Win 7 won't boot. Windows won't boot: why? What can be done to solve the problem

The topic that I want to discuss in this article is very popular and talking about it in detail so that you understand how and what to do is not so simple. But still, I will try to describe possible ways of what to do if Windows 7 does not boot on a laptop or computer. We will also find out why this could happen?! The task ahead of us is not an easy one, namely, to correct the current situation, but there is no need to be afraid. Just follow the clear instructions and everything will be great! Some points may be suitable for other operating systems, but I will focus on Windows 7.

Dear reader, if you really want to solve the problem, then I strongly recommend reading the article in full, and then drawing some conclusions. I cannot talk about all the nuances in one paragraph.

Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration

This is a must try! Reboot the computer, press the F8 key continuously.

Attention! In Windows 8, entering Safe Mode is a little different, so it's best to follow the link below to find out all the details. In the list that appears, we are interested in the item called “Last Known Good Configuration (advanced).” Select and press Enter.

About how to enter safe mode on different systems:

What to do if the information above did not help you? We repeat the steps described in the previous paragraph, but select “Safe Mode”.

Next, you can make a choice: fix the problem due to which Windows 7 does not boot manually, or try to do it in semi-automatic mode. Usually I do everything manually, for example, if Windows does not boot after installing the drivers, then I delete the drivers and try to boot. I think you understand that the manual method requires more knowledge on your part, so Windows offers you another option, which I will describe below.

If everything loads, go to the Start menu, Control Panel, System and Security. In the “Support Center” tab, click on the inscription “Restore the computer to a previous state.” See the “Run System Restore” button? Great, then you've come to the right place.

Now click it and follow the instructions.

Next, you will need to select a restore point. In my case, I am asked to select a point on the 23rd, and now the calendar shows the 29th. Therefore, you need to click on “Search for affected programs” to find out what actions you will need to take after recovery.

So, you have become familiar with the affected software during system recovery and can now close this window. After closing the window, click "Next".

If you were unable to enter safe mode to restore Windows operation, then do not despair. Below we will look at another method.

Note: at the very beginning, when Windows 7 was just coming out, there was one strange glitch that you might have too. When you turn on the computer, the welcome screen follows and a black screen appears. As I remember, it seemed like there was still an arrow, but nothing else was visible. The cure was very simple - go into safe mode and restart the computer as usual. After this, I was able to log into my account without any additional manipulations with Windows.

You may need to reinstall Windows

This option should be considered when you have tried to revive Windows, but all attempts have produced no results.

The very first thing that comes to mind for many, and for me too, is reinstalling Windows 7. But this method, you see, is very long, and if you are a busy person, then access to the computer should be almost constant. Reinstallation is suitable for those who have a lot of free time, or do not have time to understand faster methods, or for those who will not be helped by any of the methods I have listed below for restoring the Windows operating system.

I will not dwell in detail on installing Windows, since I wrote about this on my blog:

Here are brief instructions: since you do not have access to the desktop, go to the BIOS, look for the Boot or Advanced BIOS Features tab, or search for it yourself. Then in it we find the line “1st Boot Device”, set the value to CD-ROM. What have we done? What we did is that now when the computer boots, it will boot from the disk that is installed in your CDRom, and not from the hard drive. After turning it on, when the inscription “Press any key...” appears on a black background, press any button and get into the Windows installation wizard. Then follow the instructions on the screen.

You can read more about how to boot from disk in my article: “”.

I decided to talk about the installation at the very beginning, because if you were going to reinstall Windows, then perhaps this is some kind of sign to implement it))). But as I said at the very beginning, we will now try to bring your Windows back to life without reinstalling it.

System Restore

First of all, you can use the function that is in the installation disk “System Restore”. I will give an example of the Windows 7 system, but if you have a different system, then this is not a reason to think that you cannot do on your system. The names of the buttons may differ, but the principle remains the same.

So, for this procedure we need a Windows installation disk or its image (can be downloaded on the Internet). If you are unable to download the image or do not have a disk, then write to me by email [email protected] or contact your friends who have already installed Windows themselves.

If you don’t have a working disk drive or don’t have one at all, then the article “” will help you create a bootable flash drive.

