In today\u2019s edition of Tech 911\u2014Lifehacker\u2019s tech-support column that\u2019s been focusing on your working-from-home questions all week\u2014we\u2019re tackling an old favorite: Microsoft Windows. Specifically, what happens when Windows starts tossing up annoying error messages each and every time you try to launch the operating system? If you\u2019re trying to log in for the day and actually do work for the critical deadlines you have, and you don\u2019t really have an IT department to help out, this is probably the worst spot to be in.
\n Before we toss you a digital life preserver, let\u2019s get the details from Lifehacker reader Patchkek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have a Windows 10 desktop. Several weeks ago windows did an update and several days later when I powered on, I got the message \u201cwindows didn\u2019t load properly\u201d blue screen with several options. The ones I tried didn\u2019t work well, until I found the \u201cRevert to a previous date\u201d option. That worked well. Computer went back on and functioned normally. Unfortunately I still receive the windows did not load properly screen every several days. Im running Windows 10 on a Mac. I was thinking of completely wiping out windows and then reloading it. Maybe I have a virus or bug ? Thanks !!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The humble answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For what it\u2019s worth, you\u2019re not alone on this one. Microsoft has been having issues with Windows 10 updates lately, which can sometimes introduce more problems for users than they can fix. It\u2019s possible that you\u2019re in this camp, but the good news is that it\u2019s very, very unlikely that you\u2019ve been hit with a virus or some piece of sketchy malware. It\u2019s just a Windows issue\u2014not very soothing to hear when you\u2019re experiencing it, I\u2019m sure, but at least slight more comforting than, \u201cYour system is infected\u201d (I hope).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally speaking, I like to abandon ship at the first sign of trouble that would likely take me longer to troubleshoot\u2014with mixed results\u2014than it would take me to reinstall Windows and all of my applications. I suspect that might be the case here. And since you\u2019re Boot Camping into Windows on your Mac, I\u2019m less bothered by putting you out of commission for a bit, since you\u2019ll always have macOS to use if you absolutely need to do something on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before we go nuclear, though, let\u2019s try a few things. First off, if you can boot into Windows\u2014and it sounds like you can\u2014I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s anything you can uninstall that will help you. The last major Windows 10 update that would have probably affected you was the big 1909 update from November. There have been a number of piecemeal updates since then, but I can\u2019t think of one that\u2019s been especially problematic. Oh, except for KB4535996, which even Microsoft suggested users uninstall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, let\u2019s start there. Pull up Windows Update, click on View Update History, click on Uninstall Updates, and look to see if you can uninstall KB4535996. If you can, great! If not, there goes that troubleshooting technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you\u2019re here, maybe check to see if there are any additional Windows updates you can install. It\u2019s a long shot, but perhaps something has arrived that could fix whatever issues your Windows installation is struggling to deal with. And since you\u2019re using Boot Camp to run Windows on your Mac, pull up Apple Software Update and make sure there aren\u2019t any new drivers or updates to install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, try reinstalling Boot Camp\u2019s Windows Support Drivers, which might magically cure whatever is causing your system to blue screen upon launch. There\u2019s no guarantee this will fix things, but it\u2019s worth exploring before you take more drastic measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you\u2019re in Windows, you can also open up an elevated command prompt (search for \u201cCommand Prompt\u201d in the Start Menu, right click on it, and select \u201cRun as administrator\u201d). From there, try running a simple \u201cchkdsk \/f\u201d to conform there aren\u2019t any issues with your file system. You can also try \u201cchkdsk \/r \/f\u201d for a much more thorough analysis and fixing process, but it\u2019ll take a lot longer. If your hard drive is failing and that\u2019s the reason behind your Windows issues, it\u2019s also possible you might not get any additional information from chkdsk. You\u2019ll want to use some other techniques to confirm you\u2019re ok (or headed toward disaster).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also run \u201csfc \/verifyonly\u201d followed by \u201csfc \/scannow\u201d in the same elevated command prompt. If the first command found any corruption in your Windows system files, the second command should fix them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve finished this, consider pulling up the Windows Troubleshooter. Pull up the old-school Control Panel (via the Start Menu) and select Troubleshooting. Then, click on \u201cFix problems with Windows Update,\u201d and see what the utility finds (if anything!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, click on your Start Menu, click on the Power icon, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and click on Restart. This should boot you into Windows 10’s Advanced Startup options menu. Click on Troubleshoot, click on Advanced options, and try using the Startup Repair option to see if that can solve your Windows problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If all else fails, then a wipe and restore might be your best option. Save all your critical Windows 10 files to a flash drive or cloud storage, then launch macOS and use Boot Camp Assistant to remove your Windows OS. Use Microsoft\u2019s Media Creation Tool to download a new, fresh .ISO of Windows 10, and then use Boot Camp to reinstall that on your Mac. Once Windows is up and running, make sure you\u2019ve installed any updates from Apple (the aforementioned Windows Support Drivers and Apple Software Update) first, then install all the WIndows Updates Microsoft offers, then start putting your files and apps back on your system once you\u2019ve verified that everything feels right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t worry; it takes a lot less time than it sounds like.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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