Your device ran into a problem and couldn't be repaired

If you encounter the “Your device ran into a problem and couldn’t be repaired” error on Windows startup, this article will help you. According to reports, this error prevents users from booting into Windows and persists after multiple restarts.

The complete error message is:

Your device ran into a problem and couldn’t be repaired.
Click or press Enter to see other recovery options.

Your device ran into a problem and couldn’t be repaired

Use the following fixes for the “Your device ran into a problem and couldn’t be repaired” error in Windows 11/10.

Run Startup Repair
Uninstall Windows Update
Rebuild BCD
Run the Chkdsk scan
Perform System Restore
Perform the clean installation of Windows

All these fixes are explained in detail below.

You need to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment to apply all these fixes. Therefore, before proceeding, let’s see how you can enter the Windows Recovery Environment. Since you cannot boot into Windows, you have to interrupt the normal boot process of Windows to enter the Windows Recovery Environment. Follow these steps:

Press and hold the power button to force shut down your computer.
Turn on your system.
Press and hold the power button immediately when you see the manufacturer’s or Windows logo on your screen.

Repeat the above steps until you see the Preparing Automatic Repair screen. If you cannot enter WinRE using the steps explained above, it means WinRE might be disabled on your system. In this case, you have to use Windows Installation Media to enter WinRE.

On a working computer, visit the official Microsoft website and download the Windows 11 ISO file. Now, use third-party software, like Rufus, to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 11 ISO. Once you are done, connect the USB flash drive to your computer and boot from it.

Your system should automatically detect the connected bootable USB flash drive. However, if it can’t, change the boot order in BIOS. Use the right BIOS key to enter your system BIOS.

Once you boot with a bootable USB flash drive, you will see the Windows 11 installation screen. Do not proceed with Windows 11 installation. Instead, click the Repair my PC. Now, select your keyboard language on the next screen. After that, you will be in the Windows Recovery Environment.

1] Run Startup Repair

Once you are in the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot > Startup Repair. The startup repair process will start. Do not turn off your system. Let it complete. Once the repair process is completed, check if you can boot into Windows.

2] Uninstall Windows Update

A corrupted Windows Update can also cause this issue. Uninstalling a Windows Update can help. Windows Recovery Environment also allows you to uninstall Windows Updates. In WinRE, navigate to Troubleshoot > Uninstall Updates. Now, select the latest feature update and follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall it.

After uninstalling Windows Update, restart your computer. If the issue persists, boot in Safe Mode. Again, you need to use Windows Recovery Environment to boot into Safe Mode. In WinRE, select Troubleshoot > Start-up Settings. Click Restart. After a restart, your system will show you startup options. Press the required Function key to enable Safe Mode with Networking. After entering Safe Mode with Networking, Windows will automatically download the required updates and apply them. These updates may include driver and other necessary updates. Wait till Windows completes this process. Now, exit Safe Mode. The issue should be fixed now.

3] Rebuild BCD

One possible cause of this issue is the corrupted Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file. The BCD file contains crucial files required by Windows during the boot process. If this file becomes corrupted or missing, your system will show boot errors. This might be the case with you. Rebuild the BCD file and see if it helps.

4] Run the Chkdsk scan

There might be some bad sectors or logical errors in your C drive, due to which this error is being triggered. In such a case, running the Chkdsk scan is helpful. In the Windows Recovery Environment, navigate to Troubleshoot > Command Prompt. Now, run the Chkdsk scan on your C drive.

5] Perform System Restore

System Restore helps you restore your system to the previous working state. If the above fixes did not help, you can try running System Restore. Since you cannot boot into Windows, you have to use the Windows Recovery Environment to run System Restore.

System Restore may not work if you entered the Windows Recovery Environment from a bootable USB flash drive. However, you can try. In WinRE, navigate to Troubleshoot > System Restore. Your system will show you all the available restore points along with the dates they were created. Select the restore point created on the date after which this error started occurring. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system.

The System Restore also uninstalls all the programs installed after the selected restore point. Therefore, you have to reinstall all those programs.

6] Perform the clean installation of Windows

If none of these fixes work, the last resort is to perform a clean installation of Windows. You have already created a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 11 installation media. Use it to perform the clean installation.

During the clean installation, all your data on the selected hard drive partition will be wiped out. Therefore, select the right hard drive partition. If you select the incorrect hard drive partition, Windows will be installed on that partition, and all the data on that partition will be erased permanently.

From a safety point of view, back up all your important files from all the hard drive partitions before proceeding. You can still back up your data from an unbootable computer. After backing up all your important files, proceed with the clean installation of Windows.

That’s it. I hope this helps.

What does it mean Your device runs into a problem?

The error message “Your device runs into a problem” indicates that a serious error on your system has been detected, interrupting the Windows boot process. This error may be associated with hardware or software issues, such as corrupted system image files, corrupted boot files, faulty drivers, corrupted Windows Update, RAM failure, hard drive failure, etc.

Is the Blue screen of death serious?

Yes, a Blue Screen of Death is a serious error. A BSOD occurs when your system detects a serious problem. It can occur due to corrupted drivers, buggy Windows Updates, file system corruption, etc. Hardware issues also trigger BSIOD errors, such as RAM, HDD, or SSD failure.