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Get the fix to "<strong>Error: Windows failed to start</strong>" boot error for<strong> Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 </strong>and<strong> Windows 8.1</strong> operating systems.
<h2>About the "<strong>Windows failed to start</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>Error: Windows failed to start</strong> error screen on startup</h4>
The "Windows failed to start" screen appears on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 systems only and it's identified by a specific error code.

These errors can also happen on Windows Vista and Windows 7 systems as well.
<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 "Windows failed to start" on Windows</h2>
[setupcd]
<h3>Fix #1: Use Easy Recovery Essentials</h3>
[easyre error="Windows Error Recovery. Windows failed to start" bootscreen="7" guaranteed="true"]
<h3>Fix #2: Boot into Last Known Good Configuration</h3>
Here are the steps to boot into the Last Known Good Configuration option:
<ol>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>F8</kbd> repeatedly until you see the list of boot options</li>
 	<li>Choose <strong>Last Known Good Configuration (Advanced)</strong></li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd> and wait to boot</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4722" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/LGC2.png"><img class="wp-image-4722 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/LGC2-1024x768.png" alt="Last known good configuration screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> Last known good configuration screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #3: Run System Restore from Windows installation disc</h3>
This method will only work if you have the installation disc and System Restore enabled on your Windows copy. Here are the steps to access System Restore:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows install disc</li>
 	<li>Press a key when "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message appears on your screen</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after selecting a language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Select the drive where you installed Windows (usually <code>C:\</code>) and click Next</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>System Restore</strong> from the System Recovery Options window</li>
 	<li>Follow the System Restore wizard instructions to select a restore point</li>
 	<li>Restore your PC by clicking Finish</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #4: Run chkdsk</h3>
Alternatively, you can run the <code>chkdsk</code> process. Here are the steps:
<ol>
<ol>
 	<li>Insert your CD; restart your computer</li>
 	<li>Boot into the CD by pressing any key when the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on your computer</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>R</kbd> to open the <strong>Recovery Console</strong> at the Options menu</li>
 	<li>Type in your Administrator password</li>
 	<li>Hit <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>In Command Prompt, type the following command:
<pre>chkdsk C: /f /x /r</pre>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
Press <kbd>Enter</kbd>
<ol>
 	<li>After <code>chkdsk</code> process is completed, restart your computer</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4723" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/chkdsk3.png"><img class="wp-image-4723 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/chkdsk3-1024x768.png" alt="chkdsk utility results screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> chkdsk utility results screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #5: Rebuild the master boot sector</h3>
Using <code>Bootrec.exe</code> you can rebuild the master boot sector (BCD). This is a tool built in the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) that can repair boot configuration data.

BCD stands for Boot Configuration Data, contains boot configurations options and controls how your Windows is started.
<ol>
 	<li>Insert your Windows install disc</li>
 	<li>Press any key at the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message</li>
 	<li>Choose <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after you select the language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Select your Windows installation drive (usually <code>C:\</code>) and click Next</li>
 	<li>Select Command Prompt at System Recovery Options</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards:
<pre>bootrec /FixMbr</pre>
<pre>bootrec /FixBoot</pre>
<pre>bootrec /ScanOs</pre>
<pre>bootrec /rebuildBcd</pre>
</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4724" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/bootrec3.png"><img class="wp-image-4724 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/bootrec3-1024x768.png" alt="bootrec utility results screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> bootrec utility results screen[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">bootrec</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/fix-mbr/">Fix MBR</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/advanced-boot-options-menu/">Advanced Options menu in Windows</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="vista,7,8,8.1"]