioned in the recovery part, you should restart your computer and press corresponding button (varies from computer to computer) to enter the BIOS at first.
  • Then, find the Setup Defaults option (which may also be called Reset to Default , Factory Default , or something else).
  • Select this option by using the arrow keys or pressing the corresponding button.
  • Finally, save the changes and exit BIOS.

save changes

Method 8: Do a Clean Install or Custom Install

If all the above methods failed, you still have another choice which has always been useful – perform a clean install or a custom install.

The difference between them is that:

  • The clean install will erase everything saved on your computer.
  • The custom install will only erase some of the files.

That’s all the mainstream solutions to fixing Windows 10 not booting after BIOS update.

Questions about Updating BIOS

If you’re not so familiar with BIOS and the updating process of it, you tend to make mistakes that will finally result in Windows startup problems. Considering this, I think it’s necessary to explain the functions and preparations of BIOS update.

Do I Need to Update My BIOS

There’re four main reasons to update BIOS:

  • Make motherboard recognize and support new types of CPUs.
  • Correct the original error or bugs found in BIOS.
  • Improve the compatibility of BIOS with internal storage, graphics card, hard drive, and other hardware.
  • Obtain new features and functions.

What to Do before Updating Windows BIOS

  • Make sure to remove the BIOS write protection.
  • Backup the BIOS data in case of update failure. Besides, you can restore the BIOS data easily if you find something wrong in the new BIOS.
  • Please make sure the execution programs and BIOS data files used in the update process match the motherboard model. In addition, check the integrity and reliability of the files.
  • Confirm that the power is stable and continuous so that there is no power failure that will affect the update.
  • As a general rule, BIOS update is an exciting thing since it could bring us some benefits.
  • But, on the other hand, people may get into trouble due to wrong operations or unexpected accidents happened during the update.

PC not booting after BIOS update is a common problem. You’d better read the corresponding recovery and repair solutions mentioned here. The content is very useful no matter you’re suffering from PC boot failure caused by BIOS update at this moment or not.

If you still have other doubts or questions, please feel free to leave a message below or contact our Tech Support Team. Thanks for your time!

About The Author

Rodin

Position: Columnist

User Comments :

MiniTool

What If Your Computer Can’t Access BIOS? A Guide for You!

When running your computer, you may find it cannot get into BIOS if you need to make some changes to BIOS. What should you do if the PC can’t access BIOS? In this post from MiniTool , some troubleshooting tips are introduced to you.

Can’t Enter BIOS Windows 10/7

BIOS , Basic Input Output System, is a firmware embedded on the chip of PC’s motherboard. It allows you to access your computer system at the most basic level. It is important since it includes a test called POST to check if there are hardware-related issues with the computer and loads the boot loader to initialize Windows.

Usually, you can access your operating system without having to access BIOS. But sometimes, you need to make changes to BIOS to fix some issues but encounter the problem – PC not booting to BIOS.

How to Start/Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode? (7 Ways)

How to start or boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode for troubleshooting? This post gives a detailed guide focusing on 7 simple ways to enter Safe Mode.

This issue is reported by many Windows 7 and Windows 10 users. This seems to be a problem with dual GPU PCs. This is very frustrating, especially if you need to change the boot order to run or install another operating system.

What should you do if your computer can’t access BIOS? In the following part, you can see some troubleshooting tips.

How to Update BIOS Windows 10 HP? See a Detailed Guide!

This post gives a detailed guide on how to do an HP BIOS update. If you need to update HP BIOS in Windows 10, choose one method to start.

How to Fix PC Not Booting to BIOS

Remove bios battery to reset cmos.

If you are running Windows 7, you can reset CMOS by removing the BIOS battery. Of course, this way is available for all the operating systems but if you are using Windows 10, we recommend using another method.

On a laptop:

Step 1: Turn your laptop off.

Step 2: Disconnect all the HDMI and USB cables.

Step 3: Remove the laptop battery and unplug the device from the wall socket.

Step 4: Usually, the BIOS battery is plugged to the motherboard via a white connector. Just remove the connector, wait 5-10 minutes, and plug it back in.

Step 5: Put the laptop battery back and restart the machine to see if the issue is removed.

On a desktop:

Step 1: Power off the machine and remove all the USB & HDMI cables.

Step 2: Disconnect the power cord and remove the protecting casing.

