Computer help. Computer help Win 8 won't boot

Disclaimer: this article was published on our website two years ago. However, the methods described in it then partially stopped working. At the moment, the article has been updated and relevant, everything written below has been tested on Windows 8.1 Updated.

I’ll tell you about three ways to boot into safe mode:

1. Using the system shutdown menu - works when the system boots at least to the user selection screen;
2. Through the msconfig utility - it works only if it is possible to run it;
3. Using a system recovery disk is a more labor-intensive method and will help those who have a G8 that does not boot.

1. Boot into safe mode by shutting down the system

This is the easiest and fastest option. It works regardless of whether the user is logged into their account or not. Hover your mouse over the system shutdown menu, and while holding the Shift key, select “Reboot.”

After a short wait, the system recovery menu will open. An alternative way to launch this menu is to type the following command on the command line:

Here we are interested in the “Diagnostics” section. We go along the path “Diagnostics” - “Advanced options” - “Boot options”.

At the exit, we will be greeted by a boot options window with a detailed description of what we will get after restarting Windows.

Click “Restart” and select the key corresponding to the desired one from the proposed parameters:

• F4 - to start safe mode;
• F5 - to start safe mode with loading network drivers;
• F6 - similar, only with command line support.

As a result, Windows 8.1 will boot into safe mode.

To return to normal Windows operation, simply reboot the system.

2. Entering safe mode through the system configuration utility

You can get into safe mode in another way, which requires logging into your Windows 8 account. To launch configuration settings, open the search, enter and run the utility.

Switch to the “Boot” tab and check the box next to Safe Mode.

You can also select the type of safe mode:

• Minimal is normal safe mode;
• The other shell is safe mode with command line support;
• Network is a safe mode that loads network drivers.

After selecting the desired download option, click Ok and restart your computer. As a result, it will automatically boot into Safe Mode.

If you restart your computer again, it will go into safe mode again, and it will stay that way forever. To return to normal system boot, open msconfig and uncheck the box, click Ok, and reboot the system.

3. Using a recovery disk

The two methods shown above allow you to start safe mode while the system is running. But what to do if Windows 8 does not load at all and the Shift+F8 key combination does not work? In this case, you will need a recovery disk, which you, as a prepared user, created in advance. No? Then you need to create it and act according to the scheme described below.

Creating a Windows 8 recovery disk is very simple - the standard package of the "eight" includes a creation utility. We launch it and act as directed by the program, everything is very simple and intuitive (the process of creating a bootable flash drive can be seen in the video at the end of the article). The only requirement for the disk/flash drive is that the media must hold at least 256 MB of data.

So you have a recovery disk. You need to boot from it and select one of the proposed keyboard layouts. After this, follow the path “Diagnostics” - “Advanced options” - “Command Line” (you will not see a direct link to boot the system in safe mode).

Select the command line and enter:

bcdedit /set (globalsettings) advancedoptions true

After receiving a message about a successful operation, close the command line and select “Continue”.

The long-awaited menu appears before us.

We select what we need and load.

There is one point: after the steps described above, Windows 8 will always offer this menu when booting. To return to normal boot mode, enter the following command on the command line:

bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions

We looked at three ways to launch the command line under Windows 8.1. I hope that they will help you bring a crashed system back to life or troubleshoot problems that have arisen.

Finally, a video that shows everything that is written in this article, only more briefly.

Subscribe to our channel on Youtube. See you!

There are fewer software compatibility issues than some previous versions of Windows, but some applications still won't run. Fortunately, you don't have to put up with this at all. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution to guarantee compatibility, there are plenty of tricks you can use to try to get a stubborn program to work in Windows 8.

1. Create a virtual machine

I'll start right away with the most recent remedy. Windows 8 includes Hyper-V. If the program does not want to work in Windows 8, you can enable Hyper-V and create a virtual machine with a previous version of Windows to run the application in it.

2. Disable User Account Control

I haven't yet encountered problems caused by User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 8, but it has happened to me in Windows 7. When I first installed Windows 7, there was one voice recording application that did not want to launch until I disabled UAC. I have already seen messages on the Internet from people who encountered similar problems in Windows 8 and were able to solve them by disabling User Account Control.

3. Install .NET Framework 3.5

When installing Windows 8, the .NET Framework version 4.5 is automatically installed. However, older applications often require previous versions of this component. If you encounter errors related to the .NET Framework, look in the Control Panel, Programs section, and select Turn Windows features on or off. A list of various components will appear that you can enable or disable. One of the items on this list is the .NET Framework 3.5, which also includes .NET 3.0 and 2.0. Installing it will most likely help solve the problem.