When you have a Windows distribution, insert it into the drive and restart the computer. If the BIOS is configured for installation, you will see the line:

When it appears, press any key.

If it is not there or Windows boots as usual, then you need to make manipulations in the BIOS. Namely, set loading priorities. Usually the hard drive is set in the BIOS settings, since that is where your Windows is installed.

In order for the computer to start booting from the disk that is in your drive, you need to go into the BIOS and specify CDRom as the first boot device. I have already talked about this above, if you have not read this point, then it’s time to do so.

So, you pressed any key, now a window will appear where you click “Next”.

In the next window you need to click “System Restore”.

A search will be performed for installed systems. If you have one system installed, then there will be one operating system in the list. Select it and click Next.

Often at this stage a message may appear in which you will be asked to restore the system. If this message is displayed on your screen, then click “Fix and restart”. After that, try to log into your account.

If the message does not appear, then in the next window you select your system and click “Next”.

After this, a window will appear where you can select system recovery methods.

– automatic problem solving.

System Restore - you can use this method, but provided that this function has been enabled.

Restoring a system image – if you have a Windows recovery image.

Command line– using certain commands you can revive Windows. This method will be discussed further.

Now click “Startup Repair”. Now you need to wait a little for the utility to try to automatically find the problem and solve it.

System Restore via Command Line

Then enter and press Enter.

A list of commands that can be used in this utility will appear; now you need to enter: Bootrec.exe /FixMbr and press Enter.

Now enter . exe / , then clicking on Enter. Next, exit the utility by typing exit and pressing Enter. Now you can try to log into your account, since the recovery work is complete.

You can also try updating the boot code by entering the command bootsect /NT60 SYS. Then leave as a team Exit.

If the above commands did not help you, then go to the command line and enter Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd. Using this command, you will scan your hard drive to find the systems installed on it.

When the scan is finished, a list of installed operating systems on your hard drive will appear. To add it to the download list, click Y And Enter. After successful completion of the operation, enter Exit and press Enter.

So, we have dealt with the command line. In principle, this should help to get your system to boot.

Inactive hard drive partition

This situation does not occur often, but it is still necessary to talk about it, otherwise the article can be said to be truncated. Let me give you an example, after which you will understand what's what.

Let's say you have several Windows operating systems installed on your computer, which are installed on different hard drives. If you assign incorrect attributes to hard drive partitions, you will have problems booting a particular version of Windows.

To check or fix this, you can use the Acronis Disk Director boot disk to change the partition attributes. So, download and burn the Acronis Disk Director boot disk and boot from it. How to do it? Insert the disc into the drive, restart the computer, and it will begin booting from the disc in the drive. But before that, check your download priorities. There should be a CDRom, just like when installing Windows. We have already talked about this in this article above.

When the program loads, pay attention to the checkboxes that are on the hard drive partitions.

In the image above we see that the checkboxes are on the second partitions of the hard drive. You need to make sure that these checkboxes are on the first sections. We got to practice ;). You need to right-click on each first partition of your hard drive and select “Mark as active.”

A message should appear where you click “OK”. This is what it looks like after the whole procedure:

Now all that remains is to click on the “Run” checkbox, wait for the operation to complete and restart the computer. Be sure to remove the disc from the drive.

Hardware problems, BIOS and viruses

HDD. If your system unit, or rather your hard drive, makes suspicious sounds: clicking or tapping, then there is a possibility that the hard drive needs to be replaced. To verify this, you need to open the cover of the system unit, turn on the computer and listen to the operation of the hard drive. Also check the wire connection to the hard drive. It is possible that the wires have become disconnected and the computer cannot see the hard drive.

If you suspect that the problem is with the hard drive, then you need to copy all important data to another medium. Otherwise, you may lose them completely.

BIOS. Go to the BIOS settings and put the hard drive first so that it starts booting from it. Above we looked at an example where we set up a CDROM; you do the same with a hard drive. Just don’t forget to save the changes in the BIOS by pressing the F10 key.

The second method – you won’t believe it, but it actually works! Just go into the BIOS and, without changing anything there, exit, saving the changes that actually did not exist (by pressing the F10 button). I personally once fixed my friends’ laptop this way, and when they asked me how I did it, my answer was: “Magic and nothing more 😉.” So give it a try, maybe everything will be much easier than you think.

