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
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
Changing the Boot Mode of Your Computer
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
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.
- The My Computer folder will come up 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.
5. 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.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. You will eventually see the end user license agreement similar to the example below. Click on Accept.
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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up:
9. On the What Happens Next window, click Reboot and Start FixMeStick.
- Your computer will restart.
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:
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and press the Enter or Return 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!
- 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
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 and click My Computer that’s located on the right hand side of the menu.
- The My Computer window will appear on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located in the My Computer folder. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
5. 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, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
9. On the What Happens Next window, click Settings that’s located at the top towards the right hand side within this window.
10. You will see only one option on this page: the Factory Upgrade. Click the grey the button that says Factory Upgrade.
- 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 the What Happens Next window will automatically pop up again. It might take a couple of minutes for the window to reappear.
11. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick.
- 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’re still not able to get into a scan, repeat the Failsafe instructions again. With the new Factory Upgrade downloaded onto your FixMeStick device, the Failsafes will work more effectively.
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
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. The Windows start logo looks like a multicolored flag with the Windows logo in the middle of it. Once the Windows start menu is open, click Computer that’s located on the right hand side of the menu.
- The My Computer folder will come up on your screen. Double click the FixMeStick USB option located in the My Computer folder. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
5. 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, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. At any point, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
8. 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.
9. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
10. Immediately start tapping the space bar on your keyboard once every second or faster. The space bar is the longest horizontal key on the bottom row of your keyboard in the middle.
- Keep tapping the space bar while your computer is restarting, 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.
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
- This 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 FixMeStick Failsafe 1 didn't work, repeat these steps and this time select FixMeStick Failsafe 2.
- If FixMeStick Failsafe 2 doesn't work, continue with the next steps.
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
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. The Windows start logo looks like a multi-coloured flag with the Windows logo in the middle of it. Once the Windows start menu is open, click Computer that’s located on the right hand side of the menu.
- The Computer window will appear on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located in the Computer folder. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
5. 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, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
8. 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.
9. On the What Happens Next window, click Settings that’s located at the top towards the right hand side within this window.
10. You will see only one option on this page: the Factory Upgrade. Click the grey the button that says Factory Upgrade.
- Factory Upgrading your FixMeStick device can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour depending on your internet connection speed.
- Once the Factory Upgrade is complete, the current window will disappear and the What Happens Next window will automatically pop up again. It may take a couple of minutes for the window to reappear.
11. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick.
- 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’re still not able to get into a scan, repeat the Failsafe instructions again. With the new Factory Upgrade downloaded onto your FixMeStick device, the Failsafes will work more effectively.
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
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 a multicolored flag at the bottom left hand corner of your screen to open the Windows start menu. Click Computer that’s located on the right hand side of the menu.
- The Computer window will appear on your screen. Double-click the FixMeStick USB option located on the left-hand side of this window. If you can't find the FixMeStick USB, click here.
5. 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, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
9. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
10. Immediately start tapping the space bar on your keyboard once every second or faster. The space bar is the longest horizontal key on the bottom row of your keyboard in the middle.
- Keep tapping the space bar while your computer is restarting, 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.
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
- This 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 FixMeStick Failsafe 1 didn't work, repeat these steps and this time select FixMeStick Failsafe 2.
- If you’re still not able to get into a scan, continue with the next steps.
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
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 a multicolored flag at the bottom left hand corner of your screen to open the Windows start menu. Click Computer that’s located on the right hand side of the menu.
- The Computer window will appear 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.
5. 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, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
8. 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.
9. On the What Happens Next window, click Settings that’s located at the top towards the right hand side within this window.
10. You will see only one option on this page: the Factory Upgrade. Click the grey the button that says Factory Upgrade.
- 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 the What Happens Next window will automatically pop up again. It might take a couple of minutes for the What Happens Next window to appear.
11. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick.
- 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’re still not able to get into a scan, repeat the Failsafe instructions again. With the new Factory Upgrade downloaded onto your FixMeStick device, the Failsafes will work more effectively.
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
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.
