How to Solve “Fixing C Stage 2 Windows 10” Error? (6 Solutions)

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Fixing (C:) stage 2 is an error during system startup. This error causes a significant delay in the boot-up to the Windows home screen. As a result, you may experience difficulty using your PC. It is a disk error check that detects and fixes hard drive problems on.

This error usually appears on computers with old or corrupted hard drives. Today, we’ll go over six solutions you can use to fix this problem and highlight the possible causes of the issue. Let’s begin! 

Possible Causes

A couple of reasons can cause this issue. First, however, the drive letter “C” in your case may differ. Instead of “C,” the computer can display other letters, such as D, E, etc.

If the “C drive” appears, you should be concerned because this is your system drive, where your important files are and Windows 10 is installed. You may not need to be worried if it displays D or another letter. The following are some of the possible causes of the Fixing (C:) Stage 2 issue:

• Power outage
• Unexpected shutdown
• Corrupted or outdated hard drive
• A large number of junk files are on the hard drive
• Viruses or malware

So, how do you get rid of the Fixing (C:) Stage 2 error? Continue reading to learn six solutions to this issue.

Solution #1: Force Restart

Shutting down your computer during a disk scan is not recommended because it can permanently damage the hard disk. If you’re stuck on the scanning screen for too long and the hard drive seems unfunctional, you’re basically out of options.

You should first try shutting down your computer by pressing the power button for a few seconds. This will restart the computer. Hopefully, this will resolve the issue.

Solution #2: Adjust Registry Settings

You can also use the Registry Editor in Safe Mode to try to stop this error. But, first, you’ll need to enter Safe Mode via Windows Recovery Environment. Here are the steps involved:

Step 1: Press the Power button for five to ten seconds to force a shutdown. Then, press the Power button again to restart it. 

Step 2: Hold the Power button again as soon as the screen comes on to switch off the computer. Repeat turning on and off the computer three times until a blue screen with Recovery appears.

Step 3: Then, press F8 to access the Startup Settings menu.

Step 4: Afterward, click on F4 to enable Safe Mode.

Step 5: After entering Safe Mode, press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog.

Step 6: To open Registry Editor, type “regedit” in the box and press Enter.

Step 7: Once you’re in the Registry Editor, go to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession Manager

Step 8: Double-click the BootExecute file and change its data value to autocheck autochk * in the right-sided pane. However, note that if the value data is already autocheck autochk *, change it to autocheck autochk /k:C *.

Restart your computer after you finish the to check if this issue has been fixed.

Solution #3: Run System File Check

A System File Checker (SFC) scan can detect and repair any damaged files that were created during setup.

Step 1: Start your computer by booting from the Windows installation media or through Safe Mode and click the Repair button.

Step 2: Select Troubleshoot from the blue screen recovery window.

Step 3: Go to the Advanced tab.

Step 4: Afterward, click on the Command Prompt.

Step 5: Then, enter “sfc /scannow” to run an SFC scan.

Once the scan is complete, restart your computer. It should boot normally.

Solution #4: Scan for Disk Errors

The next option to fix this issue is to run a command called CHKDSK. Here’s how:

Step 1: While still in safe mode, type “cmd” into the search bar, then right-click the Command prompt and click on Run as Administrator.

Step 2: When the command prompt appears, type the following command and press Enter.

“chkdsk /r c:“

Step 3: If “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process” appears, input “Y” and press Enter. After that, restart your computer.

Wait a few minutes for the process to finish. If the issue still isn’t resolved, try the last tip below.

Solution #5: Use Startup Repair

Startup repair is a helpful tool included in Windows to assist users in resolving errors. Here’s how the tool can help you fix this issue.

Step 1: Turn off your computer by pressing the Power button for a few seconds.

Step 2: Then restart your computer by pressing the Power button once more.

Step 3: Press and hold the power button for ten seconds once the computer manufacturer’s logo appears.

Step 4: When the computer restarts, select Troubleshoot.

Step 5: Navigate to Advanced Options.

Step 6: Click on Startup Repair.

Wait for the process to finish. The Fixing (C:) Stage 2 error should be fixed by now.

Final Steps

The Fixing (C:) Stage 2 issue can take hours before it is finally resolved. This can impact the functionality of your computer as you won’t be able to use the laptop. So, if you’re tired of facing this issue, follow our five solutions to fix this issue and continue using your computer.

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