7 Solutions to Fix Windows Failed to Start Windows 7 Error [Disk Recovery]

Many Windows 7 users may be familiar with this error “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.” The error message will also give users a couple of options to resolve the issue like running Startup Repair or starting Windows normally, as the following screenshot shows.

See: What Should Be Done if a System Cannot Boot from the Hard Drive

There are various Windows boot errors and this one is a typical error for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. What leads to this error? The following contents will show you the most common causes.

Reasons for Windows Failed to Start Error

the following reasons are possible causes of a Windows failed to start error.

1. Missing or Corrupted BCD File

The most likely cause of the Windows failed to start error is the missing or corrupted BCD file. The reasons for BCD file missing or corruption are various. There could be disk write errors or power outages and so on. If the BCD file is missing, your computer will show the error “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.”

2. Bad or Outdated Driver Issues

Sometimes bad drivers can cause the Windows failed to start Windows 7 error as Windows begins to load.

3. The Corruption of System Files

The file system itself may become corrupt or damaged due to some reasons. If you turn off a PC while it is in the middle of writing crucial data to the boot sector, you may encounter this Windows 7 failed to start error. System file corruption may also cause boot issues like error “Recovery your PC needs to be repaired” if you use Windows 10.

When people come across the Windows failed to start error, what they worry about the most is the data saved on the computer. Well, how to get files off the unbootable computer?

How to Get Files off from an Unbootable Computer

You can try MiniTool Partition Wizard’s Data Recovery feature to recover important files from the computer with Windows failed to start error immediately. Just follow the steps as below.

Step 1. Get MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate from the following button and install it on a normal computer.

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Step 2. Create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD disc using the Bootable Media embedded in this software to boot the computer with the Windows failed to start error.

Step 3. Connect the boot disk you’ve made to the computer with Windows failed to start error.

Step 4. Enter the BIOS settings menu of your computer to give the bootable USB drive or disc boot priority. Then boot from the disk.

Step 5. When you get to the interface of MiniTool Partition Wizard, launch the Data Recovery wizard.

Step 6. After launching the Data Recovery function, you can see that all the detected disk partitions are arranged by drive letters.

Here Data Recovery will list 5 parts, and every part is different from each other.

  • Recovery Result: this section will show the last scanning result record and you can manually load scanning result to check recovered files directly.
  • Logical Drive: this section will show all existing partitions on your computer including removable devices.
  • Lost Partition: this section will show all lost partitions detected by Data Recovery and then you can recover data from lost partitions.
  • Unallocated Space: this section will show all unallocated spaces on your computer.
  • Hard Disk: this section will list all hard disks on the computer. Users can also select a hard disk to scan.

Step 7. You can select a partition and click Scan. Here I take partition G as an example.

Note: In the bootable edition, every partition has its drive letter including the system reserved partition. So, the drive letter of the system partition can be changed. You can pay attention to the partition size to make sure you choose the right partition to recover.

Step 8. Waiting for the scanning completion. During the process of scanning, you can pause or stop the scanning by clicking the Pause or Stop button if you find what you need.

Step 9. After completing the scan, you can check items that you need and click Save button.

Step 10. At last, choose a directory to save selected files. It is recommended to save the recovered files on another drive. Otherwise, the lost/deleted data could be overwritten. You can save the files to a USB drive or other external devices.

This is how to get files off with MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate when computers won’t boot. If you want to rescue important files immediately, try this.

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Well, after recovering the essentials, how can we fix the Windows failed to start Windows 7 error? To fix this issue, use the following top 7 solutions to fix “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.”

7 Solutions to Fix Windows Failed to Start Windows 7 Error

Solution 1. Remove Newly Installed Hardware or External Devices and Reboot.

If you installed any hardware (such as printers or scanners) before you met the “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.” error, just remove the hardware you installed (especially all other unnecessary hardware with only the mouse and keyboard kept) and restart the computer.