Step 3: Based on the model of your motherboard, the location of the BIOS battery is different. Just look for the watch-like flat battery and remove it.

Step 4: Wait 5-10 minutes and insert it back.

Step 5: Reboot the computer.

Use UEFI Firmware Settings in Windows 10

If you are running a Windows 10 PC and find it can’t get into BIOS, you can follow these steps to access BIOS. Usually, you can continue to use the operating system. So, do the operation on the desktop without entering the recovery environment.

Step 1: Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security .

Step 2: Under the Recovery window, click Restart now .

Step 3: Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings .

Step 4: Click Restart and your PC can go to BIOS. Just do some changes to BIOS based on your needs.

What to Do When Your Computer Keeps Booting to BIOS?

What to do if your computer keeps booting to BIOS instead of Windows? This post gives you some solutions to fix this issue in Windows 10/8/7.

Bottom Line

After reading this post, you know what BIOS is and what you should do if the computer won’t boot to BIOS. Just try these methods if the PC can’t access BIOS.

About The Author

Vera

Position: Columnist

10Scopes

How To Fix PC Won't Boot to BIOS [Ultimate Solution 2024]

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Maybe you want to enable a system feature or change system settings, or solve a specific error issue on your computer.

But, when you try to enter your system BIOS, your system does not let you get into BIOS. You are trying a few times, but you get the same result every time.

Are you worried and frustrated about your BIOS issue and looking for an ultimate solution?

Don’t worry. You are not alone.

I have been in a similar situation as you, and I have been able to get out of this issue with proper tests and research. So, if you are looking for an ultimate solution to solve your BIOS access issue on your system, you are in the right place then.

Don’t miss any part and precisely follow the tutorial.

how-to-fix-pc-wont-boot-to-bios

Bootstrap Loader

Bios drivers, 1. disable fast startup using control panel, 2. use uefi firmware settings, 3. reset cmos, final thoughts, why won’t your pc boot to bios.

Your PC won’t boot to BIOS because the fast booting startup process is enabled on your system, preventing access to BIOS. Another possible reason is your system does not pass the Power-On Self-Test (POST) test, which means your system has hardware malfunction.

BIOS has a vital function called Power-On Self-Test (POST). It is a hardware testing system on BIOS to check hardware errors before booting BIOS.

The POST test helps verify your system requirements to boot up your Windows and BIOS correctly.  If your POST test does not meet your system requirements, that means your system has a hardware malfunction.

However, there are also some other critical functions in BIOS that help your system boot BIOS properly. These are:

One of the essential functions of an operating system is Bootstrap Loader because BIOS control is transferred on the Bootstrap Loader.

The Bootstrap Loader function helps load your BIOS correctly on your Windows system computer. Without the Bootstrap Loader function, your BIOS does not load correctly.

Follow our guide to fixing CPU Fan Not Detected in BIOS .

BIOS drivers are the most crucial low-level system drivers of a system.

The BIOS drivers give your computer primary hardware control, which helps to load your BIOS correctly on your Windows system. If any BIOS drivers have issues, your BIOS won’t load.

Another crucial function of your BIOS is CMOS. CMOS stands for Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, which stores BIOS settings.

CMOS is a piece of memory on your computer motherboard where BIOS software is stored, which helps to load your BIOS correctly. If your CMOS is corrupted, your BIOS does not work and won’t load properly.

Check out my new post on SVM Mode In BIOS.

How to Fix PC Won’t Boot to BIOS

BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System, and it allows you to get the most basic access to your computer system.

Sometimes, users need to access or enter BIOS to enable a system feature or change system settings, or solve a specific error issue on their computer.

But, many Windows users reported that they faced the BIOS won’t boot issue on their computer.

This section will discuss some proven and tested ways to solve your BIOS booting issue on your Windows computer.

Let’s dive right in to know the solutions to resolve your issue.

Go through our epic guide on how to Fix Keyboard Not Working In BIOS.

Here are the steps to fix your PC won’t boot to BIOS:

The fast startup feature is helpful for your Windows system for some aspects, such as it helps boot your windows faster than a typical startup.

But, in some cases, the first startup is not a good thing.

When your system has the Quick Startup feature enabled, it disables the BIOS startup function on your system, preventing booting to BIOS.

So, to solve the BIOS booting issue on your Windows computer, you need to disable the fast startup feature. By disabling the fast startup feature, you can boot to BIOS.

