If your problem occurs after the Windows logo appears, then try your luck using Windows’ own repair tools
First, the good news: your hardware appears to be in good working order. Now the bad news: finding out what’s happened to Windows. There are two routes to follow here: the first involves Windows’ built-in repair tools, summarised opposite. The problem may be accessing them. Windows’ first recourse is its own Start-up Repair tool, which should run automatically after a failed attempt to load. If it fails to fix the problem after several attempts, it should bring up the advanced start-up tool with the all-important Troubleshoot button under ‘Choose an option’.
Access Start-up Repair
If this fails to appear you can try interrupting the boot sequence manually as soon as you see the Windows logo appear by pressing the reset button to trigger the advanced start-up tool, but if Windows still won’t play ball (or you find yourself in an endless reboot loop), then you’re going to need the services of rescue media – see the box below if you don’t have this potential lifesaver to hand, or turn the page to make use of a more powerful alternative.
If you’d like to give your Microsoft installation media the opportunity to try and fix your problem, insert the flash drive or DVD and start your PC. Look for an option to choose the boot device before the Windows logo appears, press the key and then choose your DVD or USB drive from the list (if it appears twice, select the UEFI option).
You should see the Windows logo appear as before, and eventually you’ll reach the Windows Setup screen. Verify the language settings are correct, then click Next followed by ‘Repair your computer’ to bring up the same set of options found in the advanced start-up tool. Click Troubleshoot followed by ‘Advanced options’ if necessary, then follow the step-by-step guide to work your way through the available options.
Tests and repairs
The Start-up Repair tool performs a series of tests to try and locate a cause (and fix) for your problem. If you’re unable to find a fix, make a note of the path to the file SrtTrail.txt – this contains details of what tests were performed and what actions were taken. Now open the Command Prompt (see step five) and type the following, substituting C:\ for whatever drive Windows has been allocated – on our test machine it was E:\ for example: cd C:\Windows\System32\logfiles\srt\SrtTrail.txt
The file’s contents will be displayed, allowing you to review its findings and pinpoint problems the Start-up Repair tool may have been able to identify without being able to fix – for example, corrupt boot files. When it comes to applying manual fixes, the bootrec tool is just one several available to you from the Command Prompt. Others include diskpart, chkdsk and DISM. Typing the tool’s name and
