Windows is damaged and the startup repair tool isn't working.
Windows is damaged and the startup repair tool isn't working.
It could depend on the situation. I’d start with a live OS such as Linux, using Parted Magic for disk management, and then run disk health checks. Hiren offers similar diagnostic tools.
It shouldn't hurt and you should try to recover your files, though it's uncertain if it will work unless you know exactly what's wrong. Make sure you have backups ready. You can perform a Windows Repair Install via a USB drive. When prompted, select Upgrade In Place followed by Repair Install.