Run Startup Repair on a Dell PC with a Windows Operating System.

Startup Issues this guide can NOT help with:

However Startup Repair will not be able to repair unbootable systems caused by any of the following issues:

• Any malfunctioning firmware and other hardware components
• Any problems with clean Windows installations or Windows upgrades. i.e, from Windows XP to Windows Vista or Windows 7 to Windows 8, 8.1 or any to Windows 10
• Windows logon errors
• Viruses and malicious software

Windows 8 and 8.1

1. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen.

   • tapping rapidly on the F12 key at the Dell Splash screen when the system starts up and choose the CD/DVD drive from the Boot Once Menu that appears. You can do the same thing if you have a USB recovery drive, just choose to boot from the USB instead.

   • Tap rapidly on the SHIFT+F8 key together as the system goes past the Dell Splash screen and it may bring up the Advanced Options screen.

     Note: If you have installed your Windows installation on the latest UEFI BIOS or are using a SSD (Solid State Drive) as your boot device, then please use one of the other methods shown here.

   • If you still have access to the windows home screen you can click on Restart whilst holding down the SHIFT key. Or you can press the Windows+I keys together and choose General and select restart to advanced startup.

(Fig.1 Dell Boot Once Menu)

2. At the System Recovery Options screen, click on Advanced options and then Automatic Repair.

(Fig.13 Advanced Options Menu)

3. If it asks while it's running select the correct Operating System that you want to do an Automatic Repair on.

(Fig.14 Automatic Repair)

4. If asked select an Administrator Account.

(Fig.15 Repair - Select User)

5. The Automatic Repair will start Diagnosing your PC and it will attempt to automatically repair them.

(Fig.16 Repair - Diagnostics with auto-repair)

6. If startup repair could not find problems or repair your computer, then either select Shut down to turn off your PC, or click on Advanced options to go back to step 2.

(Fig.17 Automatic Repair could not repair your PC screen)

Windows 7

1. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen using your retail Windows 7 installation disk or system repair disc or appropriately installed bootable thumb drive.

   1. You can do this by tapping rapidly on the F12 key at the Dell Splash screen when the system starts up and choose the CD/DVD drive from the Boot Once Menu that appears.

   2. You can tap rapidly on the F8 key when the System starts up and select the repair your computer. Go to step 5 if this works.

(Fig.1 Dell Boot Once Menu)

2. A message to Press any key to boot from CD.. appears on screen quickly when it picks up the installation disc. Press any key when you see this message appear.

3. You will get an onscreen message advising setup is copying files. Let it boot to a screen that asks for your language and keyboard settings and choose the appropriate ones for you.

(Fig.8 Language Setup Screen)

4. You will be asked if you want to install, instead look in the corner of the screen and click on the Repair your Computer to bring up the repair options.

(Fig.9 Install Now Screen)

5. Select the Startup Repair option from the recovery options screen.

(Fig.10 Recovery Options)

6. Startup Repair will now scan your computer to attempt to find and fix any startup problems.

(Fig.11 Startup Repair)

(Fig.12 Repair Finish Screen)

7. If problems cannot be found, then click on Next. Click on the Restart button to return to the Windows 7 log on screen.

Windows Vista

1. Boot to the System Recovery Options screen using your Windows Vista installation disk or system repair disc.

   • You can do this by tapping rapidly on the F12 key at the Dell Splash screen when the system starts up and choose the CD/DVD drive from the Boot Once Menu that appears.

(Fig.1 Dell Boot Once Menu)

2. A message to Press any key to from CD.. appears on screen quickly when it picks up the installation disc. Press any key when you see this message appear.

   • Press any Key to boot from CD/DVD...

3. You will get an onscreen message advising setup is copying files. Let it boot to a screen that asks for your language and keyboard settings and choose the appropriate ones for you.

(Fig.2 Language Setup Screen)

4. You will be asked if you want to install, instead look in the corner of the screen and click on the Repair your Computer to bring up the repair options.

(Fig.3 Install Now Screen)

5. Select the Startup Repair option from the recovery options screen.

(Fig.4 Recovery Options)

6. Startup Repair will now scan your computer to attempt to find and fix any startup problems.

(Fig.5 Startup Repair)

(Fig.6 Repair Diagnosis and Repair details)

7. If problems cannot be found, then click on Finish. Click on the Restart button to return to the Windows Vista log on screen.

(Fig.7 Could not detect a problem screen)