4. Check if there are any patches for the application

If you encounter compatibility problems with an application, the first thing to do is look at the developer's website and see if there is a patch for Windows 8. Often, everything can be resolved by simply installing a patch for the application.

5. Update the application to the next version

After switching to Windows 8, I discovered that one of the video editors that I regularly use does not work on the new system. The problem could have been solved in less radical ways, but I preferred to simply update the application to the latest version. Not only is it certified to work with Windows 8, but it also has some new features that I wanted to try out.

6. Update device drivers

One of the biggest problems I had after upgrading to Windows 8 was that one vital app stopped working. The error message stated that Windows 8 does not support OpenGL. But OpenGL support is the responsibility of the video card driver, not the operating system. It turned out that the problem was caused by an outdated version of AMD Catalyst. After updating to the latest version, the error disappeared and I was able to launch the application.

7. Use Windows diagnostic tools

Windows 8 has a Program Compatibility Troubleshooter that can resolve compatibility issues automatically in some cases. To run it, right-click on the shortcut or executable file of the problematic application and select the “Troubleshoot Compatibility” option from the context menu.

8. Convince the application that it works on a previous version of Windows

Some applications are designed exclusively to run on a specific version of Windows. In this case, you can configure Windows 8 so that the application recognizes it as the correct version. To do this, run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter as described above. On the page “What problems are noticeable?” (What Problems Do You Notice) select the option “The program worked in earlier versions of Windows but won"t install or run now). Click “Next” ) and indicate which version of Windows the application ran on.

9. Give the app additional permissions

Some legacy applications (especially those written for Windows XP) will not run due to incorrect permissions. In this situation, the same tool for troubleshooting program compatibility problems can help. On the page “What problems are noticeable?” Select the option “The program requires additional permissions.” Another way is to right-click on the application and select the Run As Administrator option, provided you have administrator rights.

10. Check out the Compatibility Center

The last option is to look for information about the application in the Compatibility Center. This is a Microsoft site that provides information about app compatibility with Windows 7 and 8. In some cases, you can find detailed instructions on how to get an incompatible app to work on Windows 8.

Practically no different from what was in earlier versions of operating systems. The operating system, as before, loads only the most basic drivers and services. The only difference is that the minimum screen resolution in Safe Mode has increased from 800x600 pixels to 1024x768 pixels.

To run the tool system configuration press the keyboard shortcut + R in the window that opens Execute enter the msconfig command and press the key Enter↵

In the window that opens system configuration go to the tab, select the operating system that you want to boot in safe mode (if you have several of them), check the box Safe mode and press the button OK

Next, a message window will appear informing you that you need to restart your computer. Click or Exit without reboot- depending on whether you want the computer to be restarted now or later.

The next time you start Windows 8, Windows 8.1 will boot into Safe Mode.

Press power button on the Windows login screen or in the panel Options (Settings Charm). Then press and hold the button ⇑ Shift on your keyboard and press

After reboot in window Action selection select option Diagnostics

In the window Diagnostics choose Extra options

In the window Boot Options you will see a list with several options, including Enable Safe Mode.

Click Reboot

When the computer restarts, a list of 9 options will appear on the screen, including three types of safe mode.

Press a key on your keyboard F4 to enable safe mode.
F5 to enable safe mode with network driver support.
Press a key on your keyboard F6 to enable safe mode with command line support.

After this, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 will be downloaded according to your choice.

In Windows 8, but not in Windows 8.1, you can create a system repair disk and boot from it.

After booting from the recovery disk, you will be prompted to select a keyboard layout. Select the one you want to use. You will then see the options screen. All further steps will be identical to those described in the method above.

Windows 8, Windows 8.1 allow you to create a system repair disk on a USB drive. Detailed instructions can be read. Using such a disk you can also boot the operating system in safe mode. To do this, boot from your System Recovery USB drive and follow the instructions from the previous method.

(does not work when using UEFI BIOS and SSD)

In Windows 7, it was enough to press F8 just before starting the operating system to get to a menu with additional boot options, from where you can boot the operating system in safe mode.

For Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, some sources advise using the keyboard shortcut ⇑ Shift + F8, which launches recovery mode, allowing you to boot into safe mode. However, the problem is that neither ⇑ Shift + F8, not just F8 often don't work.

