How to Repair Boot Windows 10 from Command Prompt

Common causes of boot issues in Windows 10

Before we dive into solutions, it’s important to understand some of the most common reasons your Windows 10 system might fail to boot:

✦ Corrupted system files

✦ Malware infections

✦ Disk errors

✦ Outdated or corrupted drivers

✦ Incorrect boot configuration

✦ Power outages or sudden shutdowns

Recognizing these issues can help you better understand which solution may work best for your specific problem.

How to enter Windows 10 Command Prompt

You can launch Command Prompt using a variety of methods, depending on whether you can boot Windows 10.

Case 1: You can start Windows 10 normally

Step 1. Type Command Prompt into the Search box.

Step 2. In the right panel, select the Run as Administrator option.

Case 2: You can’t start Windows 10 normally

Step 1. Boot your PC from the Windows installation media.

Step 2. Select Repair Your Computer and click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.

Step 3. Select Command Prompt.

How to repair boot Windows 10 from Command Prompt

After entering the Command Prompt in Windows 10 or 11, as shown above, you can type the necessary commands to resolve Windows startup issues.

#Command 1: CHKDSK to check disk for errors

CHKDSK scans your disk for errors and attempts to fix them. If the issue is related to file system corruption or bad sectors, this command can save you.

Type chkdsk C: /f /r in the Command Prompt and press Enter.

You can replace “c” with the drive letter of another partition or volume. The /f flag fixes errors, and /r locates bad sectors.

#Command 2: SFC /Scannow to repair system files

SFC checks for corrupted system files and repairs them. It’s an essential tool when troubleshooting boot problems caused by missing or damaged files.

Type sfc /scannow in the Command Prompt and press Enter.

SFC will attempt to repair any broken files it finds.

#Command 3: Bootrec.exe to repair the Master Boot Record

If you are having boot issues with Windows 11/10, the bootrec.exe tool can help you fix them in most cases. Windows will perform an automatic scan and try to rebuild the BCD file.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following commands in order and press Enter after each.

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /rebuildbcd

#Command 4: Rstrui.exe restoring the system

You can also restore your Windows 10/11 to the previous state as long as you have enabled the System Restore feature via the Rstrui.exe. Here are the steps:

If none of the above commands work, you can try using System Restore through CMD to revert to a previous state when your computer was working.

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Type rstrui.exe and press the Enter key.

Step 3. Then, you can choose to use the recommended restore point or choose another restore point.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the steps.

#Command 5: DISM for advanced repair

Windows 10/11 has a command-line utility called DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). DISM command can be used to repair and prepare Windows images, including, Windows Setup, Windows Recovery Environment, and Windows PE.

The DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool is another powerful utility that can fix deeper issues in Windows installations.

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter after each one.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

An easier way to repair Windows 10 boot issues

If you're well-versed in using Windows’ built-in tools, like CMD, navigating through steps to fix boot issues might be straightforward. However, for most users, dealing with intricate command lines can be overwhelming. Boot problems can stem from various issues, such as corrupted or missing boot configuration data (BCD), damaged boot sectors, failed system updates, malware infections, or other software conflicts. Running incorrect commands in these situations poses serious risks when the system fails to boot properly.

A safer and simpler alternative for addressing boot repair in Windows 10/11 is using AOMEI Partition Assistant. This tool offers a user-friendly "Boot Repair" feature designed to efficiently fix BCD-related issues without requiring complex commands. With just a few clicks, you can resolve system boot problems and restore normal functionality, making it an ideal solution for both novice and experienced users.

Step 1. Install AOMEI Partition Assistant on a working PC and connect a USB drive with enough storage to this PC.

Step 2. Open this software and select the Boot Repair tool below the Recover section.

Step 3. Click the create a bootable disk option to create a WinPE Boot Repair USB drive.

Step 4. Plug the created drive into the non-booting computer, then enter the BIOS settings to change the boot order so that the computer boots from it. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and perform a scan of boot entries.

Step 5. Once the process completes, you will see all scan results, including system paths, system versions, and boot status. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the Repair button.

Step 6. Wait for the repair process to finish, then remove the bootable USB drive and boot the PC from the original system drive.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can diagnose and repair many boot issues in Windows 10 using Command Prompt. Remember to stay patient as some processes, like disk repairs, may take a while to complete. While these commands offer powerful fixes, in some extreme cases, they may fail to work. If the problem is not solved, you can also resort to AOMEI Partition Assistant to fix some issues.