In this article, you will be guided through the troubleshooting steps you should take in the event that you tried to launch our program, but the computer restarted and went into Windows (either onto your desktop or to the Windows sign-in screen).
Index:
Launching a Scan From the Boot Menu
Launching a Scan from Use a Device
Launching a Scan From the Boot Menu
1. Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.
2. Press the power button on your computer to turn the computer back on. If you have a login password, enter it. Allow the computer to load to your home screen.
3. Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here.
4. Click the Windows start logo at the bottom left hand corner of your screen to open the Windows start menu as seen in the image below. Click My Computer that’s located on the right hand side of the menu.
5. The My Computer window will appear on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located underneath Devices with Removable Storage. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
6. When you are in the FixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages:
- Locate and double-click on FixMeStick. If you can't find the FixMeStick application, click here.
- Depending on the update version of your FixMeStick device, the FixMeStick USB folder may look slightly different than what is explained above. The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. You will eventually see the end user license agreement similar to the example below. Click on Accept.
9. The application will then search for updates for your FixMeStick device. Allow the updates to complete. If you get a page asking you to plug in your FixMeStick and it is already plugged in, please click here.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window appears:
10. Before selecting Reboot and Start FixMeStick, find the appropriate Boot Menu key based on the make of your computer here.
- Once you’ve identified your Boot key, click on Reboot and Start FixMeStick
- Your computer will restart.
- Immediately start tapping your Boot key on your keyboard (1-2 times per second) while your computer is restarting.
- Keep tapping the Boot key until you see the Boot Menu or the Boot Device Options on the screen.
- Each computer brand has a boot menu that looks slightly different from the others. Here are some examples:
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the option that says FixMeStick in the Boot Menu.
- If you are not seeing any option that mentions FixMeStick, try an option that says USB Device or USB Storage.
- When the FixMeStick or the USB option is selected, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
11. Our logo will appear. The computer screen may go black for a moment, and the words FixMeStick… may appear in the top left corner. Eventually, our logo screen will appear again.
- Keep in mind that it might take a couple of minutes for your computer to start the scan.
- When you see Computer Status: Safe so far on the screen, it means that you’re in the FixMeStick scan!
1. Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.
2. Press the power button on your computer to turn the computer back on. If you have a login password, enter it. Allow the computer to load to your home screen.
3. Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here.
4. Click the Windows start logo at the bottom left hand corner of your screen. Once the Windows start menu is open, click Computer that’s located on the right hand side within the Windows start menu.
5. The My Computer window will come up on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located on the left hand side of the window. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
6. When you are in the FixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages:
- Locate and double-click on FixMeStick. If you can't find the FixMeStick application, click here.
- Depending on the update version of your FixMeStick device, the FixMeStick USB folder may look slightly different than what is explained above. The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. You will eventually see the end user license agreement as seen below. Click on Accept.
9. After this, the FixMeStick application will start and you will see a window that will check for updates. Allow the updates to complete. If you get a page asking you to plug in your FixMeStick and it is already plugged in, please click here.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. Find the appropriate Boot Menu key based on the make of your computer here.
- Once you’ve identified your Boot key, click on Reboot and Start FixMeStick
- Your computer will restart.
- Immediately start tapping your Boot key on your keyboard (1-2 times per second) while your computer is restarting.
- Keep tapping the Boot key until you see the Boot Menu or the Boot Device Options on the screen.
- Each computer brand has a boot menu that looks slightly different from the others. Here are some examples:
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the option that says FixMeStick in the Boot Menu.
- If you are not seeing any option that mentions FixMeStick, try an option that says USB Device or USB Storage.
- When the FixMeStick or the USB option is selected, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
11. You should then see the FixMeStick logo screen appear. This means the scan is being launched.
- Keep in mind that it might take a couple of minutes for your computer to start the scan.
- When you see Computer Status: Safe so Far on the screen, it means that you’re in the FixMeStick scan!
1. Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.
2. Press the power button on your computer to turn the computer back on. If you have a login password, enter it. Allow the computer to load to your home screen.
3. Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here.