Viruses. Sometimes viruses prevent Windows from booting. If there are viruses on your computer, you need to scan the entire disk for viruses. Here are articles that will be useful to you: “” and “”.

Of course, if you check your hard drive for viruses, you will need to disconnect it and connect it to another computer, since in your case Windows will not load. Or you can use special boot programs with which you can scan your computer for viruses even if you cannot boot your Windows. Here are a couple of them: and.

Attention! There are cases when, after installing updates, Windows 7 stopped loading! Therefore, you may want to try uninstalling recent updates that were installed before the Windows boot problem occurred.

Important! If you see a specific error on your screen, I recommend using a search in Google or Yandex. You can enter into the search not only the error code, but also the words that are used in it. Thus, you will save your time searching for the problem and its solution.

Important! If the system unit makes squeaks when turned on, then you need to use this squeak to determine the problem. Ask how? Here's an article on this topic: "".

That's all I wanted to say. The article turned out to be long, and I sincerely hope that at least one of the methods I described helped you.

Says a lot of unnecessary things, but there is useful information for you:

The causes and solutions to the problem of the inability to start the OS are determined by error messages or their absence. The main situations are listed below.

Error disc boot failure Insert system disc and press Enter

This least critical error and it is the easiest to solve. It is caused by the fact that the system does not detect the boot disk due to the boot device sequence settings in the BIOS. Enough for a start remove the CD from the drive and disconnect devices such as flash drives, card readers, disconnect external hard drives, and other USB drives. To restart a computer. If the system does not boot or you want to completely eliminate the reasons, you need to reboot again and enter the BIOS.

You will need to fix the download queue. To do this, you do not need to know the computer or open its case. You must follow the instructions of the PC or motherboard manufacturer. Usually needed immediately press the Del key as soon as the computer turns on. A menu will open in which you need to set correct order.

If after this the system does not want to start, then you need to use installation disk Windows. Put it in the drive and reboot. A window will appear with a choice of keyboards and languages. Click the cursor on the desired one. Proceed like this:

If the OS does not see the hard drive at all, then you need to check its connection to the motherboard. This is appropriate if you do not have a warranty on your computer. Otherwise, the check is done in the workshop.

Error Bootmgr is missing

It is caused by an incorrect modification of the hard disk boot record. There can be many reasons. Her viruses damage or unthought-out user actions, the operation of different programs. But the most dangerous reason is physical damage to the media, as it can lead to the loss of important data.

In this case you need check disk a special utility. It is most convenient to use Victoria or MHDD products. You need to do this:

Download image You can download the boot disk from the official website;
Write down it on CD;
Load up from CD;
Check disk.

If bad sectors highlighted in red are detected, you should immediately copy important information to external media. Next, solve the problem with the device.

If no damage is detected, proceed as described in the previous paragraph. You can also enter command line mode and run the commands bootrec.exe /fixmbr And bootrec.exe /fixroot by booting from the installation disk.

Ntldr is missing

The message appears after an incorrect shutdown of the PC due to viruses or changes in the boot sector. In this case it is necessary find ntldr files and file ntdetect.com. They can be taken from other computers in the \i386 folder or from Live cds.

Then the following work is done:

Specified files copied to the root of the system disk;
Computer I'll downloadandseems from the installation disk;
When prompted to launch the recovery console with the R key, the user clicks on it;
By using cd c commands: a transition is made to the system partition of the hard drive;
The following commands are executed fixboot And fixmbr. The first will create the boot sector, and the second will copy the mentioned objects.
If the system partition is inactive, it is activated using programs for working with hard disk partitions, then you need to check the paths to the operating system specified in the boot.ini file.

Loading stuck when black screen and mouse pointer appears

This usually occurs as a result of a virus and its incorrect removal. For example, a ransomware virus.

Then give the PC the following commands:

When stuck, press Win + R;
A window will pop up Execute;
Print regedit;

The Registry Editor will appear. Look for lines HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/Current Version/Winlogon/ And HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/Current Version/Winlogon/.

Having found the parameter in them shell, change its value to explorer.exe.

