Most Windows 11 errors fall into three families: startup failures, Windows Update errors and driver crashes. Fix them in order of least risk: restart, free up disk space, run SFC and DISM, use Startup Repair or System Restore, then an in-place repair install. Reset or reinstall Windows only after you have copied your files somewhere safe.
The error code is usually the best clue. A code or stop message points to a family, and each family has a short ladder of fixes that don't need special software. This guide follows that ladder and tells you where to stop and get help.
Which family is your error in?
Find the closest match below, then jump to the matching section. These meanings are general guides rather than guarantees, since the same code can have several causes.
| What you see | Family | Usual starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Repair loop, "Your PC did not start correctly" | Startup | Startup Repair, then uninstall the latest update |
| INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE | Startup | Storage mode changed in firmware, or damaged boot files |
| Prompt for a BitLocker recovery key | Startup | Find the key in your Microsoft account |
| 0x80070070 during update | Update | Not enough free disk space |
| 0x80070002 or 0x80073712 | Update | Damaged update cache or component store, use DISM |
| 0x800f0922 | Update | Disconnect any VPN, check the small system partition has free space |
| DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION, SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION or CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED | Driver | Identify and roll back the driver |
| Yellow triangle or Code 10 or 43 in Device Manager | Driver | Reinstall from the laptop or motherboard maker |
How do you fix a Windows 11 PC that won't start properly?
If Windows fails to start twice in a row, it usually opens the Windows Recovery Environment on the third attempt. You can force it by holding the power button while the logo shows, three times. Alternatively boot from a Windows 11 USB drive and choose Repair your computer. From there, go in this order.
- Startup Repair. It fixes common boot-file problems automatically.
- Uninstall Updates. If trouble began after an update, remove the latest quality update, then the latest feature update if needed.
- System Restore. Return to a restore point from before the problem began. Your documents aren't touched.
- Startup Settings and Safe Mode. Press 4 for Safe Mode, or 5 for Safe Mode with networking. If Windows loads there, a driver or program is the cause. Remove what you installed recently.
Two startup problems with a simple cause
An INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE error that appears right after a firmware reset or update often means the storage mode has changed, for example from RAID or Intel RST to AHCI. Windows was installed in one mode and can't find the drive in the other. Switching the setting back to what it was can fix it immediately.
A request for a BitLocker recovery key after a firmware update or hardware change is expected, not a fault. The key is normally saved to your Microsoft account. Sign in from another device and look for the recovery key page. Don't clear the TPM or change security settings before you have the key.
If commands such as bootrec /fixboot return "Access is denied", or the next suggestion involves diskpart, stop and ask for help. A wrong diskpart command can erase the wrong drive. Before running any disk check on an old drive, read our guide to the signs of a failing hard drive, because repair scans can stress a failing disk.
How do you fix Windows Update errors?
Update failures are mostly about space, damaged files or interference. Work through these in order.
- Free up space. Feature updates need many gigabytes. Run Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup. Error 0x80070070 is a plain "not enough space".
- Run the troubleshooter. Open Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters, and run Windows Update.
- Repair system files. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow. Then run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and run sfc again. DISM repairs the component store that SFC relies on.
- Reset the update cache. Stop the services with net stop wuauserv and net stop bits, rename the folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution to SoftwareDistribution.old, then start both services again.
- Remove interference. Disconnect any VPN and temporarily disable third-party security software, especially for error 0x800f0922.
- Install the update manually. Download the specific update from the Microsoft Update Catalog and run it.
If an update appears frozen, give it a generous wait first. If there's no disk activity for several hours, restart and try again. Persistent failures that survive all six steps are a good case for an in-place repair install, described below.
How do you fix driver crashes and blue screens?
Driver faults are the most common cause of repeat blue screens on Windows 11. First identify the culprit. The stop code and any file named on the blue screen usually point to a driver. Reliability Monitor, opened by typing perfmon /rel in the Run box, shows when each crash happened and what changed beforehand.
- Roll back. In Device Manager, open the device's properties, go to the Driver tab and choose Roll Back Driver if it's available.
- Reinstall from the maker. Use the laptop or motherboard maker's support page for chipset, storage, WiFi, Bluetooth and audio drivers, and the chip maker for graphics. Generic drivers are fine for a day but can cause trouble later.
- Use Windows Update carefully. Optional updates under Advanced options list driver updates, but install only the ones you need.
- Respect Memory integrity. If Windows Security blocks it because of an incompatible driver, remove the old driver software rather than switching the protection off.
- Skip driver-updater programs. They are a frequent source of the very crashes they claim to fix.
For code-by-code advice see our guide to blue screen of death fixes.
What if the repair steps fail?
You have four larger options. Choose the least destructive one that fits, and back up first.
| Option | Keeps files | Keeps apps | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-place repair install (run setup from a matching Windows 11 ISO, choose Keep files and apps) | Yes | Yes | Damaged system files that SFC and DISM can't fix, when Windows still boots |
| Reset this PC, Keep my files | Yes | No | Stubborn software problems |
| Reset this PC, Remove everything | No | No | Selling the PC or cleaning up after malware |
| Clean install from USB | No | No | Very old, cluttered installs or a new drive |
Our guide to resetting Windows versus repairing it compares these in more detail.
When is the real problem hardware, not Windows?
If the same errors return after a clean install, suspect hardware. Disk events 7, 11, 51 or 153 in Event Viewer point to the drive or its cable. A different stop code every time points to memory. In those cases reinstalling Windows is wasted effort, and a technician can test the components directly.
For reference, our price list shows an advanced boot fix at ₹699 to ₹1,299 and a software or driver fix at ₹350 to ₹399, indicative. The Windows 11 issues and laptop boot issue fix pages describe what we handle.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to run SFC and DISM?
Yes. Both are built-in Microsoft tools that check and repair Windows system files. They don't remove your documents or apps. Run them from an administrator Command Prompt and allow them time to finish.
Why does Windows 11 ask for a BitLocker key?
BitLocker asks when it detects a change it can't verify, such as a firmware update or new hardware. It's protecting your data. The key is typically stored in your Microsoft account, so keep access to that account.
Can I go back to Windows 10 after upgrading?
For a limited window after an upgrade, usually ten days, Windows offers a way back that keeps your files. Don't delete the old Windows files during that period if you might want it.
Should I reset Windows or reinstall it?
Try Reset this PC with Keep my files first, because it's the gentler option. Choose a clean install if the system is very old, if a reset fails, or if you've changed the drive.
If your PC still won't behave, book a free pickup. We'll diagnose it, tell you whether the cause is software or hardware, and quote in writing. You'll get the ₹350 inspection fee refunded once you approve the repair. Indicative rates are on the pricing page.
