Encountering “Your PC did not start correctly” error for the first time and have no idea how to fix it.

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. This post shows effective DIY methods to fix the issue.

How to troubleshoot “Your PC did not start correctly” issue?

The error occurs when Windows fail to boot normally. Quite often, restarting the system fix the issue. So, go ahead, and restart Windows and check if it boots normally.

If it doesn’t, try the following solutions in the order they’re listed.

Fix #1 – Startup Repair Tool

A Windows system comes with several built-in tools. One such tool is Startup Repair. It fixes many problems — such as corrupted boot data, damaged MBR and missing files — that can prevent Windows from booting normally.

Here’s how to use the Startup Repair tool from the error screen.

• Choose Advanced Options
• Next, select Troubleshoot, followed by Advanced Options and then finally Startup Repair
• Log into your user account and wait until the repair tool has done its job

Now, restart the system and check if the system boots normally.

Fix #2 – Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, Windows boots with a minimal set of basic files and device drivers. This, in turn, helps troubleshoot issues preventing a Windows system from starting normally.

Here’s how to boot into Safe Mode from the error screen:

• Select Advanced Options
• Select Troublehsoot, followed by Advanced Options, then Startup Settings, and finally Restart

If you’re able to boot into Safe Mode successfully, get rid of any recently-installed Windows updates that may be preventing your system from booting normally.

Here’s what you need to do:

Windows 11

• Select Settings
• Go to Windows Update and click Update history
• Select Uninstall updates and then click the Uninstall option next to the most recent Windows update

Windows 10

• Select Settings
• Select Update & Security, followed by Windows Update, View update history, and then Uninstall updates
• Right-click the most-recently installed Windows update and select Uninstall

Fix #3 – System Restore

If your PC is not booting normally because of changes made by an app, you, or another user, performing a System Restore may fix the issue. To access this utility from the error screen, first select Advanced options and then choose System Restore.

Next, select an appropriate restore point from the list and follow the on-screen prompts. Windows will restore itself to the selected previous state.

If the error persists after performing a System Restore or this option is unavailable, there’s a good chance the error is due to a hardware failure. We recommend you to contact the manufacturer, especially if the warranty period has not expired, or a local computer repair technician.

What causes the “You PC did not start correctly” error?

Possible causes include:

• Loss of power during the boot process
• Recently-installed Windows updates
• Incorrect configurations
• Corrupted drivers
• Hardware failure

Since bad drivers is one of the reason behind the “Your PC did not start correctly” error (and so many other errors), it’s smart to keep the device drivers up-to-date. The most convenient way to update drivers is by using an advanced third-party tool, such as Driver Updater.

Driver Updater is reliable, fast, and accurate. With a single click, it updates all outdated drivers on your system.