Solution 2. Use the Last Known Good Configuration to Boot up Windows

When you are faced with “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.” error, you can try booting into the Last Known Good Configuration option, which might save your computer.

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F8 continuously until you see the list of boot options.

Step 2. Choose Last Known Good Configuration (Advanced) from the list and press Enter.

Step 3. Wait and see if Windows can boot up successfully.

If not, you may try using Startup Repair with detailed steps in Solution 3.

Solution 3. Run Startup Repair

Step 1. Insert a Windows installation disc into the computer with Windows failed to start error.

Step 2. Restart the computer with its power button. You should be able to see “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD”. Follow the instructions and boot.

Step 3. Choose your language and other preferences and then click on Next.

Step 4. On this screen, click on Repair your computer in the bottom left corner.

Step 5. Select the operating system you want to repair and then select Next.

Step 6. On the System Recovery Options menu, select Startup Repair, and then follow the on-screen instructions. When it completes, restart your computer to see if it fixed the problem.

When the startup repair process is done, you may restart your computer and check if Windows failed to start Windows 7 error disappears.

When you receive the following message in the picture, it means that the startup is unable to solve Windows failed to start error and you might resort to another method instead.

Solution 4. Rebuild BCD Configuration

The missing or corruption of BCD file is also a critical reason for the Windows failed to start error. You can follow the steps as below to rebuild BCD in command prompt.

Step 1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc and restart your computer.

Step 2. Boot from the disc by pressing any key when the “Press any key to boot from CD” message appears.

Step 3. On the Install Windows page, choose your language and other preferences, and then select Next.

Step 4. Select the Windows operating system you want to repair, and then select Next.

Step 5. On the System Recovery Options page, choose Command Prompt.

Step 6. Then input the following commands in the Command Prompt window and press Enter after each command.

  • bootrec.exe /fixmbr
  • bootrec.exe /fixboot
  • bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

Solution 5. Run CHKDSK Utility

Step 1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc and restart your computer.

Step 2. Boot from the disc by pressing any key when the “Press any key to boot from CD” message appears.

Step 3. On the Install Windows page, choose your language and other preferences, and then select Next.

Step 4. Select the operating system you want to repair, and then select Next.

Step 5. On the System Recovery Options page, select Command to open a command prompt window.

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Step 6. Input the following command and press Enter.

chkdsk c: /f /x /r

Solution 6. Perform a System Restore

Step 1. Insert the Windows install disc.

Step 2. Press a key when the “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” message appears on your screen.

Step 3. Click on Repair your computer after selecting a language, time and keyboard method.

Step 4. Select the drive where you installed Windows (usually C:) and click Next.

Step 5. Select System Restore from the System Recovery Options window.

Step 6. Follow the System Restore wizard instructions to select a restore point.

Step 7. Restore your PC by clicking Finish.

Solution 7. Reinstall Windows Operating System

If none of the solutions listed works, you may need to reinstall Windows altogether. Since reinstalling Windows will clear all of the data and third-party programs on your computer, you’d better backup everything on the disk.

Step 1. Also, get MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate to create a bootable USB drive on a normally running computer.

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Step 2. Boot your computer with the USB drive/disc and get the main interface of MiniTool Partition Wizard. Select the disk that you want to copy and click on Copy Disk.

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the Partition Wizard and at last click Apply on the upper left corner.

Then you can reinstall Windows 7.

Step 1. Insert a Windows installation disc into the computer with Windows failed to start error.

Step 2. Restart the computer with its power button. Press any key to boot when you see “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD”.

Step 3. Choose your language and other preferences and then click on Next.

Step 4. On this screen, click on Install now to start Windows 7 reinstallation.

After reinstallation, you can manage Windows 7 disks and partitions with a professional Windows 7 partition manager and backup Windows 7 regularly in case of any accidental boot failure.

“By following the steps in this post, I successfully fixed “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.” error after trying a few solutions in this post. If you have the same issue, why not have a try?Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

After reading this post, have you resolved the issue after trying the above solutions for the Windows 7 failed to start error? Hope you were able to fix the problem via these methods.

