Startup Repair

How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7​

   Information

Startup Repair is a system recovery tool that automates common diagnostic and repair tasks of unbootable Windows 7 installations. If the computer fails over into Windows RE because of a detected boot failure, Startup Repair launches automatically. If automatic failover to an on-disk Windows RE is not available, Startup Repair can also be launched as a manual recovery tool from a Windows RE CD/DVD.

This tutorial will show you how to run Startup Repair to allow it to scan your Windows 7 computer for a startup problem and try to fix it so your computer can start correctly.

Startup Repair is located on the System Recovery Options menu, which is on the Windows 7 installation disc. If your computer manufacturer (OEM) has preinstalled recovery options, Startup Repair might also be installed on your hard disk. If your computer does not include Startup Repair, your computer manufacturer (OEM) might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.

   Note

Startup Repair Process

Startup Repair will try to repair computers that are unbootable because of the following reasons:

• Registry corruption
• Missing or damaged system and driver files
• Disk metadata corruption (MBR, partition table, and boot sector)
• File system metadata corruption
• Installation of problematic or incompatible drivers
• Installation of incompatible Windows service packs and patches
• Corrupt boot configuration data
• Bad memory and hard disk hardware (detection only)

Startup Repair will not repair unbootable systems caused by the following issues:

• Malfunctioning firmware and other hardware components
• Problems with clean Windows installations or Windows upgrades (for example, from Windows XP to Windows Vista)
• Windows logon errors
• Viruses and malicious software

After Startup Repair has run, a text log with diagnostic information and repair results is generated. The log file is located at: C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt


For more information, see: How Windows RE Works

   Warning

Startup Repair cannot fix hardware failures, such as a failing hard disk or incompatible memory, nor does it protect against virus attacks. Startup Repair is not designed to fix Windows installation problems. Startup Repair is not a backup tool, so it cannot help you recover personal files, such as photos or documents. To help protect your computer, back up your system and files regularly.

:note: For the updated Windows 10 tutorial, please see - Startup Repair - Run in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials

Here's How:
1. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen using your retail Windows 7 installation disk or system repair disc.

2. Select the Startup Repair option. (See screenshot below)
3. Startup Repair will now scan your computer to attempt to find and fix any startup problems. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs. If repairs are not successful, you'll see a summary of the problem and links to contact information for support. Your computer manufacturer might include additional assistance information.
4. If problems cannot be found, then click on Finish. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can click on the View diagnostic and repair details link to see a detailed summary of what Startup Repair has done.

A) Click on the Restart button to return to the Windows 7 log on screen. (See screenshot below step 2)

   Tip

Sometimes it may take running a startup repair (3) separate times with restarting the computer after each time before it fully fixes the startup issue.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
• How to Boot to the Advanced Boot Options in Windows 7
• How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to See Windows 7 Reliability and Problem History with Reliability Monitor
• How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7
• How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
• How to Create a System Recovery Shortcut in Windows 7
• Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to Repair Boot Issues
• How to Recover from an Infinitely Looping Startup Repair Loop without Reinstalling Windows
• Bootmgr is missing - Fix
• How to Use the Bootrec.exe Tool in Windows Recovery Environment

 

[RichPasco]

Well, SIW2, I couldn't just "shut down the machine" because any attempt to close the Startup Repair session resulted in the same message, "The current repair operation cannot be cancelled." So I eventually killed power, fearing what negative consequences that might have. When I re-booted, it went right back into Startup Repair again, for another hour-long session. The next time I killed power and re-booted, this time I chose the option to ignore the problem and boot Windows anyway. The system seems to work OK, but I am left with the creepy feeling that something must still be wrong with it, otherwise Startup Repair would complete successfully.

 

[arvin0807]

nice good c!

 

[thebeachworks]

Startup repair did not work. Now what?

 

[Brink]

Startup repair did not work. Now what?

Hello thebeachworks, and welcome to Seven Forums.

In order for us to be able to try and help, we will need to know a lot more details about the issue you are having.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

What if your boot repair disk from digital river automatically loads the Windows installation on your computer but the bootmgr is missing error continues when the computer boots on it's own, this is the problem I have. I've run diskpart, set the volume and when I reboot, I get the error; bootmgr is missing ! I can boot successful into Window, when the Windows7 boot disc is in the computer, but I don't get any repair options, it just loads into my version of windows which is installed on the computer.

 

[Brink]

Hey mate,

Since you are able to boot into Windows, post a screenshot showing all of your Disk Management with which drive is for Windows pointed out.

