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My Computer is Frozen at a Screen With a FixMeStick Logo

In this article, we explain what to do if your computer is frozen at the FixMeStick logo screen when your computer restarts after you click Reboot and Start FixMeStick. If your computer is frozen at the FixMeStick logo screen, it means that you weren’t able to launch a FixMeStick scan successfully - so read on to learn how you can troubleshoot this issue.

 

Index:

  Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options

  Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device

  Changing the Boot Mode of Your Computer

 

If you are not sure what version of Windows you are using, click here to learn how you can find out.

 

Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options

 

Step 1: Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.

 

Step 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.

 

Step 3: Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here. 

 

Step 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. 

Index for Windows Version:

  • Windows XP you're looking for"My Computer," located on the right hand side of the start menu. Click on it. 
  • Windows Vista and Windows 7 you're looking for "Computer," located on the right hand side of the start menu. Click on it.
  • Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10/11 you're looking for "File Explorer," you can type "File Explorer" into the search bar or it will appear on your screen.You will have to left-click on it.  

 

Windows-XP-Better-Quality-Start.jpg

 

  • Double click the FixMeStick USB option located underneath Devices with Removable Storage. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.

 

pasted_image_0__12_.png

 

Step 5: When you are in the FixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages:

 

RFMS_in_File_Explorer.png

 

  • 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.

Step 6: A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.

 

pasted_image_0__11_.png

 

Step 7: You will eventually see the end user license agreement similar to the example below. Click on Accept.

 

RFMS_asks_for_License_Agreement.png

 

Step 8: 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.

 

When_clicked_on_Factory_Upgrade.png

 

  • After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up:

 

RFMS_Main_Page_or_What_Happens_Next.png

 

Step 9: On the What Happens Next window, click Reboot and Start FixMeStick.

  • Your computer will restart.

Step 10: Immediately start tapping the space bar on your keyboard once every second or faster while your computer is in the process of rebooting.

  • Keep tapping the space bar until you see the FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and FixMeStick Failsafe 2 options on the upper left hand corner of the screen on a black screen:

 

pasted_image_0__10_.png

 

  • Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.

Step 11: You should then see the FixMeStick logo screen appear. This means the scan is being launched.

 

pasted_image_0__9_.png

 

  • 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 FixMeStick Failsafe 1 didn't work, repeat these steps and this time select FixMeStick Failsafe 2.
  • If FixMeStick Failsafe 2 didn't work, continue with the next steps.

Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device

 

Step 1: If you're currently in a scan, hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device. If your computer is off, turn your computer on. 

 

Step 2: If you have a login password, enter it. Allow the computer to load to your home screen.

 

Step 3: Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here. 

 

Step 4: Click the Windows start logo at the bottom left hand corner of your screen to open the Windows start menu. 

Index for Windows Version:

  • Windows XP you're looking for "My Computer," located on the right hand side of the start menu. Click on it. 
  • Windows Vista and Windows 7 you're looking for"Computer," located on the right hand side of the start menu. Click on it.
  • Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10/11 you're looking for "File Explorer," you can type "File Explorer" into the search bar or it will appear on your screen.You will have to left-click on it. 

Step 5: Double-click theFixMeStick USB option. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.

  • When you are in theFixMeStick USB folder, you should see a list of different languages.WindowsXP3.png
  • You might be seeing theMac Getting Started andPC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in theFixMeStick USB folder.
  • The FixMeStick application can show up asFixMeStick orRunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t findFixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on eitherFixMeStick orRunFixMeStick.

Step 6: A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click onYes.

Windows-8-UAC-Edit.png

 

Step 7: At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click onAccept.

 

WindowsXP5.png

 

Step 8: After this, the FixMeStick application will start and you will see a window that is doing updates appear. 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.

 

WindowsXP6.png

 

  • After the updates are complete, wait until theWhat Happens Next window appears.

