PC Will Not Boot After Update

by

Updating your PC is essential for security and performance, but sometimes things can go wrong. If your PC won’t boot after an update, don’t panic. Here are the steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Power Cycle Your PC

Before looking into complex solutions, try a simple power cycle:

  1. Turn off your PC completely.
  2. Unplug it from the power source.
  3. Wait for about 30 seconds.
  4. Plug it back in and turn it on.

Check for Hardware Issues

Ensure that all hardware components are properly connected:

  • Verify that cables are securely plugged in.
  • Check if any hardware components, like RAM or GPU, are loose.

Safe Mode Boot

Boot Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode can help you identify if the issue is with the update or other software:

  1. Restart your PC.
  2. Press and hold the F8 key (or Shift + F8) during startup.
  3. Select “Safe Mode” from the menu.

If your PC boots into Safe Mode, the problem likely lies with the update or a conflicting program.

System Restore

Use System Restore

System Restore can revert your PC to a previous state before the update:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode.
  2. Search for “System Restore” in the Start menu.
  3. Follow the prompts to restore your system to a point before the update.

Uninstall the Problematic Update

Remove the Update

If you identify the update as the cause, uninstalling it might resolve the issue:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode.
  2. Go to Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates.
  3. Find the recent update and select “Uninstall.”

Repair Startup

Use Startup Repair

Startup Repair can fix many common issues that prevent Windows from booting:

  1. Boot from a Windows installation media (USB or DVD).
  2. Select “Repair your computer” at the installation screen.
  3. Choose “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Repair.”

Check for Disk Errors

Run Check Disk Utility

Disk errors can cause boot problems. Running Check Disk can help:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode.
  2. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  3. Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter.

Rebuild Boot Configuration

Rebuild BCD

The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) might be corrupted. Rebuilding it can fix the issue:

  1. Boot from a Windows installation media.
  2. Select “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”
  3. Type the following commands:
    bash

    bootrec /fixmbr
    bootrec /fixboot
    bootrec /scanos
    bootrec /rebuildbcd
  4. Restart your PC.

Perform a Clean Boot

Clean Boot

A clean boot can help you identify if third-party services or applications are causing the issue:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode.
  2. Open the System Configuration tool (msconfig).
  3. On the Services tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services” and then disable all remaining services.
  4. On the Startup tab, disable all startup items.
  5. Restart your PC normally.

Reset or Reinstall Windows

Reset Your PC

If all else fails, resetting Windows might be necessary:

  1. Boot from a Windows installation media.
  2. Choose “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Reset this PC.”
  3. Follow the prompts to reset your system.

Contact Support

Seek Professional Help

If you’re still unable to boot your PC, it may be time to contact professional support or take your PC to a repair shop for further diagnostics.