If you have any other good solutions for the “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.” Windows 7 error, you can leave a message on the following comment zone and we will respond as soon as possible. If you need any help when using MiniTool software, you can contact us via [email protected].

— Update: 08-02-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article Fix Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause from the website techcult.com for the keyword windows failed to start a recent hardware or software change might be the.

If you are facing this error, then chances are you may have installed new hardware or software which is causing the issue. Sometimes installing the latest Windows updates seems to cause this issue but you can’t be sure until you troubleshoot the issue. Now as far as software problems are concerned, these might be the possible reasons as to
why you are facing this error:

  • Corrupted BCD information
  • System File is damaged.
  • Loose or faulty SATA/IDE Cable
  • Conflicting 3rd party software
  • Virus or malware

The error which you will get after a reboot will be:

Error: Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might have caused the issue after you install Windows Updates

The main problem is that you won’t boot into Windows and you will be stuck at this error message screen. In short, you will be inside a reboot loop as every time you restart your PC you will again face the same error message until you fix the issue. So without wasting any time let’s see how actually to Fix “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause” with the below-listed troubleshooting steps.

Fix Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

Method 1: Run Startup/Automatic Repair

1. Insert the Windows 10 bootable installation DVD or Recovery Disc and restart your PC.

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2. When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to continue.

3. Select your language preferences, and click Next. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left.

4. On choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

5. On Troubleshoot screen, click the Advanced option.

6. On the Advanced options screen, click Automatic Repair or Startup Repair.

7. Wait till the Windows Automatic/Startup Repairs complete.

8. Restart and you have successfully Fix Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause, if not, continue.

Also Read: How to fix Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC.

Method 2: Boot into Last Known Good Configuration

Before going any further let’s discuss how to Enable Legacy Advanced Boot Menu so that you can easily get Boot Options:

1.  Restart your Windows 10.

2. As the system restarts enter into BIOS setup and configure your PC to boot from CD/DVD.

3. Insert the Windows 10 bootable installation DVD and restart your PC.

4. When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to continue.

5. Select your language preferences, and click Next. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left.

6. On choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

7. On Troubleshoot screen, click the Advanced option.

8. On Advanced options screen, click Command Prompt.

9. When the Command Prompt(CMD) open type C: and hit enter.

10. Now type the following command:

BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY

11. And hit enter to Enable Legacy Advanced Boot Menu.

12. Close Command Prompt and back on the Choose an option screen, click Continue to restart Windows 10.

13. Finally, don’t forget to eject your Windows 10 installation DVD to get Boot options.

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14. On the Boot Options screen, choose  “Last Known Good Configuration (Advanced).”

Method 3: Perform a System Restore

1. Put in the Windows installation media or Recovery Drive/System Repair Disc and select your language preferences, and click Next

2. Click Repair your computer at the bottom.

3. Now, choose Troubleshoot and then Advanced Options.

4. Finally, click on “System Restore” and follow on-screen instructions to complete the restore.

5. Restart your PC to save changes and see if you can fix Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause error.

Method 4: Run SFC and CHKDSK

1. Again go to command prompt using the method 1, click on command prompt in the Advanced options screen.

2. Type the following command in cmd and hit enter after each one:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c: /offwindir=c:windows chkdsk C: /f /r /x

Note: Make sure you use the drive letter where Windows is currently installed. Also in the above command C: is the drive on which we want to check disk, /f stands for a flag which chkdsk the permission to fix any errors associated with the drive, /r let chkdsk search for bad sectors and perform recovery and /x instructs the check disk to dismount the drive before beginning the process.

3. Exit the command prompt and restart your PC.

Method 5: Rebuild BCD configuration

1. Using above method open command prompt using Windows installation disk.

2. Now type the following commands one by one and hit enter after each one:

bootrec.exe /FixMbr bootrec.exe /FixBoot bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

3. If the above command fails, then enter the following commands in cmd:

bcdedit /export C:BCD_Backup c: cd boot attrib bcd -s -h -r ren c:bootbcd bcd.old bootrec /RebuildBcd

4. Finally, exit the cmd and restart your Windows.

5. This method seems to Fix Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might cause the error, but if it doesn’t work for you, then continue.