On its official blog, Microsoft explains that this behavior is due to the very fast boot process. Steve Sinofsky said: Windows 8 has a problem. It loads too quickly, so quickly that you actually don't have time to interrupt it when you turn on your computer. The operating system simply does not have time to detect pressing the F2 or F8 keys.

If you have a modern computer with UEFI BIOS And SSD, it is unlikely that you will be able to interrupt the boot process by pressing keys. On older computers with a classic BIOS and without an SSD, pressing these keys still works.

Windows 8 won’t start – a huge number of users face this problem. The article discusses the main causes of the malfunction, as well as ways to solve it.

Causes of failure

There may be several reasons: from a system failure to damage to any component of the personal computer. It’s worth noting right away that all the instructions provided below should only be followed if you have at least minimal experience in this field.

Reason 1: Hard drive

You can check the hard drive for faults only by connecting it to another PC. Here events can develop differently.

Option 1: The disk was detected and the operating system started

This means that the hard drive is working correctly and is not the cause of the problem.

Option 2: The disk was detected, but the operating system did not start

It will be necessary to check the hard drive for the presence of bad sectors. There is a special completely free utility for this called Crystal Disk Info. Using it, you can perform high-quality disk diagnostics.

Step by step guide:

Reason 6: Problems with system files

If rolling back to a restore point did not give the desired results, then perhaps the problem lies in system files that do not allow the operating system to start. The general step-by-step instructions are as follows:

The cause has not been determined

If the cause cannot be determined, then you need to resort to the last resort - reinstalling the operating system. We insert the bootable media, go to the BIOS, set the boot priority, and then follow the prompts on the screen to install the OS.

Now you know what to do if Windows 8 does not start.

If Windows 8 does not start for you, then this problem will have to be fixed depending on what caused it. For example, if the computer has problems with components, then reinstall the system, make rollbacks, etc. is pointless, since the components first need to be checked and repaired. If the problem lies only in the system, then there is no point in getting into the components.

When the PC does not show “signs of life”

In this case, after turning it on, you may not even see the Windows logo, but entering the BIOS will be possible in some cases. Sometimes, after pressing the power button, the computer begins to show some signs of life, but they quickly disappear, so it is not even possible to enter the BIOS. Most likely you have some problems with the components, and not with the system itself, so you need to disassemble the case, first disconnecting the computer from the power supply.

It is recommended that you try to restore the Windows 8 operating system yourself only if you understand what you are doing and are fully aware of it. Otherwise, it is recommended to seek help from specialists.

Reason 1: Power supply failure

If, when you press the power button, the computer does not react at all or shows signs of life only for the first few seconds, then you may have a problem with the power supply itself. In this case, it is recommended to temporarily disconnect the power supply from the entire computer and check its functionality separately by closing two contacts on it. If the power supply started up without problems and worked for some time in this mode, then the problem is most likely not in it. If not, then you will either have to take it to a service center where it can be repaired, or purchase a new power supply.

Reason 2: Incorrect connection of components to the motherboard

In this case, the computer may also show signs of life for a short period of time, but this does not always mean that the problem will lie in the power supply or in a faulty motherboard. It is recommended to check the connection quality of the following components:

• The power cable that goes from the motherboard to your hard drive. Sometimes this cable can go from the power supply to the hard drive;
• A cable connecting the hard drive to the motherboard;
• How well do the RAM modules fit in their slots on the motherboard?

Reason 3: Hard drive is faulty

This is one of the most common reasons why a computer cannot turn on. Moreover, this applies not only to Windows 8, but also to any other OS, even Linux. To be sure to check the functionality of your hard drive, you have no choice but to connect it to another computer and try to start it. Accordingly, you need to check the disk on which the operating system is installed.
When connecting your hard drive, there are three possible scenarios.

Option 1: Booted on another computer without problems

This option assumes that everything is completely fine with your HDD, and the problem most likely lies in Windows itself and/or other computer components. You may have recently connected some new component/device to your motherboard that is not compatible with another important component. Also in this case, it is recommended to check the correct connection of some other components to the motherboard, perhaps cables have come loose somewhere, etc.

Option 2: There are no display problems, but Windows does not boot

In this case, you most likely have some broken partitions on your disk that are preventing the system from booting. You can check your hard drive using special programs, as well as special commands in the console. However, the latter do not always give an accurate result, so it recommends using third-party software to check. In this case, we will talk about a program such as Crystal Disk Info.

