Laptop will not boot into Windows
It powers on and shows a logo, then stops: spinning dots that never finish, "Preparing Automatic Repair" in a loop, or a message that no bootable device was found.
What the screen is telling you
The laptop itself is working; it cannot load Windows from the drive. Either the drive is failing, the drive is fine but Windows is damaged, or the laptop has lost track of where to start from.
The difference matters for your files. A damaged Windows can be repaired with everything intact. A failing drive needs your files copied off before anything else is attempted, because every further start-up attempt can make it worse.
Before you try anything
- Write down the exact message on screen, or photograph it.
- Unplug USB sticks, drives and docks, then restart. Laptops sometimes try to start from the wrong device.
- If you are asked for a BitLocker recovery key, sign in to your Microsoft account on another device; the key is normally saved there under your devices.
- Do not choose "Reset this PC" or reinstall Windows if you need the files. Those options can remove them.
- If the laptop was dropped or you hear clicking, stop retrying and switch it off.
If your files are not backed up, say so when you contact us. We copy them to safety before starting any repair to Windows.
How we fix it
We test the drive first. If it is healthy, we repair the Windows start-up files or, with your agreement, install Windows fresh and put your files back. If the drive is failing, we copy what can be read, fit a new SSD and rebuild the system on it.
Where a drive is too far gone for a straightforward copy, it becomes a data recovery job, which we also handle in the workshop.
Common questions
It happened straight after a Windows update. Is that a coincidence?
Not always. An update that is interrupted, or one that runs on a drive with existing errors, can leave Windows unable to start. The drive test tells us which it was.
I do not have my BitLocker key. Can you get in?
BitLocker encryption cannot be bypassed. The key has to be found, usually in the Microsoft account used to set up the laptop, or with your employer's IT department for a work machine.
Related pages
Won't Turn OnNo lights, no fan, no response to the power button.
Not ChargingPlugged in but the battery percentage will not rise.
Cracked or Broken ScreenCracks, lines, black blotches or a touchscreen that ignores you.
Black Screen, No DisplayLights and fan come on, but there is no picture.
Overheating and Fan NoiseHot to the touch, noisy fan, or sudden shutdowns.
Running SlowMinutes to start, constant freezing, the spinning circle.
Liquid SpillWater, tea, coffee or wine in the keyboard. Act quickly.
Keyboard or Trackpad FaultDead keys, repeating letters or a trackpad that will not click.
Blue Screen and CrashesBlue screens, random restarts and freezes.
Battery Drains FastAn hour or less on battery, or a case that has started to bulge.
No Wi-Fi or BluetoothNo networks found, weak signal or constant drop-outs.
Broken Hinge or CasingA stiff or snapped hinge, or a lid that is splitting open.
Viruses and Pop-upsFake warnings, hijacked browsers and scam callers.
Get a price from a technician
Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.
020 7237 6805 Creative IT workshopUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm