Table of Contents:
- Verify the Computer Finishes Initial Power-Up (POST)
- Unplug All External Devices
- Check for Specific Error Messages
- Reset the BIOS to Default Values
- Boot to the HDD using the one-time boot menu
- Run a Computer Diagnostic
- Boot the Computer into Safe Mode
- Boot to the last known good configuration
- Check for Recent Changes
- Use Startup Repair to Restore Critical Windows Files
- Use System Restore to Revert to a Previous State
- Use Clean-Boot Troubleshooting to Isolate the Software Issue
- Virus and Malware Troubleshooting
- Restore the Operating System to Factory Settings
This article provides information about "Computer Does Not Boot to Microsoft Windows 7"
This article is for
Microsoft Windows 7.
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Video (YouTube): How to Fix a Computer that Will not Boot Up (Official Dell Tech Support)
1. Verify the Computer Finishes Initial Power-Up (POST)
Often a computer will not attempt to hand off control to the operating system. If you power the computer on and see a Dell logo screen with a bar at the bottom, and that bar fills up completely and disappears, your computer has successfully completed POST.
Click here if your computer does not complete POST.
Click here if your hard drive is not recognized.
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2. Unplug All External Devices
A piece of hardware may be interfering with the normal boot process of Windows. Try unplugging all devices from your computer, including:
- Printers
- Scanners
- Media Card Readers
- Small Media cradles (iPod, PDA, MP3 player, etc.)
- Digital Cameras and Video Recorders
- USB storage devices
- CDs or DVDs from all optical drives
- Docking station
The only devices that you should leave attached to your computer are your monitor, mouse, and keyboard, if the computer is a desktop.
Once this is completed, unplug the computer from the wall, remove the laptop battery (if applicable) and hold the power button down for approximately 15 seconds. Then plug wall power back into the computer and attempt to restart.
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3. Check for Specific Error Messages
Dell has information about some specific error messages at startup. Refer to the following links for more information:
- Loading PBR for Descriptor generated after POST
- A BLUE SCREEN or STOP error has occurred
If the error message is not listed above, try searching for additional solutions on the Web.
Click
your preferred search engine below, then describe your problem in the search box provided.
Search Dell Search Microsoft Search Google Search Bing
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4. Reset the BIOS to Default Values
If your computer is set to first attempt to boot to another device, this may cause issues with successfully booting to Windows. To reset your computer's BIOS to factory defaults, perform the following steps:
- Restart the computer.
- At the Dell logo during restart, tap the F2 key repeatedly until you see Entering Setup in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Depending on the BIOS, you may need to press a key that is listed at the bottom of the screen to load default settings. For example, F9 on the Inspiron N5110.
- Press ESC to exit the BIOS, and be sure to select Save and Exit to save your changes.
A corrupt BIOS is one of the possible causes of your PC unable to complete POST or some times even boot into the operating system.
If your Dell PC or tablet supports BIOS recovery, you can recover the corrupt BIOS by using the BIOS recovery method applicable for your Dell PC or tablet. Refer to the Dell knowledge-base article BIOS Recovery options on a Dell PC or Tablet for more information.
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5. Boot to the Hard Drive Using the One-Time Boot Menu
Restart the computer, and at the Dell logo screen tap the <F12> key multiple times to invoke the One-Time Boot Menu. Select the Boot from Hard Drive option and press Enter.
6. Run a Computer Diagnostic
To run PSA Diagnostics, turn on the computer and tap the F12 key several times at the Dell logo screen. This starts the One-Time Boot Menu. Select Diagnostics to start the diagnostic assessment of the computer hardware.
This test takes approximately 5 minutes.
If you receive an error from the PSA diagnostics, refer to the Dell Hardware Diagnostics page for further assistance:
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7. Boot the Computer into Safe Mode
- Start the computer.
- Tap F8 on the keyboard immediately after the Dell logo screen disappears until you see the Windows Advanced Options Menu on the screen. (If the Windows Advanced Options Menu does not appear, restart the system and try again.)
- Select Safe mode and press Enter.
- Log in as the administrator or as a user with administrative access.
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8. Attempt to Boot to the Last Known-Good Configuration
The Last Known-Good Configuration can help you reestablish the settings that your computer used the last time that you successfully booted to Windows. To invoke the Last Known-Good Configuration, perform the following steps.
- Power on the system.
- Press < F8 > when the message For troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows, press F8 appears.
- Choose Last Known-Good Configuration
9. Check for Recent Changes
If you can successfully boot to Safe Mode, check your computer to see if any new software or hardware was recently installed. If so, try uninstalling those programs or hardware from your computer.
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10. Use Startup Repair to Restore Critical Windows Files
Startup Repair is a Windows 7 recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly.
To learn more about using Startup Repair to restore critical Windows files, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article, "Run Startup Repair on a Dell PC with a Windows Operating System"
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11. Use System Restore to Revert to a Previous State
Click here to watch a video on how to use System Restore in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). (Note: English Only)
- Restart the computer.
- Tap <F8> during startup until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
- Press <Down Arrow> until Repair Your Computer is highlighted, and then press <Enter>.
- In the System Recovery Options window, click to select your language, and then click Next.
- Log in as a user with administrative rights, and click OK.
- From the Choose a recovery tool menu, click System Restore.
- In the System Restore window, click Next.
- Click the Show restore points older than 5 days checkbox for a complete listing of restore points.
- Click to select a restore point.
- Click Next and then click Finish.
- Click Yes in the confirmation window.
- Click Restart after system restore successfully completes.
- If you encounter any error messages during the restore process, follow the on-screen instructions to correct the error.
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12. Use Clean-Boot Troubleshooting to Isolate the Software Issue
Video (English Only): Perform a Clean Boot to detect Software Problems
A program or application may be interfering with the normal boot process of Windows. Microsoft has created a detailed process for isolating a startup program that is causing Windows to not boot correctly. Click the link below to being the troubleshooting process:
How to Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7
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13. Virus and Malware Troubleshooting
Your computer may be affected by a virus or other malicious software. Dell recommends strengthening your PC against malicious attacks by keeping your anti-virus software up to date.
View our Virus and Spyware Removal Guide
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14. Restore the Operating System to Factory Settings
If clean boot troubleshooting cannot identify the issue, it may be necessary to restore your computer to factory settings. To restore your computer's operating system and software to the original factory settings, launch the link below:
Restore, Factory Reset or Reinstall Windows 7 on your Dell Computer
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