1. Force Restart Your Laptop

• Hold the power button for 10+ seconds until it shuts off
• Wait 30 seconds, then power it back on

2. Enter Safe Mode (Critical First Step)

• When you see the recovery screen: Press F1 > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings
• Select Safe Mode with Networking (Option 5)
• If successful: Backup your files immediately Go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates

3. Run Automatic Repair

• From the recovery screen: Press F1 > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options Choose Startup Repair
• Let Windows attempt automatic fixes (may take 20+ minutes)

Advanced Data-Safe Solutions

4. Rebuild Boot Configuration (Command Prompt Method)

• In recovery: Command Prompt > Type these exactly (press Enter after each):
• If asked to add installation to boot list: Type Y

5. Check Disk for Errors

• In Command Prompt: chkdsk /f /r C:
• Type Y to schedule on reboot

6. Roll Back Recent Updates

• In recovery: Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates
• Choose: Uninstall latest quality update (preferred) Uninstall latest feature update (if quality update fails)

Prevention Tips for Future Stability

✔ Enable System Restore Points

• Search "Create restore point" > Configure for 5%+ disk space
• ✔ Monitor Battery Health
• For laptops: Use powercfg /batteryreport in Command Prompt
• ✔ Avoid Forced Shutdowns
• Always use Start Menu > Shut Down
• ✔ Create Emergency Recovery Drive
• Search "Create recovery drive" in Windows

When Professional Help is Needed:

• If Safe Mode won’t launch
• When hearing unusual hard drive clicking sounds
• If the laptop overheats before showing the error

Data Recovery Options if All Else Fails:

• Remove Hard Drive: Connect to another PC via USB adapter
• Use Linux Live USB: Access files without booting Windows
• Cloud Backup: If you previously used OneDrive/Google Drive

Did You Know?

Error 0x2000004 often means:

• Boot files corrupted by sudden power loss
• Failing SSD/HDD developing bad sectors
• BIOS/UEFI settings reset after battery drain

For 1.5-year-old laptops, check:

• Manufacturer’s warranty status
• SSD health using CrystalDiskInfo (in Safe Mode)
• Event Viewer logs for preceding errors (eventvwr.msc)

Need personalized help? Comment with:

• Your laptop brand/model
• Whether you hear beep codes on startup
• If the recovery screen appears immediately or after loading