How to Perform a Startup Repair on an HP Laptop

How to Perform a Startup Repair on an HP Laptop is having trouble booting up, getting stuck on the loading screen, or displaying error messages, a Startup Repair might help you resolve the issue. This step-by-step guide will walk you through different methods to perform a startup repair on your HP laptop.

Why Perform a Startup Repair?

A startup repair is useful when:

• Your laptop is stuck in a boot loop.
• Windows fails to load properly.
• The system displays error messages during startup.
• Your laptop freezes or crashes before reaching the desktop.
• You experience blue or black screen errors.

Method 1: Using Windows Automatic Repair

Windows has a built-in Automatic Repair tool that can diagnose and fix startup issues.

Steps to Access Automatic Repair

1. Turn Off Your HP Laptop – Press and hold the power button until the laptop turns off completely.
2. Turn It Back On – Press the power button to turn it on and, as soon as the HP logo appears, press F11 repeatedly.
3. Enter the Recovery Menu – This will take you to the “Choose an Option” screen.
4. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
5. Windows will now scan your system for issues and attempt to fix them automatically.
6. Once the process is complete, restart your laptop and check if the problem is resolved.

Method 2: Perform a System Restore

If Startup Repair doesn’t fix the issue, you can try restoring your system to an earlier state.

Steps to Perform System Restore

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Method 1 to enter the Recovery Menu.
2. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
3. Choose an available restore point from before the issue started.
4. Click Next and then Finish to restore your system.
5. Restart your laptop once the process is completed.

Method 3: Boot into Safe Mode and Perform Repairs

Safe Mode can help diagnose startup issues and allow you to remove recently installed software or drivers that may be causing problems.

Steps to Boot into Safe Mode

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Method 1 to enter the Recovery Menu.
2. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
3. Click Restart and wait for the options menu to appear.
4. Press 4 (or F4) to enter Safe Mode.
5. Once in Safe Mode:
   • Uninstall any recently installed programs or drivers.
   • Run a malware scan using Windows Defender or an antivirus program.
   • Open Command Prompt (Win + R, then type cmd and press Enter), and run the following command to check for system file corruption:

     sfc /scannow

   • Wait for the scan to complete and restart your laptop.

Method 4: Use HP Hardware Diagnostics

HP laptops come with built-in hardware diagnostics that can help identify hardware-related issues causing startup failures.

Steps to Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

1. Turn Off Your Laptop.
2. Turn It Back On and press Esc repeatedly until the Startup Menu appears.
3. Press F2 to enter HP PC Hardware Diagnostics.
4. Select System Tests and run a quick or extensive test.
5. If any hardware issue is detected, follow the recommended steps to fix it.

Method 5: Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If none of the above methods work, reinstalling Windows can resolve major software issues. Before proceeding, backup your important files.

Steps to Reinstall Windows

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Method 1 to enter the Recovery Menu.
2. Click Troubleshoot > Reset This PC.
3. Choose Keep My Files (if you want to keep personal files) or Remove Everything (for a fresh installation).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.

Conclusion

Performing a startup repair on an HP laptop can be a simple process if you follow the right steps. Try Automatic Repair first, then System Restore or Safe Mode, and if needed, HP Diagnostics or a Windows Reinstallation. With patience, you can get your laptop up and running again without professional help.

If issues persist after trying these methods, consider contacting HP Support for further assistance.

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