Lorene Melone
How to Fix Windows Stuck in Diagnostic Startup Mode
If your Windows PC is stuck in Diagnostic Startup mode and shows an error message stating that your PIN is not available, this guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue. You will learn effective methods to switch back to Normal Boot mode using Command Prompt, Registry Editor, and System Restore.
Step 1: Force Normal Boot via Command Prompt (Utilman)
To initiate a Normal Boot using the Command Prompt, follow these steps:
- Start your PC and when the error screen appears, click on the Ease of Access icon located in the lower right corner of the login screen.
- This action launches the Utilman application. It needs to be replaced with Command Prompt for this fix to work.
- Open
Task Managervia Ctrl + Shift + Esc. - In the Task Manager, click on File in the top menu and select Run new task.
- Type
cmdand check the box that says Create this task with administrative privileges, then hit Enter. - In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal- Finally, restart your PC to boot into Normal mode.
Step 2: Disable PIN-only Sign-in via Regedit in Recovery Mode
If you prefer to disable PIN sign-in, follow these steps in the Windows Recovery Environment:
- Restart your computer while holding the Shift key.
- Choose Troubleshoot, followed by Advanced options.
- Select Command Prompt.
- Once in Command Prompt, type
regeditand hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI- Find the entry EnablePinSignIn and double-click it. Change the value to 0 to disable PIN-only sign-in.
- Exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC.
Step 3: Use System Restore in Recovery Environment
If the problem persists, using System Restore can often fix startup issues:
- Boot your PC and enter the Recovery Environment by holding Shift while clicking on Restart.
- Select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, and finally choose System Restore.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the restore point before the issue began.
- Complete the process and allow your system to restore and reboot automatically.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here are some additional tips to help you through this process:
- Ensure you have backed up important data before making changes to the Registry.
- Double-check any commands entered in the Command Prompt for typos.
- If you encounter Access Denied errors, ensure you are working from an administrative Command Prompt.
Conclusion
By following this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue of being stuck in Diagnostic Startup mode. Remember to explore further troubleshooting options if these steps do not yield the desired results. For more assistance, check related guides on Windows startup issues.