How to Run Windows 10 Startup Repair Using Command Prompt

User Case: Windows 10 Startup Repair Not Working

 

“Guys please help I have a laptop and I've been having the blue screen of death recently and I don't know what's causing it. When I try to use automatic repair on advance options to fix the problem it gives me an error that startup repair couldn't repair my pc and I don't know if windows system restore can help me. I don't want to reformat and lose all my files and programs. If you can help me please let me know step by step what I need to do because I'm not good with tech stuff. Pls advise, thanks.”

- Question from Windows Ten Forums

The case above is an example of the user encountering "Startup Repair" but not working problems. In fact, many users have encountered such problems, as well as problems like automatic repair falling into a loop. When they turn on the computer, Windows 10 won’t boot.

If your computer won’t boot or you run into an issue that can’t be fixed, you can use Command Prompt to run a Windows 10 startup repair. This can be accessed through Safe Mode or Windows Recovery. Here’s how to open Command Prompt and fix boot issues in Windows 10 using CMD, with detailed steps below.

Instructions to Open Command Prompt

In this part, you can learn 4 effective ways to open Command Prompt on Windows 10.

#1. Open Command Prompt via Windows+X Power Users Menu:

Press Windows+X to access the Power Users menu, then click "Command Prompt" or "Command Prompt (Admin)."

If you see PowerShell instead, this change came with the Windows 10 Creators Update. You can easily switch it back to Command Prompt if preferred, or try using PowerShell, which offers all the same functions as Command Prompt with additional features.

#2. Open a Command Prompt from the Task Manager

To open Command Prompt through Task Manager, first, expand the view by clicking "More details." Then, go to the "File" menu and select "Run New Task." Enter cmd or cmd.exe and click "OK." To launch it with admin rights, check the box for "Create this task with administrative privileges" before hitting "OK."

#3. Enter Windows 10 Safe Mode with Command Prompt

If you can’t access Windows 10 at all, you’ll need to do the following:

✩ Press and hold the power switch on the computer case for about 5 seconds until the computer is completely shut down.
✩ Power up again. When it starts to load Windows 10, press and hold the power switch again to force another shutdown.
✩ Repeat this operation 3-4 times. When Windows 10 detects too many failed startups, it will automatically boot to Windows Recovery.

When you are in Windows Recovery, select Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings. From there, press the 6) key to boot into Windows 10 safe mode with the command prompt on the next restart.

#4. Open Command Prompt from Windows 10 Recovery

If you are unable to access your Windows 10 at the beginning, please follow the above steps to repeatedly shut down your computer forcibly to boot your PC into the Windows Recovery Environment.

Once you’re there, select Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Command Prompt. You will then be able to execute commands directly from the Windows Recovery CMD.

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How to Repair Boot in Windows 10 via CMD

In this part, you can learn 4 solutions to perform Windows 10 Startup Repair via CMD.

Solution 1: run the system restore with Command Prompt ✨

To fix your Windows 10 startup problem, you can decide whether to restore your Windows 10 system to a previous date. However, it is worth noting that it will not recover any type of documents, music, emails, or personal files. If you want to do this, see below:

1. Enter Windows 10 safe mode with the command prompt.
2. Sign in using an administrator account if needed. Once the command prompt is showing, enter "rstrui.exe" at first in the Command Prompt Window and press "Enter" to continue.

3. This command will bring you to the interface of System Restore. You can either use the recommended restore point or click "Next" to choose an available restore point. Then, follow the instructions to complete the system restore.

Solution 2: repair Windows 10 using SFC

SFC (System File Checker) is a command-line utility that can scan for corruption in Windows system files and replace any corrupted or missing protected system files with a known good version. In the Command Prompt, enter the following command and press enter.

☛ sfc /scannow

After the scan is complete, you can choose to restart your computer now to verify if the problem persists.

Solution 3: running Bootrec to repair Windows 10 Boot problem

Bootrec.exe is a standard free utility designed to troubleshoot boot problems in the Windows Recovery Environment. If the Windows 10 Startup Repair not working, you can try to fix Windows 10 with BootRec commands.

1. You need a Windows installation DVD. If you do not have one, you can go to a working Windows 10 to create a recovery drive or create a bootable media.

Note✍: If you are trying to create a bootable USB, you need to set up your BIOS to boot from the USB drive.

2. After booting into Windows Setup, choose the Repair Your Computer -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Command Prompt. If you are using a recovery drive, click Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Command Prompt.

3. In the command prompt, type in the following commands one after the other:

▸ BOOTREC /FIXMBR (this command will fix any corruption issues with the master boot record)
▸ BOOTREC /FIXBOOT (this command will attempt to write a new boot sector on the hard disk if Windows detects damage.)
▸ BOOTREC /RebuildBcd (this command may be able to fix an error like “Boot Manager is Missing”, and can also restore boot entries for older versions of Windows if you have a dual boot configuration)

Note✍: You should press Enter after typing each command.