- At top or at the bottom of that same list, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
9. 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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
11. Immediately start tapping the space bar on your keyboard once every second or faster. The space bar is the longest horizontal key on the bottom row of your keyboard in the middle.
- Keep tapping the space bar while your computer is restarting, 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.
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
- This 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 FixMeStick Failsafe 1 didn't work, repeat these steps and this time select FixMeStick Failsafe 2.
- If you’re still not able to get into a scan, continue with the next steps.
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
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.
- At top or at the bottom of that same list, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
9. After this, the FixMeStick application will start and you will see a window that will perform an update. 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. On the What Happens Next window, click Settings that’s located at the top towards the right hand side within this window.
11. You will see only one option on this page: the Factory Upgrade. Click the grey the button that says Factory Upgrade.
- 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 the What Happens Next window will automatically pop up again. It might take a couple of minutes for the window to reappear.
- On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick.
- 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 the Factory Upgrade didn't solve the issue on it's own, repeat the Failsafe instructions again. With the new Factory Upgrade downloaded onto your FixMeStick device, the Failsafes will work more effectively.
- If you’re still not able to get into a scan, continue with the next steps.
Changing the Boot Mode of Your Computer
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 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. At top or at the bottom of that same list, locate and double click on FixMeStick.
- Depending on the update version of your FixMeStick device, the FixMeStick USB folder may look slightly different than what is explained above. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder. If you can't find the FixMeStick application, click here.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
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 BIOS hotkey 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 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:
- 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.
12. 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:
- Legacy feature under the Advanced tab:
- Legacy feature under the Security tab:
- Note: Legacy mode can also be called CSM mode on some models. It will still be located in the same place.
13. 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.
14. 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 boot 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.
Starting a Scan Using the Failsafe Options
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 or blue 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.
6. The File Explorer window will appear 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.
- 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, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double-click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
9. 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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
11. Immediately start tapping the space bar on your keyboard once every second or faster. The space bar is the longest horizontal key on the bottom row of your keyboard in the middle.
- Keep tapping the space bar while your computer is restarting, 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.
- Using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight FixMeStick Failsafe 1 and press the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
- This 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 FixMeStick Failsafe 1 didn't work, repeat these steps and this time select FixMeStick Failsafe 2.
- If you’re still not able to get into a scan, continue with the next steps.
Factory Upgrading Your FixMeStick Device
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 or blue 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 window will appear 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.
- At top or at the bottom of that same list, 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. You might be seeing the Mac Getting Started and PC Getting Started folders, instead of a list of languages. That’s normal. The FixMeStick application will still be in the FixMeStick USB folder.
- The FixMeStick application can show up as FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick as well. If you can’t find FixMeStick.exe in the FixMeStick USB folder, then you may double-click on either FixMeStick or RunFixMeStick.
7. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
8. At any point after that, another pop-up might ask if you will accept the end user license agreement. Click on Accept.
9. 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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window comes up.
10. On the What Happens Next window, click Settings that’s located at the top towards the right hand side within this window.
11. You will see only one option on this page: the Factory Upgrade. Click the grey the button that says Factory Upgrade.
- 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 the What Happens Next window will automatically pop up again. It might take a couple of minutes for the What Happens Next window to reappear.
12. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick.
- 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 the Factory Upgrade didn't solve the issue on it's own, repeat the Failsafe instructions again. With the new Factory Upgrade downloaded onto your FixMeStick device, the Failsafes will work more effectively.
- If you’re still not able to get into a scan, continue with the next steps.
Changing the Boot Mode of Your Computer
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 or blue 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.
- 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.
6. A pop-up will ask if you will allow the FixMeStick to make changes to your computer. Click on Yes.
7. You will eventually see the end user license agreement as seen below. Click on Accept
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.
- After the updates are complete, wait until the What Happens Next window appears.
9. Find the appropriate BIOS Menu key based on the make of your computer here.
10. On the What Happens Next window, click on the red button that says Reboot and Start FixMeStick. Your computer will restart.
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:
- 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:
- Legacy feature under the Advanced tab:
- Legacy feature under the Security tab:
- Note: Legacy mode can also be called CSM Mode on some models. It will still be located in the same place.
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.