4. Click the Windows start logo at the bottom left hand corner of your screen to open the Windows start menu, as seen in the image below. Click Computer that’s located on the right hand side within the menu.
- The Computer window will come up on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located in the Computer window either on the left-hand panel or under Devices with Removable Storage. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
6. When you are in the FixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages. At top or at the bottom of that same list, double-click on FixMeStick. If you can't find the FixMeStick application, click here.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. You will eventually see the end user license agreement as seen below. Click on Accept.
9. After this, the FixMeStick application will start to search for FixMeStick updates as seen below. Allow the updates to complete. If you get a page asking you to plug in your FixMeStick and it is already plugged in, please click here.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. Find the appropriate Boot Menu key based on the make of your computer here.
11. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
- Immediately start tapping the Boot Menu key on your keyboard once every second or faster while your computer is restarting.
- Keep tapping the Boot Menu key until you see the Boot Menu or the Boot Device Options on the screen.
- Each computer brand has a boot menu that looks slightly different from the others. Here are some examples:
12. Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the option that says FixMeStick in the Boot Menu.
- If you are not seeing any option that mentions FixMeStick, try an option that says USB Device or USB Storage.
- When the FixMeStick or the USB option is selected, press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
13. Your computer will restart and will take you into a FixMeStick scan. Keep in mind that it might take a couple of minutes for your computer to start the scan. When you see Computer Status: Safe so far on the screen, it means that you’re in the FixMeStick scan!
1. Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.
2. Press the power button on your computer to turn the computer back on. If you have a login password, enter it. Allow the computer to load to your home screen.
3. Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here.
4. Click the Windows start logo that looks like four white or blue squares at the bottom left hand corner of your screen to open the Windows start menu.
5. You will see a search bar at the top right-hand portion of the screen, as shown below. Type File Explorer into the search bar. The program that you would like to run will appear directly below the search bar after the word is typed in and the search button is pressed on the right side of the search bar. You will have to left-click this option.
- The File Explorer window will appear on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located in this folder. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
6. When you are in the FixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages. Locate and double-click on FixMeStick. If you can't find the FixMeStick application, click here.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. You will eventually see the end user license agreement as seen below. Click on Accept.
9. After this, the FixMeStick application will start to search for FixMeStick updates as seen below. Allow the updates to complete. If you get a page asking you to plug in your FixMeStick and it is already plugged in, please click here.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. Find the appropriate Boot Menu key based on the make of your computer here.
11. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
- Immediately start tapping the Boot Menu key on your keyboard once every second or faster while your computer is restarting.
- Keep tapping the Boot Menu key until you see the Boot Menu or the Boot Device Options on the screen.
- Each computer brand has a boot menu that looks slightly different from the others. Here are some examples:
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the option that says FixMeStick in the Boot Menu.
- If you are not seeing any option that mentions FixMeStick, try an option that says USB Device or USB Storage.
- When the FixMeStick or the USB option is selected, press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
12. Your computer will restart and will take you into a FixMeStick scan. Keep in mind that it might take a couple of minutes for your computer to start the scan. When you see Computer Status: Safe so far on the screen, it means that you’re in the FixMeStick scan!
1. Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.
2. Press the power button on your computer to turn the computer back on. If you have a login password, enter it. Allow the computer to load to your home screen.
3. Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here.
4. Right-click on the Windows start logo that looks like four white squares at the bottom left hand corner of your screen.
5. You will be given a drop down menu. Left-click the File Explorer option from the drop down list.
- The File Explorer folder will come up on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option under the Quick Access menu on the left hand side of the window. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
6. When you are in the FixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages. Locate and double-click on FixMeStick. If you can't find the FixMeStick application, click here.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. You will eventually see the end user license agreement as seen below. Click on Accept.
9. After this, the FixMeStick application will start and you will see a window that is doing updates appear as seen in the image below. Allow the updates to complete. If you get a page asking you to plug in your FixMeStick and it is already plugged in, please click here.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. Find the appropriate Boot Menu key based on the make of your computer here.
11. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
- Immediately start tapping the Boot Menu key on your keyboard once every second or faster while your computer is restarting.
- Keep tapping the Boot Menu key until you see the Boot Menu or the Boot Device Options on the screen.
- Each computer brand has a boot menu that looks slightly different from the others. Here are some examples:
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the option that says FixMeStick in the Boot Menu.
- If you are not seeing any option that mentions FixMeStick, try an option that says USB Device or USB Storage.
- When the FixMeStick or the USB option is selected, press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
12. Your computer will restart and will take you into a FixMeStick scan. Keep in mind that it might take a couple of minutes for your computer to start the scan. When you see Computer Status: Safe so far on the screen, it means that you’re in the FixMeStick scan!
If you are using Windows 8/8.1/10/11, you will need to disable a setting called Fast-Startup in order for our device to enter a scan after the computer reboots. In order to turn off Fast-Startup, please take the following steps:
1. Open your start menu by left-clicking on the windows key on your keyboard or the one in the bottom left corner of your screen if you are using Windows 8/8.1. If you are using Windows 10/11, go to step 2
2. Search for power and then select the Power & sleep settings option in the search result window.
3. On the right-hand side of the window that appears, you will see a title that says Power & Sleep. If you scroll down the right side, you should see a sub-heading titled Related Settings and a clickable item below that says Additional power settings. Please left-click that option.
4. A new window will appear titled Power settings. On the left hand side, you will see a list of clickable items. Please left-click the item that says Choose what the power buttons do.
5. You will be brought to a screen titled Define power buttons and turn on password protection. Below, you will see a clickable item that says Change settings that are currently unavailable. Please left-click this item.
6. Once you have left-clicked, you will see below that option that were previously greyed out, under Shutdown Settings are now available to be clicked on. Please locate the option that says Turn on fast startup (recommended). If this option is checked off, please uncheck it by left-clicking the box with the checkmark. If it is unchecked, leave it as is.
7. Once unchecked, please left-click Save Changes at the bottom right, and close all the related windows that we previously opened.
8. After saving these changes, you can try launching the scan from the FixMeStick application by following the getting started instructions here.
- If your computer continues to reboot back into Windows, you can follow the steps below to launch a scan from the Use a Device feature of your computer.
Launching a Scan from Use a Device
1. Insert your FixMeStick in your computer.
2. Access PC Settings by right-clicking on the windows key in the bottom left, clicking on Search, and then typing PC Settings in the search bar that appears. Alternately, you can move your cursor to the bottom right of your screen until the vertical menu bar appears, clicking search, and then searching for PC Settings.
3. In PC Settings select General and then click Restart Now under Advanced Startup.
4. Your PC will restart to the Choose an Option page.
5. Click on the Use a Device option listed in this menu.
- From here, you should see an option that mentions FixMeStick. It could also show up as USB Device or USB HDD.
- Once you select the FixMeStick option from the list, your computer will launch into a scan.
1. Insert your FixMeStick in your computer.
2. Access PC Settings by right-clicking on the windows key in the bottom left, clicking on Search, and then typing in the search bar that appears PC Settings. Or move your cursor to the bottom right of your screen until the vertical menu bar appears, clicking search, and then searching for PC Settings.
3. Select Update and Recovery.
4. Choose Recovery and then click Restart Now under Advanced Startup.
5. Your PC will restart to the Choose an Option page.
6. Click on the Use a Device option listed in this menu.
- From here, you should see an option that mentions FixMeStick. It could also show up as USB Device or USB HDD.
- Once you select the FixMeStick option from the list, your computer will launch into a scan.
1. Insert your FixMeStick in your computer.
2. Click on the Start Menu and select Settings. Alternately, you can type Settings into the search bar that appears after clicking on the start icon.
3. Then select Update & Security.
4. Select Recovery and then click on Restart now under Advanced start-up.
5. Your PC will restart to the Choose an Option page.
6. Click on the Use a Device option listed in this menu.
- From here, you should see an option that mentions FixMeStick. It could also show up as USB Device or USB HDD.
- Once you select the FixMeStick option from the list, your computer will launch into a scan.