Submit an edit

Get the fix to "<strong>Windows couldn't load correctly</strong>" boot error for<strong> Windows 8,</strong><strong> Windows 8.1</strong> or <strong>Windows 10</strong> operating systems.
<h2>About the "<strong>Windows couldn't load correctly</strong>" error</h2>
[kbintro]
<h3>Description and Symptoms</h3>
The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.
<h4>Symptom 1: <strong>Windows couldn't load correctly</strong> error screen on startup</h4>
Possible error messages can be any of the following:
<ul>
 	<li>Windows couldn't load correctly</li>
 	<li>Windows couldn't start correctly</li>
 	<li>Windows couldn't restart correctly</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/windows-8-automatic-repair-windows-couldnt-load-correctly.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3207 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/windows-8-automatic-repair-windows-couldnt-load-correctly.jpg" alt="Windows 8 couldnt load correctly error" width="980" height="380" /></a>
<pre>Automatic Repair

Windows couldn't load correctly 
System Restore can try to restore your PC to an earlier point in time when it worked correctly. This repair will not change personal data, but it might remove some apps that were installed recently. You cannot undo this process. 
Restore | Cancel</pre>
<h3>Causes of this Error</h3>
The most common causes of this error are:
<h4><span id="Cause_1_BCD_ismissing_or_corrupt">Cause 1: BCD is missing or corrupt</span></h4>
One of the most common causes of this error is the BCD that became missing or corrupt. That could happen because of disk write errors, power outages, boot sector viruses, or errors made while configuring the BCD manually.
<h4><span id="Cause_2_File_system_integrity_compromised">Cause 2: File system integrity compromised</span></h4>
For the same reasons, the file system itself may become corrupt or damaged. That happens even more often if one turns off a PC while it is in the middle of writing crucial data to the boot sector.
<h4><span id="Cause_3System_files_are_damaged">Cause 3: System files are damaged</span></h4>
The system files may also become corrupt or damaged for the same reasons.
<h2>Fixing "Your PC needs to be repaired" on Windows</h2>
[setupcd]
<h3>Fix #1: Use Easy Recovery Essentials</h3>
[easyre error="Windows couldn't load correctly" bootscreen="8"]
<h3>Fix #2: Uninstall new software or drivers</h3>
If you installed new software or drivers, try to uninstall these or update the drivers to their latest available version.

Since you can't boot into Windows 8, 8.1 or Windows 10 to uninstall software or drivers and fix the error, you need to boot into Safe Mode and uninstall the software or the drive from Safe Mode directly:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows DVD/USB and boot from it</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong>

[caption id="attachment_2111" align="alignnone" width="610"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png"><img class="wp-image-2111 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png" alt="Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu" width="610" height="430" /></a> Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Troubleshoot</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Advanced options</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Startup Settings</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Restart</strong></li>
 	<li>At <em>Startup Settings</em>, press the <kbd>F4</kbd> key to boot Windows into <strong>Safe Mode</strong>

[caption id="attachment_1398" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-8-Advanced-Boot-Options.png"><img class="wp-image-1398 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-8-Advanced-Boot-Options-1024x767.png" alt="Advanced Boot Options on Windows 8" width="980" height="734" /></a> Advanced Boot Options on Windows 8[/caption]</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #3: Check if HDD failed</h3>
If the hard disk has failed or is failing, this error can appear on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 systems.

To test if the HDD is healthy, run Automated Repair from Easy Recovery Essentials:

[partial name="partial_easyre_hardware_testing"]
<h3>Fix #4: Run chkdsk</h3>
Using the same Windows media you used to install Windows, boot from the media and go to <strong>Command Prompt</strong> to run the chkdsk utility.

The chkdsk utility can scan your hard disk for issues and attempt to fix certain errors. This might fix the "Windows couldn't load correctly" error.

The steps are:
<ol>
 	<li>Click <strong>Troubleshoot</strong>

[caption id="attachment_1723" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/windows-8-recovery-options-screen-troubleshoot.png"><img class="wp-image-1723 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/windows-8-recovery-options-screen-troubleshoot-1024x687.png" alt="Troubleshoot in Windows 8 recovery options screen" width="980" height="657" /></a> Troubleshoot in Windows 8 recovery options screen[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Advanced options</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>chkdsk /r</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #5: Run bootrec</h3>
While a misconfigured BCD might not be the cause for this error, it's worth rebuilding the Windows's BCD and checking again:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the original Windows DVD/USB and boot from it</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> &gt; <strong>Troubleshoot</strong> &gt; <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>bootrec /fixmbr</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>bootrec /fixboot</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>bootrec /rebuildbcd</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4654" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/bootrec.png"><img class="wp-image-4654 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/bootrec-1024x768.png" alt="bootrec results utility screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> bootrec results utility screen[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/safe-mode/">Safe Mode</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">bootrec</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="8,8.1,10"]