Disabling the fast startup on your Windows 11 or 10 system is the same process.

The System Control Panel is the first and most straightforward way to stop the fast startup option. Using the Windows Control Panel on your system, you can easily disable the fast startup feature.

Here are the steps to disable the fast startup using the Control Panel:

windows-search-panel

  • Set your Control Panel is viewed by Category .

hardware-and-sound-tab-at-the-left-side

  • Restart your computer and boot to BIOS to check whether your problem is solved. If it does not solve your problem, try the next solution.

Check out our expert-recommended Gateway BIOS Updates.

UEFI Firmware setting is another practical method to open the BIOS on your system.

To do this, you need to open the Advanced startup window to use UEFI Firmware settings to boot to BIOS quickly on your Windows system.

Here are the steps to boot to BIOS using Firmware Settings:

Windows-system-settings

  • Select the System tab on the right-side Settings menu panel.

select-the-system

  • Find the Advanced startup option under the Recovery options

Advanced-startup

  • Wait a few seconds to restart your computer and open the Advanced startup
  • Select Troubleshoot option on the Advanced Startup
  • Click on the Advanced Options from the list.
  • Select the UEFI Firmware Settings
  • After selecting the UEFI Firmware Settings option, it will boot your BIOS

You can easily reset your CMOS by removing the BIOS battery from your motherboard.

Here are the steps to reset CMOS:

  • Turn off your computer.
  • Unplug your computer power cable from the primary power source.
  • Remove all the cords and peripherals .
  • Open your CPU protecting casing .
  • Find the BIOS battery on your motherboard. The BIOS battery location is different based on the motherboard model and manufacturer.
  • Remove the BIOS battery from your motherboard.
  • Wait at least twenty to thirty minutes or more if you can to reset CMOS.
  • Reconnect the BIOS battery on your motherboard.
  • Replug all the cables and other peripherals.
  • Replug the power cable into the primary power source.
  • Press the power button to turn on your computer and boot to BIOS to check whether your problem is solved.

Check out our latest fix for fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up In BIOS.

Bios won’t boot on Windows system computers is a common issue for Windows users.

In most cases, your system will not boot to BIOS because your system’s fast booting startup mechanism is enabled, which prevents access to BIOS.

Another possible reason is your system has hardware malfunction because your system does not pass the Power-On Self-Test (POST) test before booting to BIOS.

Here, I demonstrate some of the best proven and practical methods to fix the BIOS accessing issue that you face on your Windows 10 or 11 computer. You can successfully solve your BIOS accessing problem quickly by applying these proven methods.

I hope you learned anything new from this post. Please let me know which method worked for you if you discovered your solution.

If you’re interested in learning more about similar topics, you can also browse other posts.

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Windows 11 KB5034765 update released with Start Menu fixes

Mayank parmar.

  • February 13, 2024

Windows 11

Microsoft has released the KB5034765 cumulative update for Windows versions 23H2 and 22H2 to fix several bugs in the OS, including an issue that causes problems with the Start menu.

As this update contains the Microsoft February 2024 Patch Tuesday security updates, KB5034765 is mandatory for all Windows 11 users unless you delay its installation.

You can install the new update by going to  Start  >  Settings  >  Windows Update  and clicking on  'Check for Updates .' 

Windows Update

You can also download the KB5034765 update directly from the  Microsoft Update Catalog .

What's new in the Windows 11 KB5034765 update

After installing the  KB5034765  update, Windows 11 23H2 will have a build number of 22631.3155, and Windows 11 22H2 will be build 22621.3155.

So, what's fixed in the patch?

As per release notes, the Copilot in Windows icon will now appear on the right side of the system tray on the taskbar.

Microsoft also warns that they no longer show the  Show desktop  at the rightmost corner of the Windows 11 taskbar by default, which may annoy some users. The good news is you can turn it back on by going to  Settings . 

Microsoft also fixed a deadlock, causing the search function in the Start menu to malfunction for some users, which has been resolved.

Additionally, the update makes the system more stable, especially after installing print support applications, reducing the chances of the device becoming unresponsive.

Similarly, issues preventing the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) from functioning in certain scenarios with mobile device management (MDM) providers, like Microsoft Intune, have been resolved.

The update also addresses problems related to BitLocker data-only encryption settings through MDM services.

