Thursday, August 21, 2025

How to Fix “Windows 7 Not Booting” – Complete Step-by-Step Guide









 Fix: Windows 7 Not Booting – Stuck at Logo, Restart Loop, or Blue Screen

Facing the problem where Windows 7 won’t start? Whether it’s stuck on the logo, restarting repeatedly, or showing a black/blue screen, this post will walk you through all possible solutions step-by-step.

 Common Symptoms:

  • Windows 7 stuck at boot logo

  • Automatic restart loop

  • Blue screen before login

  • No display after BIOS

  • Black screen with blinking cursor

Solution 1: Remove External Devices

Before diving into technical fixes, try these:

  • Disconnect USB drives, printers, cameras, and external HDDs.

  • Try booting again.

Sometimes boot conflicts are caused by these devices.

Solution 2: Boot into Safe Mode

  1. Turn on the PC and immediately press F8 repeatedly

  2. Select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking

  3. If Safe Mode works:

    • Uninstall recent updates or drivers from Control Panel > Programs

    • Roll back any driver changes from Device Manager

    • Run antivirus software like Malwarebytes

If Safe Mode doesn't work, continue to the next method.

Solution 3: Use "Last Known Good Configuration"

  1. Restart your computer

  2. Press F8 repeatedly

  3. Select Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)

  4. Hit Enter

This can revert the system to a working state.

Solution 4: Perform Startup Repair (Windows Recovery)

If Windows fails to boot, do this:

If You Have a Windows 7 Installation Disk:

  1. Insert the Windows 7 DVD or bootable USB

  2. Boot from it (you may need to change boot order in BIOS)

  3. Click Repair your computer

  4. Select the Windows 7 partition

  5. Choose Startup Repair and follow instructions

If You Don’t Have a Disk:

  • Press F8 at startup and select Repair Your Computer

  • Then select Startup Repair

Let it scan and fix automatically.

🔧 Solution 5: Use Command Prompt (bootrec commands)

If Startup Repair fails, try manual repair:

  1. Boot from the Windows 7 DVD/USB

  2. Go to Repair your computer > Command Prompt

  3. Run the following commands one by one:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

  1. Close CMD and restart your PC

These commands repair the Master Boot Record and rebuild boot files.

🔧 Solution 6: Check Disk for Errors

From Command Prompt (as above), type:

chkdsk C: /f /r

  • This checks the hard drive for bad sectors.

  • If errors are found, they will be fixed automatically.

Solution 7: System Restore

You can restore the system to an earlier working state:

  1. Boot into recovery (Windows DVD or F8 > Repair Your Computer)

  2. Choose System Restore

  3. Pick a date when the PC was working fine

  4. Follow on-screen steps

Solution 8: BIOS Check – Set Boot Priority

  • Restart PC and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, Del, or Esc)

  • Make sure your primary hard drive is selected as first boot device

  • Save settings and restart

Also check if SATA Mode is set to AHCI (default).

Solution 9: Replace Corrupt System Files (SFC Scan)

If you manage to boot into Safe Mode or Command Prompt:

  1. Open Command Prompt

  2. Type:

sfc /scannow

This will repair corrupted system files.

Solution 10: Rebuild Windows Boot Manager (BCD)

If the issue is bootloader-related, use these steps:

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
attrib C:\boot\bcd -h -r -s
del C:\boot\bcd
bootrec /rebuildbcd

This resets and rebuilds the BCD store.

Solution 11: Reinstall Windows 7 (Last Resort)

If none of the above work:

  1. Back up your data using a bootable Linux USB or external software

  2. Boot from a Windows 7 USB/DVD

  3. Format and reinstall Windows

Make sure to back up important files before this step.