How To Start The Command Prompt When Windows Doesn't Boot?

The Command Prompt is a very powerful tool that can be used for many purposes, including troubleshooting and fixing problems with Windows. Starting it is easy, if Windows is working correctly but what do you do when Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 refuse to load? How do you start the Command Prompt so that you can fix the issues that you are having? This tutorial will show you how:

NOTE: This guide is for both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Read the appropriate section for the Windows version that you are using.

How To Start The Command Prompt When Windows 8.1 Doesn't Boot

If Windows 8.1 is not able to load correctly, you need to boot using a recovery drive that you can create on a working Windows 8.1 computer. Here's a tutorial on how to create this drive: How to Create a Recovery Drive on a USB Memory Stick in Windows 8 & 8.1.

Boot from this drive and, after a while, you are asked to choose an option for how you want to continue. Click or tap Troubleshoot.

Then, click or tap Advanced Options.

In the Advanced options screen, select Command Prompt.

Your computer will restart and Windows 8.1 will prepare the Command Prompt. Before you can access it, you need to log in with a user account that's set as an administrator. Select the appropriate user account.

Type the password for that account and click or tap Continue.

The Command Prompt is now launched.

How To Start The Command Prompt When Windows 7 Doesn't Boot

If Windows 7 is not able to load correctly, you need to boot using a recovery drive that you can create on a working Windows 7 computer. Here's a tutorial on how to create his drive: How To Create A System Repair Disc For Windows 7 & Windows 8.

Boot from this drive and, after a while, you are asked to select the keyboard input method that you prefer. Select the desired language for the keyboard and click Next.

Then, the repair disc scans the operating systems that are available on your computer and lists them. Select Windows 7 and click Next.

If you have multiple user accounts on your computer, you are asked to select a user name and then type the password for it. Do so and clickOK.

The System Recovery Options window is now loaded. Click Command Prompt.

The Command Prompt is shown and you can use it for troubleshooting purposes.

Another way to start the Command Prompt when Windows 7 won't boot is to use a Windows 7 installation disc. Boot from it and once the installation loads, select the language that you want to use and click Next.

Then, click Repair your computer.

The System Recovery Options window is now loaded. Click Command Prompt.

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide will be useful to you when you have issues with your Windows computers and devices. If you know other ways to start theCommand Prompt when Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 won't boot, don't hesitate to share them using the comments form below.