How do you fix computer boot issues?

1 Check the power supply

The first thing you should do is make sure that your computer is receiving enough power from the outlet, the surge protector, or the battery. Sometimes, a loose or faulty cable, a tripped circuit breaker, or a dead battery can prevent your computer from turning on or booting up. Try plugging your computer into a different outlet, using a different power cord, or replacing the battery if possible. If you still have no power, you might need to replace the power supply unit (PSU) or take your computer to a repair shop.

2 Enter the BIOS or UEFI

The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a program that controls how your computer communicates with its hardware and boots up the operating system. Sometimes, a wrong or corrupted setting in the BIOS or UEFI can cause your computer to boot incorrectly or not at all. To enter the BIOS or UEFI, you need to press a specific key (such as F2, F10, or Del) during the initial startup screen, before the Windows logo appears. Once you are in the BIOS or UEFI, you can check and adjust the boot order, the date and time, the voltage and temperature settings, and the drive detection. You can also reset the BIOS or UEFI to its default settings if you are not sure what to change. Be careful not to modify any settings that you are not familiar with, as this can cause more problems.

3 Use the Windows recovery options

If your computer powers on but does not load Windows properly, you might see a blue screen of death (BSOD), a black screen with a blinking cursor, or a message that says "Boot device not found" or "Operating system not found". These errors can indicate that your hard drive, your Windows files, or your boot sector are damaged or missing. To fix these issues, you can use the Windows recovery options that are built into your system or on a bootable USB or DVD. To access the Windows recovery options, you need to press a specific key (such as F8, F11, or F12) during the initial startup screen, after the BIOS or UEFI screen. Once you are in the Windows recovery options, you can choose from different tools, such as Startup Repair, System Restore, Command Prompt, or Reset this PC. These tools can help you repair your Windows files, restore your system to a previous state, fix your boot sector, or reinstall Windows.

4 Scan for viruses and malware

Another possible cause of computer boot issues is a virus or malware infection that affects your system files, your boot sector, or your registry. These malicious programs can prevent your computer from booting up normally or cause it to behave erratically. To scan for viruses and malware, you need to use a reliable antivirus or anti-malware software that can run from a bootable USB or DVD. You can create a bootable USB or DVD using another computer and a software like Windows Defender Offline, Kaspersky Rescue Disk, or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Once you have the bootable USB or DVD, you need to insert it into your computer and change the boot order in the BIOS or UEFI to boot from it. Then, you can run the antivirus or anti-malware software and scan your system for any threats and remove them.

5 Test your hardware components

Sometimes, computer boot issues can be caused by faulty or incompatible hardware components, such as the RAM (Random Access Memory), the CPU (Central Processing Unit), the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the motherboard. These components can fail due to wear and tear, overheating, dust, or physical damage. To test your hardware components, you need to use a hardware diagnostic tool that can run from a bootable USB or DVD. You can create a bootable USB or DVD using another computer and a software like MemTest86, Prime95, FurMark, or PC Doctor. Once you have the bootable USB or DVD, you need to insert it into your computer and change the boot order in the BIOS or UEFI to boot from it. Then, you can run the hardware diagnostic tool and check your components for any errors or defects. If you find any faulty or incompatible components, you need to replace them or take your computer to a repair shop.