Solution 4: reset Windows 10 with the command line

To reset Windows 10 with "Reset this PC", follow the instructions below:

Type “systemreset -cleanpc” in an elevated command prompt and press "Enter". 

Quick Solution for Windows 10 Startup Problems

The above methods may seem daunting to technical novices, but here I recommend to you an alternative that can help you quickly fix Windows 10 startup problems. AOMEI Backupper is a reliable backup and restore software that deserves a try.  It can be used in Windows Visa/XP/7/8/8.1/10/11.

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• Emergency Rescue: You can use AOMEI Backupper to create a bootable device for recovery before accidents happen.
• Full Backup Solutions: You can create System Backup, Disk Backup, File/Folder Backup, and Partition Backup per your needs.
• Customized Configurations: You can use this bootable media to restore the computer to an earlier date, which supports both WinPE and Linux disk types.

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Now here is the guide to using AOMEI Backupper, please follow me to see how it works: 

1. Plug the bootable media into the computer you want to restore. Power on the computer and press the designated key (usually Del or F2) to enter the BIOS. Set the bootable media as the primary boot option. Press F10 to save and restart, and your computer will launch the AOMEI Backupper interface.

2. Under the "Restore" tab, click "Select Image File" to locate the image backup file that you want to restore. Then click "OK".

3. Select to restore the entire backup and click Next. If needed, tick the option "Restore system to other location".

4. In this screen, you can preview the summary of restoring operation, and then click "Start Restore" to start the process.

Tip✍: If you want to restore a system with dissimilar hardware, you can enjoy the “Universal Restore” feature in AOMEI Backupper Professional or other advanced versions.

🔥Bonus: How to Fix the Blue Screen Caused by CrowdStrike Issue

Microsoft has identified an issue impacting Windows endpoints that are running the CrowdStrike Falcon agent. These endpoints might encounter error messages 0x50 or 0x7E on a blue screen and experience a continual restarting state. If you encounter this error on your computer, follow the instructions below to fix it.

1. Hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device and then press the power button again to turn on your device.

2. On the Windows sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while you select Power  > Restart.

3. After your device restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.

4. On the Troubleshoot screen, select Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.​​​​

Note: You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

5. When the device restarts, continue pressing F4 and then it will log you in to safe mode.

Note: For some devices, you need to press F11 to log in through safe mode.

6. Once in safe mode, right-click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.

7. If your system drive is different than C:\, type C: and then press Enter. This will switch you to the C:\ drive.

8. Type in the following commands and then press Enter after each to locate the file matching “C-00000291*.sys” and permanently delete the file(s) found:

• CD C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike
• dir C-00000291*.sys
• del C-00000291*.sys

9. Manually search for any files that match “C-00000291*.sys” and delete them.

10. Restart your device. 

FAQ on Windows 10 Repair

1. What is chkdsk and how do I use it to repair Windows 10?

Chkdsk (Check Disk) is a built-in Windows utility designed to check the integrity of the file system and fix any errors it finds. It can be used to repair issues causing system instability or boot problems.

2. How can I access Windows 10 repair options from boot?

Accessing repair options from boot is crucial when Windows 10 fails to start normally. This typically involves accessing the Advanced Startup Options menu or booting from a Windows installation media to access repair tools.

3. What is Safe Mode in Windows 10 and how does it help in troubleshooting and repair?

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows that loads only essential system services and drivers, allowing users to troubleshoot issues with third-party software or drivers that may be causing problems. It can be instrumental in repairing Windows 10 when it fails to boot normally.

4. Can I perform Windows 10 repair tasks offline?

Sometimes, Windows 10 may encounter issues that prevent it from booting into the normal operating environment. Performing repair tasks offline, such as using System File Checker (SFC) or DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), can be essential in fixing these issues without requiring an internet connection.

5. What are some common scenarios where Windows 10 repair becomes necessary?

Understanding common scenarios where Windows 10 repair is needed can help users identify when to utilize repair tools. These scenarios may include system crashes, boot failures, corrupted system files, or issues caused by malware infections. Knowing how to address these issues through repair options can help maintain system stability and performance.

Key Technical Terms

• Master Boot Record (MBR): The first sector of a hard drive responsible for loading the operating system.
• Boot Configuration Data (BCD): A store that contains boot configuration parameters.
• System File Checker (SFC): A Windows utility that scans and repairs corrupted system files.

Tips for Successful Startup Repair

1. Use a Reliable USB Drive: When creating recovery media, always choose a reliable USB drive to prevent installation errors.
2. Perform Regular Maintenance: Periodically scan your system for errors using built-in Windows tools like sfc and chkdsk.

Conclusion

You can fix Windows 10 startup repair using Command Prompt. However, these solutions may seem a little difficult for technical novices. Therefore, creating a system backup and bootable media in advance via AOMEI Backupper seems like the easiest way to protect your computer.

As a piece of powerful backup and recovery software, you can not only perform system backups, but also partition backups and file backups between computers, disks, and clouds. When some accidents happen, you can easily recover lost/deleted files in Windows 10 with just a few clicks. Try it right now!