It happens that boot problems appear when you change the PC configuration. Then the recovery screen will appear on its own or you need to press F8 and select troubleshooting.

Windows 10 won't start

The new OS may refuse to work such reasons;

Error when updating;
Black screen while loading;
Incorrect operation Internet connection devices;
Crashes when exiting hibernation mode;
Malware;
Flaw free disk space;
Errors in the operation of different programs or drivers.

Rolling back updates

If the update fails, you need to use the options restore previous state provided in this Microsoft product. When starting the device, press F8. The recovery menu will open.
You need to click on Diagnostics, and then on Restore. Everything will recover on its own. If unsuccessful, use the restore point by clicking on Extra options. Then a suitable restore point is selected.

Black screen on boot

The system will come back to life either after a normal reboot or after operations similar to those described in the previous paragraph. The reason for a failed download is usually malware. The most effective way to get rid of it is formatting and a complete reinstallation of the system. All important information should be copied. Or check as described below.

Internet connection devices do not work properly and crashes when resuming from hibernation mode

Users of the operating system have long noticed that if the boot fails, it’s worth trying disconnect from the network and turn off the power to Wi-Fi routers, network cards, modems or other devices. As a rule, this is due to malfunctions in the operating system. If you exit hibernation mode incorrectly, you just need to press the power button on the case and hold it for 3-4 seconds, and then turn on the PC again.

Checking your computer for viruses

To exclude infection of the device as the reason for the refusal to start, you need to carry out antivirus scan. To do this, download a Live CD with antivirus programs and check your computer. It's better that it contains several antiviruses. According to tests by independent laboratories, it is best to use Kaspersky Internet Security, a product from Bitdefender, and scan with several similar programs.

Lack of free disk space

Owners of devices with Windows 10 installed often either save money by installing a low-capacity hard drive, or fill it with downloaded movies, unnecessary games, large files and do not monitor the availability of free space. Therefore, the OS may not start, since it is simply not enough space for work. You can clean it using the software installed on boot disks, or you can simply delete what you don’t need by viewing the contents using a file manager.

Errors when running programs or drivers

To remove the problematic driver you need to log in to safe mode. If it works, then most likely the problem is in the driver of some component or equipment or in the functioning of some program. You can either delete them or edit startup.

There are often cases when, after installing a program, driver, accidentally deleting a system file or a virus attack, the Windows 7 operating system begins to “slow down” or stops functioning altogether. If there is no important information on the computer, then you can simply reinstall it. Otherwise, the system restore function will help you. This tool returns the OS with all data on the hard drive to a working state.

Windows 7 system recovery methods

Windows OS developers have provided a number of standard recovery methods, but all of them do not provide a 100% guarantee. Therefore, be prepared that you may need to use several resuscitation methods in turn.

You can restore the functionality of Windows 7 using:

applying the latest working configuration;
safe mode;
recovery points.

Using Last Known Good Configuration

This Windows resuscitation tool is the easiest to implement, so you should resort to it first. The sequence of work will be as follows:

After completing the above steps, data from the OS registry and working parameters of existing drivers are automatically restored. If this method fails to start the system, move on to the second method.

Safe Mode is an effective means of resuscitating Windows

Safe mode is a special option for operating systems that does not automatically launch installed programs, as during a normal Windows boot. In this case, only those drivers are activated, without which the operation of the OS is impossible.

This tool is launched in the same way as the last working configuration, that is, using the F8 key. When you log in using this method, the screen resolution will change to 800x600. This is normal, so no need to worry.

The following recovery order is presented below:

A boot disk with Windows 7 OS is inserted into the DVD drive and launched. The system build you use must be the same as that on your computer. Therefore, if possible, take the same disk that you used when installing the operating system.
When a message about autorun pops up, click “Cancel”.
Open the “Run” command window, which is located in the “Start” menu.
Enter the command to check the functionality of system files “sfc /scannow”.
Some time after activating the search for executable files, all damaged or deleted system data will be copied from the DVD disc and restored.
If you want to monitor the progress of the recovery, you need to enter the command line by entering the command “cmd” in the “Run” window. After this, “sfc /?” is written in the line. You must log in to the command prompt as an administrator, otherwise you will not receive the required information.
If the command line displays data in the form of hieroglyphs, then you will additionally need to enter the properties and select the required language there.