Install it on the computer to which you connected your HDD and check some parameters. At the top of the window, you can switch between drives by clicking on the desired letter. Below is a general description, and under "Technical condition" The current disk status will be indicated. If it says "Anxiety", then there are most likely broken partitions.

It is also recommended to pay attention to the points "Reassigned sectors", "Unstable sectors" And "Uncorrectable sector errors". If there is a yellow circle to the left of them, it means that there are 100% broken partitions on the disk.

"Cure" broken blocks can be used using "Command line". Open it using the command cmd to the line "Run"(it opens with the combination Win+R) or use a special menu that is called up by a keyboard shortcut Win+X. In this menu you need to select "Command Prompt (Administrator)".

Enter the following command into the console:

To use, click on Enter, and then press the key Y, thereby confirming the start of the operation to restore hard disk sectors. The recovery process itself will begin after you restart your computer, so reboot. Once the recovery is complete, the computer will turn on normally.

Once you have restored all partitions of the hard drive, you can mount it back into your computer and try to start the operating system.

Option 3: Hard drive won't boot at all

In this case, you have 100% problems with the HDD hardware. Do not rush to throw away this hard drive, but rather contact a service center, especially if the computer and/or hard drive is still under warranty. In this case, your drive will be repaired or replaced with a new one in accordance with the warranty agreement. If the warranty is no longer valid, then you will have to pay money to repair/replace the hard drive.

Reason 4: Mother card failure

Provided that none of the above reasons apply to your specific situation (the power supply is working fine, all cables are tightly connected, and the HDD works without problems on another computer), then the problem in most cases lies in the motherboard. It is recommended to take it to a service center, where they should either replace it or offer you an alternative.

The system boots, but not completely.

In this case, you can observe a full loading of the Windows 8 operating system, but it just cannot complete completely. In this case, the problem is most likely in system files that have become corrupted for some reason. However, in most cases, you can solve the problem yourself without resorting to the help of service centers, which will save you money and time.

Reason 1: Inability to load GUI

If, when you turn on and load the OS, instead of "Desktop" And "Taskbars" just a black screen appears, but the login window is displayed normally (the window where the user can select an account to work in the OS and enter a password for it), then you have problems with the file explorer.exe. This file is responsible for displaying all graphic elements within the system.

In this case, the system is fully functional, for example, you go through the line "Run" you can open some program, and it will most likely open. But to return the normal Windows interface you need to either start the process explorer.exe manually, or do a system restore.

Consider the file launch instruction explorer.exe through "Task Manager":

This problem can also be solved by performing a system rollback. The rollback process is discussed in more detail in the instructions below.

Reason 2: System failure

A system failure is usually a little more difficult to deal with, since you often have to resort to the function "System Restore". This procedure looks like this:

1. Turn off your computer, and then turn it on again.
2. To call up a special menu in Windows 8, you need to press the key F8 or Shift+F8.
3. A window will open with a choice of actions. You need to choose "Diagnostics".




4. In the diagnostics window, select "Extra options".




5. Then go to "System Restore".




6. In the window that opens, select the restore point for the date you need. If no restore points are found, then this method will not suit you. For this case, separate instructions are described below.




7. If everything is fine, then after selecting a point, click on "Further", and then on "Ready". After this, the recovery process will begin.

Also, if there are no restore points or for some other reason the first instruction did not work, then try to restore using a specially created bootable USB flash drive. You need to prepare it in advance by downloading the Windows 8 installer image there. The instructions are somewhat similar to the previous one, but have some differences:

The search for the cause did not yield any results

If you were unable to determine the reason why Windows 8 refuses to start, then you will have to resort to an extreme method - reinstalling the system. This method can only be relevant if you know for sure that the reason does not lie in the hardware component of the computer. Otherwise, even reinstalling the system will not help you.

Remember that by reinstalling the operating system you are violating the warranty agreement. Therefore, after reinstallation, your computer is unlikely to be accepted under warranty (although there are exceptions).

To install, you will need to boot from a flash drive that has a Windows 8 installation image. You can also try booting from a disk. The installation process is no different from a normal Windows installation. However, it is worth remembering that you risk losing some or all of the data located on drive C during a system reinstallation. Some of this data may be recoverable.

In this case, you also risk losing the activation of Windows 8. You can restore it through the official Microsoft website or directly during the reinstallation process.

As you can see, the fact that the Windows 8 operating system refuses to boot is not always a reason to take the computer to a service center. In certain cases, you can set up and fix everything yourself.