In addition, post a screenshot showing the Boot tab in msconfig.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Afterwards, post the results of running a bcdedit command in an elevated command prompt to see what it has for your boot configuration.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

The other partitions are partitions with files, I hope I can bypass having a screen shot of all drives and partitions; if I can with a little more written information ?

Result from BCDEdit

 

[Brink]

Yeah, I'm going to need to see all of it to help rule it out. Don't forget msconfig as well.

For now, enter the command below in an elevated command prompt, and press Enter to set the boot menu policy to be standard.

bcdedit /set {current} bootmenupolicy Standard

 

[JerometheGiraff]

What do I replace {current} with ? If I'm suppose to enter the command as is; then it doesn't work.

Is there anything specific in computer management I could tell you; I have nothing against posting my entire partitions and drive, but I prefer not too, just a personal preference !

 

[Brink]

The command would be entered exactly as is. Did you do it in an elevated command prompt? Did you get an error message?

I need to see the full layout to see what each partition is set as. For example, if another drive/partition is set as "active" or "system". It's not something that can be guessed at. You can black out the drive/partition names if you like. There's no personal information that will be revealed in it.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I get an error the element data type specified is not recognized or does not apply to the specified entry.

I have to say, the partition software I used really botched things up severely. I'm almost at a week since this occurred. It was driving me insane after work I took a day or two off from even attempting to fix, all that would happen is I would go in circles. Until I adjusted some things in the BIOS, and I was able to boot into the Digital Rivers Windows7 boot disc.

 

[Brink]

Since you didn't include a screenshot of the entire drive layout in Disk Management, I'm not able to tell between partitions and a single drive in your screenshot above.

Your bcdedit report from earlier shows that it's using the boot configuration on your I: drive instead of C:.

If you don't boot with any other OS on any other drive, then you need to mark inactive G, I, and Temp_Drive. You'll need to temporarily assign a drive letter to Temp_Drive to be able to mark it inactive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

Afterwards, disconnect all drives other than your Windows C: drive, and run startup repair again. Possibly up to 3 times.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

The computer starts to a blue screen, nothing more ! The Windows Start up Disc doesn't boot as it once did, instead I get an error.

Starting Windows with the Boot Disc mentioned the Windows Start Manager failed to start; insert the Windows boot disk to start up and repair the Windows installation. I only have the Windows upgrade disc, startup & repair does not work with the upgrade disc.

 

[Brink]

After what step did this start happening?

You might create a boot Windows installation USB, and see if you are able to boot from it to repair Windows.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

 

[JerometheGiraff]

After what step did this start happening?

You might create a boot Windows installation USB, and see if you are able to boot from it to repair Windows.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

That is what I was using all this time a USB UEFI Boot Drive, that doesn't work anymore after using Diskpart. Instead the computer boots into a blank blue screen, after a few second it reboots, then it does it again & again & again.

As I said the boot partition software messed everything up and everyone's suggestions can't fix it. The problem happened last Thursday, and it's almost a week later ! I'm not a novice at computers, I've tried many things before hitting the forums, hoping to get it working in a matter of a day or two tops. Here I am almost a week later, I've had people on the forum tell me things from, "it works for everyone else" to "maybe your doing this wrong", instead of admitting, maybe this is a isolated incident and my solutions that have worked for many are not working in this case.

 

[Brink]

Do you have all drives disconnected other than the Windows drive?

On the Windows drive, is there only the C: partition?

Try using a non UEFI USB flash drive.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Yes, I'll try a non UEFI flash Drive, even though I created a hybrid boot disc, I'll create another that isn't a hybrid.

Rufus created a boot disc for BIOS or UEFI computers, there is nothing more for me to do.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I created another boot usb drive with Rufus, except this time, I choose only a UEFI file system. I was able to choose Start up & Repair, unfortunately it doesn't work as I get an error that it's not compatible with my version of windows, this is a ISO from digital rivers.

I can't format the partition, my WinPE doesn't allow me, the USB boot drive, doesn't allow me, arghhh !

 

[Brink]

You DO NOT want to use a UEFI USB since your Windows 7 is not installed with UEFI. Create one that isn't USB using this below to see if it may work instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

 

[JerometheGiraff]

The USB / DVD Download Tool doesn't work, when I boot up, I can access the Start up and Repair options, there is no Windows drive in the list to repair, instead my computer does what it has been doing, boot into a blue screen after a few minutes it resets.

I have a image of the windows partition, if I could format the partition, in hopes that I can repair the the 100 meg boot partition, then restore my image, I could have everything up and running in an hour. Not only can I not do that, I can't repair the Windows partition without.