Related Articles:

Windows 11 KB5034123 update released with security and Wi-Fi fixes

Microsoft February 2024 Patch Tuesday fixes 2 zero-days, 73 flaws

Windows 10 KB5034763 update released with new fixes, changes

The new Windows 11 features coming in 2024

Windows 10 KB5034441 security update fails with 0x80070643 errors

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new computer bios won't start

Top Contributors in Windows 10: Ramesh Srinivasan  -  neilpzz  -  Horace Wiggins  -  franco d'esaro  -  _AW_   ✅

February 14, 2024

Top Contributors in Windows 10:

Ramesh Srinivasan  -  neilpzz  -  Horace Wiggins  -  franco d'esaro  -  _AW_   ✅

  • Search the community and support articles
  • Search Community member

Ask a new question

After February 2024 Windows Update my PC will no longer launch apps after mandatory Restart, including Task Manager and all built-in apps

I have an AMD Radeon RX6600 graphics card, and I had an update for Adrenalin. While restarting the PC to install that update, all other Windows updates also installed.

Computer boots up fine and I'm able to sign in, but apps that open upon startup like Discord won't launch and all other programs like Task Manager and Settings won't launch either, on top of the Shut Down and Restart options on the Start Menu not working. This has happened multiple times already, as I was trying to avoid Windows updates in fear of my PC breaking again.

I reinstalled a fresh version of Windows about a week or so ago because of this, and I really don't want to go through the trouble of reinstalling everything again only for it to do the same thing for a future update.

Should I switch to Windows 11 or is there a way to fix what's happening to my PC?

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Replies (2) .

John DeV

  • Independent Advisor

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Thanks for your feedback.

I need help.

My computer keeps going to a blue screen error randomly and I cannot fix it. I tried using the steps above however in the uninstall option I cannot find KB5034763.

I need this fixed as soon as possible, I have school and a big work assignment coming up and cannot risk my computer randomly shutting down during the middle of it

Question Info

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IMAGES

  1. Computer Can't Enter BIOS?

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  2. Fix Computer Won't Boot to BIOS in Windows 11 [2022 Fix] (2023)

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  3. How To Update BIOS On Windows 10

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  4. How to Enter BIOS on an Asus Motherboard

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  5. So starten Sie das BIOS auf einem Windows-PC

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  6. How to get to the BIOS on Windows 10

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VIDEO

  1. Reasons why PC is going to bios after restart PART 5 #shorts

  2. Reasons why PC is going to bios after restart PART 4 #shorts

  3. Reasons why PC is going to bios after restart PART 1 #shorts

  4. Reasons why PC is going to bios after restart PART 2 #shorts

  5. How to Check Your BIOS Version in Windows 10

  6. Desktop bios resetting even after replacing bios battery

COMMENTS

  1. PC Won't Boot to BIOS? Here's What to Do

    First, detach the discrete GPU to boot using the integrated graphics and make the necessary changes. Check for POST LED / Beep Codes There's no standard cause for the PC to not boot up. Any component (CPU, GPU, RAM, Boot Drive, or PSU) might have gone bad. You need to examine each of them individually, which can be a little tiresome.

  2. PC Won't Boot To BIOS (10 Causes, Fixes)

    1. Use UEFI Firmware Settings If your operating system is Windows 10, accessing the BIOS through the UEFI firmware settings is the optimal method, given your computer boots the OS fine but doesn't give you access to the BIOS. Open the Settings app and select the Update and Security section.

  3. 5 reasons your new PC won't boot

    1. Misplaced front panel connectors The front panel connectors of the Asus Prime Z690-A (Image credit: Asus) The first place to start is with the front panel connectors.

  4. [SOLVED] Got new motherboard and cpu, wont boot up

    #1 I installed a new motherboard B450 Aorus M with a new cpu AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and it doesn't start up. When turning it on the 4 LEDs starts out with CPU, quickly goes to Dram, quickly to VGA...

  5. (Solved!) PC Won't Boot to BIOS

    If your PC won't boot into BIOS, then likely it's there is something broken in it. Or, some settings or tweaks are out of the way. The BIOS settings are made to help you troubleshoot, tweak, etc. So, if your PC cannot enter BIOS, then there could be a few issues, such as: You're pressing the wrong buttons, i.e., F2 instead of F10, F10, or DEL

  6. How to update BIOS on computer that won't boot up?

    18 My son is building his first PC with my assistance, and we're running into an issue where the PC will not boot up into POST. No signal on monitor, no beeps or POST codes. CPU fan and system fans are spinning up as expected, video card shows a power light on.

  7. What to Do When Windows Won't Boot

    Enter your computer's BIOS or UEFI firmware setup screen and check its boot order setting, ensuring that it's set to boot from the correct hard drive. If the hard drive doesn't appear in the list at all, it's possible your hard drive has failed and can no longer be booted from.

  8. Windows 10 Won't Boot? 12 Fixes to Get Your PC Running Again

    1. Unplug All Your USB Devices A serious issue with Windows 10 updates is that sometimes your computer won't boot because of a conflict with a USB device. You can solve this problem by unplugging all USB devices (and other unneeded peripherals) and restarting the computer.

  9. Windows boot issues troubleshooting

    Start the system to the installation media for the installed version of Windows. For more information, see Create installation media for Windows.; On the Install Windows screen, select Next > Repair your computer.; On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.; On the Advanced options screen, select Startup Repair.; After Startup Repair, select Shutdown, then turn on your PC to see if ...

  10. Dell Computer Does Not Boot to Windows 11 or Windows 10

    Cause Boot-related issues may occur due to corrupt operating system files, bad sectors on the hard drive, incorrect BIOS or UEFI settings, and so on. Resolution This article is for Microsoft Windows 11 and Windows 10.

  11. HP PCs

    With the AC adapter unplugged, press and hold the power button for approximately 15 seconds. Reconnect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer. If the computer starts, reconnect the devices one at a time to determine which disc or device is causing the problem. Continue with the troubleshooting to test the hardware for failures.

  12. PC won't Boot after updating BIOS [Fixed]

    If your Windows computer is not starting or booting after updating BIOS, here are the troubleshooting methods you can use to fix the issue: Downgrade the BIOS Reset CMOS. Check if you can...

  13. Not Dead Yet: What to Do When Your Computer Won't Start

    If the computer sounds like it's turning on but you don't see anything on the screen, the computer may be booting and the monitor just isn't showing an image. Check to make sure your monitor is...

  14. How to Enter the BIOS on Any PC: Access Keys by Manufacturer

    BIOS Keys by Manufacturer. Here's a list of common BIOS keys by brand. Depending on the age of your model, the key may be different. ASRock: F2 or DEL. ASUS: F2 for all PCs, F2 or DEL for ...

  15. Troubleshooting

    If your computer isn't loading your operating system and you're stuck at the BIOS screen, you've come to the right place.1 It can be frustrating when a PC doesn't boot properly. Whether you're putting a build together or your system suddenly stopped working, knowing where to start fixing a computer can be difficult.

  16. Desktop computer won't boot after BIOS changes

    Now my computer won't boot. I just get a weird graphical glitch and then it goes away and nothing. Fans still spin. No post beeps. Nothing. If changes to BIOS/UEFI settings caused the computer to fail POST, clearing the CMOS (either with a jumper or by removing the CMOS battery for 5 minutes then reseating) will restore the settings to factory defaults.

  17. (Solved) Can't Access BIOS or Advanced Startup on Windows 11

    Type msconfig in the Run dialog and press Enter. In the following window, head over to the General tab and choose Normal startup. Choose the Normal startup option. Click OK. Now, restart your computer. Hopefully, upon reboot, the issue will be resolved. 3. Use a Key to Access the BIOS.

  18. Solved: PC Not Booting After BIOS Update

    English You may be wondering "Do I need to update my BIOS" since it is more dangerous to update motherboard BIOS than updating drive-based software. Sometimes, your PC will refuse to boot after you updated the BIOS. At this time, how can you recover data from the PC not turning on? How to fix the computer that won't start? On This Page :

  19. SOLVED: PC Won't Boot After BIOS Update

    After knowing the specific reasons why your computer won't start after a BIOS update, it is time to learn how to fix it. If your Windows doesn't boot after a BIOS update, you can try the following fixes: ... Connect the created bootable drive to the new computer and reboot the computer by pressing and holding F2/Del to enter the BIOS. Then, set ...

  20. Don't Freak Out: How to Save Data From a PC That Won't Boot

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  21. What If Your Computer Can't Access BIOS? A Guide for You!

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