Windows 10 desktop PC does overnight updates and has 'Failure to Start Windows' message and blue screen

Steve Davies 0 Reputation points
2026-11-03T16:19:09.3+00:00

My Windows 10 desktop PC does overnight updates and has just had a 'Failure to Start Windows' message and blue screen. I used the on screen prompts to restart and/or reverse updates. But each option in the process requires the Microsoft Admin Account Password, which is not available. Many answers here refer to starting in Safe Mode or changing the Admin Password. But haven't reached that stage yet. Has anyone got any ideas?

And I do promise to upgrade to Windows 11...

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in
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  1. DaveM121 945.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-03T16:54:57.63+00:00

    1

    Are you able to force your PC into the Recovery Environment using these steps.

    Start your PC, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

    Do this twice

    On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt... etc.

    Please try each option one at a time, then see if Windows will boot to a stable system.

    .

    If there is an option to uninstall the latest update, that may be the best option.

    .

    Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Repair

    .

    See if Windows startup can repair itself

    Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - System Restore

    Check to see if you have a restore point you can go back to

    2

    If you are blocked by a password in the Recovery Environment, then you will need to create a bootable Windows 10 USB on an empty 8GB USB flash drive on another working PC and boot your PC from that, then rather than installing Windows 10, select ‘Repair this Computer’ that will give you access to the Recovery Environment from there

    In the Recovery Environment on the USB, you will not be blocked by a password, try each available recovery option.

    Click this link:  https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10

    to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that toot

    Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created.

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