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Windows 10 not running/Safe mode can't boot

Anonymous
2021-05-14T10:50:57+00:00

Hi! I've been having trouble with my Windows system lately, and I tried various things from this website, but they wouldn't work. Here's the problem:

I changed my system settings in msconfig to 2 cores instead of 1, hoping my games would go faster as a result, but this was the mistake on my end, as now windows fails to boot and gives this frowny face :( when starting up. There was also another option next to it which was presumably RAM, which I don't remember if I ended up changing or not.

Anyways, I did what anyone would do and ask the internet, and there's seemingly a way to easily fix this with safe mode. So I try running safe mode under all 3 options (with networking, then with command prompt, etc.) but that also gave the :( error message! The stop code is memory management, if that helps or didn't seem to be clear. I tried all I can, from trying to reset the pc, to startup repair, to command prompt, and system restore (I have no restore points.) I'm not an advanced computer person, but if theres any other way to change the core settings back or some way to fix the error when launching safe mode so I can fix my computer, that would be a huge help! I'd sacrafice the files if I had to, but I can't even reset the pc. My computer can't end like this, does anyone know a solution, if there still is one?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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18 answers

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  1. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-05-14T12:50:57+00:00

    Hi AutumnSchenker,

    Okay, open that Registry Editor.

    In the left pane, navigate carefully to this key (folder).

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig

    Delete any entries in the 'startupreg' sub key, if you are unsure, please provide a photo of what you find there.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-05-14T12:07:38+00:00

    I'm sorry if the steps didn't work. It seems that the issue is complex than what I expected.

    It may be best if I release your question to other advisors so they can take a look at it and let them share some other ways that can fix the issue.

    You take care and keep safe always.

    Sincerely,
    Louie

    Thanks, that would definitely help. I've been looking all around for a way to fix this type of issue but can't seem to find the answer, it's strange that safe mode gives an error message, so hopefully they can take a look at it, and if anyone knows why this happens and how to fix it, they can help me and whoever else comes across this in the future.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-05-14T12:01:47+00:00

    I'm sorry if the steps didn't work. It seems that the issue is complex than what I expected.

    It may be best if I release your question to other advisors so they can take a look at it and let them share some other ways that can fix the issue.

    You take care and keep safe always.

    Sincerely,

    Louie

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-05-14T11:47:27+00:00

    Hi AutumnSchenker,

    I'm Louie, an Independent Advisor and a fellow Windows 10 user like you. Hope you're doing well and safe there.

    I'd recommend starting in Recovery mode to see if Windows requires repairing. To do that, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until the PC turns off. The press the power button again so it begins to start. As soon as you see a sign that the PC is starting the boot process, like seeing the manufacturer's logo, press and hold the power button again for 10 second until the PC turns off a second time. Repeat this process one more time, pressing the power button for 10 seconds until the PC turns off as soon as you see an indication that it is rebooting.

    Now, press the power button one more time and Windows will enter the Windows Recovery Environment. Select Troubleshoot. Then select "Advanced options", then "Startup Settiings", then "Restart". Once the PC restarts, you should get multiple options, one of which is the option to enable Safe Mode (Option 5 or F5). Here's an article describing this process:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sta...

    Hope this helps.

    Kind regards,
    Louie

    Hello,

    I've gone through these steps before, and have made it to that screen, and as I described, I would get this error when trying to enter safe mode:

    I've selected the safe mode option multiple times by pressing 5, as well as 4 and 6, since those are also safe mode options, however, I get this same result in the image shown. I've already found out how to try and startup safe mode, I just need to find a fix that lets me launch safe mode without this error message popping up, so I can get to msconfig and fix my core settings, so my computer can run again.

    Best regards,

    Autumn

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-05-14T11:25:42+00:00

    Hi AutumnSchenker,

    I'm Louie, an Independent Advisor and a fellow Windows 10 user like you. Hope you're doing well and safe there.

    I'd recommend starting in Recovery mode to see if Windows requires repairing. To do that, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until the PC turns off. The press the power button again so it begins to start. As soon as you see a sign that the PC is starting the boot process, like seeing the manufacturer's logo, press and hold the power button again for 10 second until the PC turns off a second time. Repeat this process one more time, pressing the power button for 10 seconds until the PC turns off as soon as you see an indication that it is rebooting.

    Now, press the power button one more time and Windows will enter the Windows Recovery Environment. Select Troubleshoot. Then select "Advanced options", then "Startup Settiings", then "Restart". Once the PC restarts, you should get multiple options, one of which is the option to enable Safe Mode (Option 5 or F5). Here's an article describing this process:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sta...

    Hope this helps.

    Kind regards,

    Louie

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