Quick Links
When your Windows PC encounters problems during startup, Advanced Boot Options can help get to the bottom of it. These options let you quickly diagnose and fix various issues without extensive technical knowledge.
To get to the Advanced Boot Options,start your computer in the Windows Recovery Environmentand go toTroubleshoot > Advanced Options.
Startup Repair
If an issue prevents your Windows computer from booting up correctly, theStartup Repairoption can help you fix it. It scans for common problems, such as damaged system files, incorrect boot configurations, disk errors, and driver issues, and attempts to resolve them.
Startup Settings
TheStartup Settingsoption contains specialized boot modes for your Windows PC. They provide different levels of access and functionality for the operating system, allowing you to troubleshoot, diagnose, and fix various Windows problems.
Here are the modes available in the Startup Settings menu:
Command Prompt
TheCommand Promptoption launches a command-line interface in the Advanced Boot Options for advanced system recovery and troubleshooting.
It is useful when you need to run diagnostic commands, repair system files, manage disk partitions, or perform other administrative tasks that require the use of command-line tools without fully booting into Windows.
Uninstall Updates
TheUninstall Updatesoption allows you to roll back recent Windows updates. This is useful when the update is causing issues on your computer, such as slowdowns, system instability or crashes, boot errors, driver issues, and missing or malfunctioning features.
Basically, if you notice something is off after updating your computer, this is the option you need to use before the updates go past their rollback window, which is 10 days.
UEFI Firmware Settings
Selecting theUEFI Firmware Settingsgives you access to the modernized version of the traditional Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) called theUnified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).
This function allows you to tweak your computer’s basic or hardware-level settings, including boot order, secure boot, system time and date, fan speed, RAM settings, and power mode.
So, if you want to configure how your computer’s hardware and firmware interact, UEFI provides a more user-friendly way of doing it.
If you don’t see theUEFI Firmware Settingsoption, don’t panic. It just means you have to access similar settings using the BIOS, although it’s more limited. Depending on the manufacturer of your device, you may access BIOS by pressing keys likeF2,F10,Delete, orEscduring startup.
System Restore
TheSystem Restoreoption returns your computer to a previous working state by reverting changes made to the system settings. This feature is useful when fixing issues caused by problematic updates, changes, or sudden instability without affecting your personal files.
Keep in mind that System Restore depends on system restore points being available on your hard drive to undo the changes.
While Windows will create them automatically before a significant system event (e.g., installing new software or updates), you’re better offcreating system restore points manuallyfor better control.
System Image Recovery
If youcreated a system image of your Windows PC, theSystem Image Recoveryoption is where you use it to restore your computer. The system image will restore all your data from that Windows installation, including settings, configurations, apps, and files. It is one of the best options to recover your PC from complete hardware failure.
However, keep in mind that any data created after taking the system image will not be restored. So, if you can, be sure to create system images monthly, before major updates to your PC, or before important life events (e.g., traveling or moving to a new home).
A warning before you go: incorrect usage of Startup Options can exacerbate existing problems or cause new ones, making your system more unstable. Only use them if you completely understand how they work and the implications.
If you’re still unsure about how Advanced Boot Options work, consider seeking help from an IT professional before using them.
