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Computer Won’t Open Anything in Windows 10: Fix It Now
If your laptop won’t open anything, apply the classical Restart or other complex steps ⤵️
3 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
There were several occasions that found ourselves in a scenario where “My laptop won’t open anything.” This includes apps, programs, browsers, File Explorer, or any other software. Even Task Manager won’t open.
In some cases,Microsoft apps won’t open, while in others, there can be even more things at stake.
Besides that, this inconvenient system issue may affect multiple laptop brands. For instance, the users reported problems such as Lenovo, Acer, or HP laptops won’t open anything.
It’s also helpful to be aware of the utilities or programs that don’t open. So, it happens that the laptop won’t open anything including Start menu, laptop won’t open anything including the Internet, or including the Task Manager.
Why is my laptop not opening anything?
Though it’s hard to tell exactly why your laptop won’t open anything, these few events are often culpable:
Luckily, and after a lot of trial and error, we have discovered some working fixes.
How do I fix a laptop that doesn’t open anything?
✅ Pre-check Step: Restart your laptop
This is a simple solution, but rebooting helps clear up any settings that may be causing this issue to appear. After restarting, inspect if everything goes back to normal.
1. Boot into Safe Mode and Restore your PC
If your laptop refused to load anything after a recent hardware/software change, boot intoSafe Modeand restore your PC back to a restore point when everything was working.
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Hold down yourPower Buttonfor about 10 seconds. Thisshuts downyour device.
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Turn on your laptop by pressing thePowerbutton once more.
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While Windows 10 boots, shut it down by holding thePowerbutton.
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Do this a few times until you enter theWindows recovery environment.
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In the displayedChoose an optionscreen, click onTroubleshoot.
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Then selectAdvanced options.
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Now chooseStartup SettingsthenRestart.
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After your laptop restarts, select4(orF4)to start it in Safe Mode.
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ClickStartthen chooseSettingsas soon as Safe Mode loads.
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TypeSystem Recoveryin the settings search box.
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ClickCreate a restore point.
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In the nextSystem Propertieswindow, selectSystem Protectionand then tap onSystem Restore.
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The Restore window opens as shown below.
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Click on one of the displayed restore points then follow the remaining steps.
You can as well try to run a thorough virus check while in Safe Mode just to be sure.
2. Repair your laptop using PowerShell
PowerShellcan also help you recover the Windows components in charge of launching applications such as the Start Menu, Search, Settings,Cortana,Microsoft Edge, and more.
3. Reset Windows 10
Resetting Windows 10 helps free your laptop from rogue apps and drivers and may restore normal functionality.
4. Complete OS reinstall
If the issue is still there and your laptop won’t open anything, you might have toreinstall Windows 10. This procedure will delete all files and folders from your system drive, so be sure to back them up beforehand.
All in all, we have plenty of other similar guides in ourdedicated System Errors Hub. So if other issues are affecting your laptop, check out theLaptop & PC Fix page.
There you go, feel free to try all of our solutions and let us know if they worked for you.
More about the topics:System Errors
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.