Using a restore point

Another effective means of resuscitating a Windows system is using restore points. The operating principle of this function is based on the fact that after a certain period of time the existing OS configuration is written to the hard drive. If any software problems occur, you can use the saved points and restore the computer's functionality.

You came home from school or work, decided to check new messages in your email inbox and social networks, turned on your computer with the latest version of the Windows operating system installed on it, but for some reason the OS refused to start normally. What to do, if Windows 7 won't load?

There may be a lot of reasons why Windows 7 won't load., ranging from problems with installed software to hardware malfunction. Usually, if any of the computer parts are faulty, this can be heard during the initial testing of the computer components.

Surely, when you booted your computer, you heard a short beep coming not from the speakers, but from the built-in speaker in the system unit. This signal means that all computer components are working properly. If there is no signal, or if the signal is long or there are several of them, this indicates a malfunction of one of the components. That’s why Windows 7 won’t boot. You can read about what exactly these or other signals mean during boot.

But what to do if, judging by the signal, everything is fine with the “stuffing” of the computer, but the operating system still does not boot? If you have two hard drives, the boot order in the BIOS may be out of order: The first disk in the boot queue is not the one on which the system is installed. Naturally, the system cannot boot. To check this guess, you need to check the boot queue when you boot the computer (how to do this should be written in the instructions for your motherboard) and, if necessary, change it.

If the desired disk is first in the boot queue, remember Have you installed any new programs or connected new devices?. Perhaps this is where the problem lies (especially if the operating system loaded normally before, but crashed immediately after installation). What to do in this case?

Try again the next time you boot your computer. If you succeed, first check and remove all unnecessary programs from there. If you recently installed a program or piece of hardware and think it might be the problem, try uninstalling the program in Safe Mode or disabling the hardware and uninstalling the associated driver. It also wouldn’t hurt to scan your computer for viruses using one of the antivirus utilities in safe mode.

If Windows 7 does not boot even in safe mode, try to find an installation disk with the operating system - it will be useful to you. Most likely, the problem is a damaged MBR (Master Boot Record), the installation disk will help restore the MBR and, accordingly, normal loading of the operating system.

Insert the Windows 7 installation disk or system recovery disk into the drive and boot from disk(usually to boot from disk you need to press a certain key at boot or set the boot priority in the BIOS). If you are prompted to select a language when booting from a disk, do so, and then select recovery from the list of suggested options.

You will have to wait for some time for the computer to collect information about the installed systems and offer you a list of possible systems to restore. You need to select the appropriate Windows installation. You may be prompted to automatically fix your system. Why not try it - it might help. If you don’t want to try automatic correction, you just need to select “No”.

The next step will be the system recovery settings window. Here you can start with the Startup Repair option - restoring startup in automatic mode. It is also possible to restore the MBR manually. To do this, select command line mode and enter the following commands at the command prompt:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot

The first command will restore the MBR (in some cases this is quite enough), the second - boot sector of the system hard disk partition and boot configuration data. After completing the recovery, restart the computer without the boot disk in the drive.

As you can see, there are several reasons why Windows 7 does not load, so the ways to solve this problem may be different. In advanced cases, it may be necessary to reinstall the system, but Usually it is possible to solve the problem in other ways.

The Windows 7 operating system is the most popular and successful OS from Microsoft, installed on 50 percent of all personal computers worldwide. After the failed Vista, users happily switched to the new OS, and even after the release of the “eight” and “ten” they are in no hurry to update. A computer running Win 7 is a fast and productive device that copes with the everyday tasks that the user assigns to it. However, PC owners often report that there is a problem with starting the device.

In some scenarios, the computer refuses to start, showing an error message

Depending on the content of this message (or in the absence of such a message at all), you should build a strategy for diagnosing the device and carry out the recovery procedure.