Method 6: Set Correct Boot Order

1. When your computer starts (Before the boot screen or the error screen), repeatedly press Delete or F1 or F2 key (Depending upon your computer’s manufacturer) to enter BIOS setup.

2. Once you are in BIOS setup, select the Boot tab from the list of options.

3. Now make sure that the computer Hard disk or SSD is set as a top priority in the Boot order. If not, use up or down arrow keys to set hard disk at the top, which means the computer will first boot from it rather than any other source.

4. Finally, press F10 to save this change and exit.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause, but if you still have any questions regarding this post, please ask them in the comment’s section.

— Update: 03-03-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article Fix: Windows Failed to Start After Hardware or Software Change from the website windowsreport.com for the keyword windows failed to start a recent hardware or software change might be the.

Missing BCD file may cause this problem and requires rebuilding

Some of our readers who recently complained about the Windows failed to start a recent hardware or software change might be the cause error need to know that this error is inevitable if there is any hardware or software change to your computer.

This error affects the regular boot process of your computer and, at times, causes data loss. This article will teach you how to fix the error.

Why do I encounter Windows failed to start after hardware or software change?

One of the major reasons could be that you have installed hardware or software which has triggered the error. Below are some other factors reported by some users:

  • Corrupted BCD file – If you often experience power outages or there are disk write errors, it can cause your BCD file to become missing or corrupted, producing this issue.
  • Corrupted or damaged system files – System file corruption or damage is a common cause of starting failures. Read about how to repair damaged system files here.
  • Viruses and malware infections – Some viruses and malware may have affected the system files and triggered the error. Try one of the best antivirus software shortlisted in this article.
  • Conflicting third-party programs – Some readers claim the error occurred after installing a program that wasn’t compatible with one of the resident apps. Consider using one of these best uninstaller software to remove them.
  • Problems with connected devices – This error can manifest due to a conflict with an attached external device. Disconnect them and then reconnect them individually to know which is causing the issue.

Now that you know some of the potential reasons behind this issue, you can work your way through any of the fixes provided in this article.

What can I do if Windows failed to start due to hardware or software change?

It may be worth a simple fix for you if you consider performing the following preliminary checks:

  • Disconnect all peripheral devices such as a printer, scanner, camera, or any other USB devices (if any) except for your mouse and keyboard, which you’ll need for navigation.
  • Check the storage drive for any damage or connection problems.
  • Boot into Safe Mode. You may try these fixes if Windows refused to boot into Safe Mode.

Having confirmed the above checks and the problem persists, you can explore the advanced solutions provided below.

1. Run the Automatic/Startup Repairs

  1. Insert Windows bootable installation DVD or Recovery Disc and restart your PC.
  2. After getting the prompt to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, click on any key to continue.
  3. Choose your language preferences and click on Next and then, click on Repair your computer.
  4. In the next section, choose Troubleshoot.
  5. Click on Advanced options on the Troubleshoot screen.
  6. Then, select Automatic Repair or Startup Repair.
  7. Wait for Windows to complete the Automatic/Startup Repairs.

As soon as the process is complete, restart your PC for the fix to take effect. Now, check if the problem is fixed. If it persists, try the next fix.

2. Rebuild BCD Configuration

  1. Follow steps 1-5 in the method above and click on Command Prompt while using your Windows installation disk.
  2. Type the following commands one after the other and press Enter after each: 
    • bootrec.exe /FixMbr
      bootrec.exe /FixBoot
      bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd
  3. Then, exit Command Prompt and restart Windows.

Rebuilding BCD has been reported by several users to have proved a potential fix for the Windows failed to start a recent hardware or software change might be the cause error.