WindowsXP7.png

 

Step 9: On theWhat Happens Next window, click Settings that’s located at the top towards the right hand side within this window.

 

Step 10: You will see only one option on this page: the Factory Upgrade. Click the grey button that saysFactory Upgrade.

 

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Factory Upgrading your FixMeStick device can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour depending on your internet connection speed. If the update page disappears immediately, it likely did not go through. In that case, click here.

Once the Factory Upgrade is complete, the current window will disappear and theWhat Happens Next window will automatically pop up again. It might take a couple of minutes for the window to reappear. 

 

Changing the Boot Mode of Your Computer for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 

 

Step 1: Hold down the power button on your computer until it powers down and remove the FixMeStick device.

 

Step 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.

 

Step 3: Insert the FixMeStick device into a USB port on your computer. If you get a message to format your FixMeStick, please click here. 

 

Step 4: Right-click on the Windows start logo that looks like four white or blue squares at the bottom left hand corner of your screen. 

  • Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10/11 you're looking for "File Explorer," you can type "File Explorer" into the search bar or it will appear on your screen.You will have to left-click on it. 

 

pasted_image_0__2_.png

 

Step 5: You will be given a drop down menu. Left-click the File Explorer option from the drop down list.

 

pasted_image_0__1_.png

 

  • 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.

 

pasted_image_0.png

 

  • 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.

 

RFMS_in_File_Explorer.png

 

Step 6: A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.

 

pasted_image_0__11_.png

 

Step 7: You will eventually see the end user license agreement as seen below. Click on Accept

 

RFMS_asks_for_License_Agreement.png

 

Step 8: 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.

 

When_clicked_on_Factory_Upgrade.png

 

  • After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window appears.

 

RFMS_Main_Page_or_What_Happens_Next.png

 

Step 9: Find the appropriate BIOS Menu key based on the make of your computer here.

Step 10: On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.

Step 11: Immediately start tapping the BIOS hotkey on your keyboard once every second or faster while your computer is restarting.

  • Keep tapping the BIOS hotkey until you see the BIOS Menu or the Setup Utility Menu on the screen. There are different versions of BIOS. It will most likely look something like this:

 

pasted_image_0__3_.png

 

  • You won’t be able to use your mouse in the BIOS menu, but you can use the four arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate this menu.
  • You will see some tabs at the top across the screen. Using your left and right arrow keys, you can highlight each tab and see what features are located under each tab. You will be looking for the Legacy option. This is called different things on different versions of BIOS, but most typically can be found under the Advanced tab, the Boot tab, System Configuration tab or Security tab:

 

  • Legacy feature under the Boot tab:

 

uefi-bios.png

 

  • Legacy feature under the Advanced tab:

 

maxresdefault-1.jpg

 

  • Legacy feature under the Security tab:

 

hp-uefi-setup-utility-security.jpg

 

  • Note: Legacy mode can also be called CSM Mode on some models. It will still be located in the same place.

Step 12: You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight either Legacy (USB) Support or Boot Mode, depending on which one your BIOS menu has, and hit Enter or Return on your keyboard.

  • We want to change Legacy (USB) Support from Disabled to Enabled. Or if you have Boot Mode instead, we want to change it from UEFI to either Legacy or CSM.
  • Use your arrow keys to highlight Enabled or Legacy/CSM, and press Enter.
  • Once you make the necessary change, hit the F10 key that’s located at the top row of your keyboard. This will prompt the Save and Exit box on your screen. Use your arrow keys to highlight Yes and press Enter or Return on your keyboard. This will save the changes and exit the BIOS menu.
  • From here, follow the instructions on how to launch your FixMeStick from the boot menu.
  • After your scan is successfully complete, if you are not able to get back into your Windows, you will have to change the Boot Mode back to UEFI. In that case, hold down the power button on your computer for around 10 seconds to hard shut down the computer and follow the steps above, this time changing the Boot Mode from Legacy/CSM to UEFI.