Error with the text "Disk boot failure"

That is why the first thing you should do when such an error occurs is to disconnect all drives from the PC and check the drives for the presence of disks in them

The list of next steps depends on what actually causes the error, so it's worth checking:

Device order in BIOS. It is recommended to set the HDD as the “First device” so that the PC looks for boot files on the main hard drive, and only then uses other hardware.
Check if the HDD is displayed in the list of devices on the first screen of the PC. If not, then this is a reason to disassemble the device and check whether the hard drive is connected correctly to the Mother Board, or check the functionality of the equipment on another PC.
Check to see if the battery on the motherboard is dead. This battery is responsible for storing BIOS settings when the computer is turned off: every time the power is lost, the settings return to the factory settings, and the computer again looks for boot entries in the wrong place, as a result of which Windows does not start.

Error "BOOTMGR is missing"

The second common error in which Windows 7 does not start greets the user with the text “BOOTMGR is missing”

The essence of this error is that the program that is responsible for loading the OS is missing or damaged on the system disk.

Tip: as in the case of the “Disk boot failure” problem, it is recommended to first disconnect all unnecessary storage media from the PC and check the order in which the devices are read. Only if this does not help should you proceed to further manipulations.

Microsoft has developed a startup repair tool specifically to solve problems with boot firmware. To use it, you must:

Start your computer.
A second before the OS loading screen with the Windows logo should appear, press the F8 key.
Among the list of boot options, click on the line “Troubleshoot your computer”, after which the Windows 7 Startup Repair Wizard will begin.
Select “System Restore” in the window that appears.

First, the system will prompt the user to indicate the OS that needs diagnostics, and then ask for a tool that needs to be used to fix the problems that have arisen.

You should indicate your WIN7 in the first stage, and in the second select “Startup Repair”

In most cases, the described manipulations should solve problems with starting Windows 7.

In a situation where system recovery does not work on Windows 7, it is recommended to insert the installation disk into the drive, since it also contains an OS recovery tool.

Error "NTLDR is missing"

But the occurrence of this problem most often indicates either a hardware malfunction of the HDD or damage to the ntldr system file. The best way to diagnose the problem is to remove the drive and use another computer to test the functionality of the hardware.

However, before disconnecting the HDD and checking its functionality, it is advisable to make sure that another hard drive is not currently connected to the computer, and that it is not installed first in the list of boot devices. As a rule, after changing the boot order or disabling conflicting hardware, you can still turn on Windows 7.

The text notification “NTLDR is missing”, which also does not boot the Windows system, is somewhat less common than the two problems described above

The problem with NTLDR can also appear in a scenario where the user has installed several OSes on one HDD. In this case, the method for restoring the launch of Windows 7, described in the block with the error “BOOTMGR is missing,” will help.

If after completing the steps described above you still cannot start your computer, you should check the HDD for viruses using another device or a special disk from Dr.Web or Kaspersky. You should also copy the Ntdetect.com file and NTLDR itself, which is located at the root of the partition, from the second computer. An important condition is that the OS on both computers must be identical.

Black screen

Another known problem is a black screen after loading Windows 7. The OS goes through all the startup stages, boots successfully, but at the moment when the login screen should appear, nothing happens at all. At first it may seem like it is taking a long time to boot the computer, but the active mouse cursor reveals another problem here - a blocked Explorer.exe file. This is Windows Explorer, responsible for displaying the desktop, folders and most of the OS graphical interface.

A black screen after starting Windows 7 can be treated by manually opening Explorer. To do this, you need to press “CTRL” + “ALT” + “DEL” on the keyboard simultaneously, check that Explorer.exe is not in the list of processes, and then use the “File” -> “Run new task” function to try to launch it yourself by entering in the process name text field.

If this solution does not help, you should start Windows in safe mode and check the functionality of Explorer there.

To turn on your PC this way, you need to press F8 before the OS boot screen, and then select “Safe Mode with Command Line Support” from the list of options

After loading the OS, the user will see a command line in which he must enter “explorer.exe”. If in safe mode the contents of the desktop are displayed and folders are opened, then the root of the problem lies in one of the programs installed on the computer. In some cases, Windows 7 does not boot normally due to antivirus software, and in others due to incorrectly installed updates. You should remember what actions were performed on the device recently and cancel them by uninstalling new software or rolling back Windows to a restore point.

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Now you know what to do if Windows 7 does not boot.

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