3. Run SFC and CHKDSK Scans

  1. Insert your Windows booting media and restart your PC.
  2. Choose your language preferences and click on Next and then, click on Repair your computer.
  3. Select Troubleshoot.
  4. Click on Advanced options.
  5. Now select Command Prompt.
  6. Type the following command line and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
  7. Then type the following and hit Enter: chkdsk C: /f /r /x
  8. Now, exit the command prompt and restart your PC.

You can try running the SFC and CHKDSK scans, as they will search for bad sectors and perform recovery on them.

Alternatively, you can clearly repair this kind of error on Windows with a dedicated optimizing tool that will scan and fix corrupted files that result in Windows failed to start errors. The most suitable choice for this task is Restoro.

4. Perform a System Restore

  1. Insert Windows bootable installation media and restart your PC.
  2. After getting the prompt to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, click on any key to continue.
  3. Choose your language preferences and click on Next and then, choose the Repair your computer option.
  4. Click on System Restore and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the restore.
  5. Restart your PC to effect the changes made.

Another helpful way to fix computer problems is by using the built-in System Restore feature in Windows.

You should be able to fix the issue after working your way through the provided fixes in this article.

Similar to this error is the UNetbootin Windows Failed to Start. You can check how to fix it using our detailed guide.

If you have any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to use the comments section below.

— Update: 19-03-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article Windows failed to start; A recent hardware or software change might be the cause from the website www.thewindowsclub.com for the keyword windows failed to start a recent hardware or software change might be the.

Windows can stop working, in fact, fail to start because of any hardware and software change. These changes interfere with the regular boot process, and the bootloader becomes clueless. When that happens, it becomes painful because you can get access to it. In this post, we will try to resolve the problem with the troubleshooting tips.

Windows failed to start; A recent hardware or software change might be the cause

The problem is usually with the missing bootloader or connected hardware. You will need to make a bootable USB drive to boot into advanced recovery. Since you cannot access your computer, you can use another Windows 10 PC to create the bootable disk. The options you have are:

  1. Check Hardware
  2. Automatic Repair
  3. Rebuild BCD
  4. Set Correct Boot Order

You will also need an admin account in one of the processes so make sure you remember that.

1] Set Correct Boot Order

When Windows starts, the bootloader looks for a set of files from where it can start loading Windows. If it will not find the right files, Windows will not load. You need to make sure that the default bootable drive is your SSD or HDD. When it’s not set as default, and you have a USB drive connected, Windows will be stuck. So boot into the BIOS using DEL or F2 key when you power up the computer, and change the order.

2] Check Hardware

If there is no Boot Order problem, you can check if there is an issue with the Hard drive. The first thing you should check the BIOS can detect it. If it does, then you need to check it with another computer. If the hard drive or SSD cannot be recognized, you have a hardware issue.

In case you are facing this on a laptop, you need to manually take it out, and check. If it voids your warranty. please take it to the service center, and not open it yourself.

3] Automatic Startup Repair

Windows Advanced Recovery offers an Automatic Repair feature (Startup Repair) that scan system files, Registry settings, configuration settings, and more and try to fix the problem on its own, automatically. It usually starts automatically if the reboot process is interrupted multiple times.

You can use a bootable USB drive to boot into Recovery.

4] Rebuild BCD

BCD or Boot Configuration Data contains information that allows the bootloader to find the right files to boot Windows. If BCD is corrupt or doesn’t have information then Windows gets stuck. Follow the steps to rebuild BCD:

  • Boot your computer into Advanced Recovery Mode
  • Launch Command Prompt available under Advanced Options.
  • To rebuild the BCD or Boot Configuration Data file use the command –bootrec /rebuildbcd
  • It will scan for other operating systems and let you select the OS’s you want to add to BCD.

You can also try to fix MBR or Master Boot Record by executing the commands in the Command Prompt bootrec/fixMbr and bootrec /fixboot.

I hope the post was easy to follow, and you were able to fix the problem.

Source: https://www.partitionwizard.com/disk-recovery/windows-failed-to-start.html

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