Is your computer stuck on the boot screen? Believe it or not, that’s one of the most common complaints we hear. Both Windows 10/8/7 and Apple’s MacOS have a habit of getting stuck on the boot logo during start up. In fact, it’s a problem that has become more common as both companies force users to update their computers more frequently.
If your Mac is stuck on the Apple logo during start up or Windows 10 is freezing on the loading screen, read our handy tips.
Make sure you have a backup of all your data, a corrupted OS can wipe out your data.
Fixing a Mac stuck on the Apple logo
When you start your Mac the Apple logo should appear, then a little progress bar or spinning indicator should appear to show the computer is starting up. This is where the computer can get stuck on the boot screen. If it’s been stuck on the screen for more than 15 minutes, it’s a sign the computer is likely not going to start. If you don’t see the Mac start up, try these steps.
Method 1: Unplug USB drives, external monitors, Thunderbolt devices and SD cards
USB devices, SD cards and Thunderbolt devices and even monitors can cause corrupted drivers to load and crash the computer at boot up. Turn off the Mac by pressing the power button for 10 seconds, unplug all devices and turn it back on again.
Method 2: Use safe mode
Booting up the Mac in safe mode often helps identify problems as the computer only loads essential services to turn on the computer. To start the Mac in safe mode, press the power button and immediately press the left shift (L Shift) key.
Method 3: Try MacOS Repair & Recovery
MacOS Repair and Recovery can help repair OS errors, install patches from Apple to fix bugs and install updates. Press the power button to turn on the Mac. Immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) and R to start up in recovery.
Method 4: Use Disk Utility to repair the disk
While in Recovery mode, the Disk Utility tool is a great option for repairing the startup disk. Run the Disk Utility tool to find and fix errors in the hard disk (or SSD). Try restarting the Mac once the tool has completed fixing the errors. If the issue persists, contact computer repair in Toronto.
Method 5: Reinstall MacOS
If all else fails, consider reinstalling MacOS afresh or restoring the computer from a Time Machine backup.
Fixing Microsoft Windows 10 freezing on loading screen
Windows 10, like a Mac, has numerous in-built tools that can try and correct the issue automatically.
Method 1: Unplug USB drives, external monitors, Thunderbolt devices, storage devices and third-party cards
Unplug all peripherals except for a primary monitor (if a desktop), keyboard and mouse. Ensure you also remove any non-essential internal cards like dedicated graphics cards, networking cards and video capture devices. Now try turning on the device.
Method 2: Boot in safe mode
To boot into safe mode on Windows 7/8, press the power button and then F8 repeatedly. For Windows 10, the computer will automatically boot into safe mode if it fails to start up 3 times. If the computer starts up in safe mode then you know that some application or hardware is preventing normal boot up.
Method 3: Check and fix the file system
Use the Disk Management feature to scan the start up drive for errors. The tools should automatically find and fix errors.
Method 4: System Repair
Windows 10 will automatically try to repair the operating system, find patches online and install updates automatically if the computer fails to boot repeatedly.
Method 5: Restore or reinstall Windows
Use the in-built tools to perform a partial or complete restoration of your machine. Be warned, if you reinstall or restore your system to a fresh state you will lose all your data!
If all else fails, visit us at ASK Computers with your device. We are Mac and Windows repair specialists who can help get your laptop or desktop up and running without data loss.
