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Summary
Unknown Hard Error is one of the most frustrating system errors that Windows users encounter. This error can cause system crashes, blue screens, screen flickering, taskbar freezing, and desktop icons disappearing. But don't worry. We have sorted out several commonly used methods to solve this error, which will help you troubleshoot this issue and keep your computer running smoothly. So, read on and fix "Unknown Hard Error" once and for all!!



Unknown Hard Error

“Unknown Hard Error” is a common system error that Windows users may come across. It can happen while playing a game, opening or closing an application, or during a Windows update. While this error can cause system crashes in various scenarios, it is not a difficult issue to resolve. Before diving into the solution, let’s first explore the possible causes of this error.
Unknown Hard Error error message
Under typical circumstances, the existence of the subsequent circumstances could potentially cause the appearance of the dreaded “Unknown Hard Error,” including but not limited to:
●System files are damaged or lost
● Registry entries are corrupted
● Attacked by a virus or malware
● Problems with Windows update
The above are the reasons that may cause the “Unknown Hard Error” fault, so let’s fix the problem purposefully.

II. How to fix “Unknown Hard Error” on Windows 10?

1. Perform a clean boot

When faced with an “unknown error” issue, the most efficient solution is to restart the computer. However, a normal restart may not be enough to resolve the problem. In such cases, a clean boot is recommended. This involves starting the system with only the essential drivers and startup programs, without any third-party software or plugins. The benefit of this approach is that it allows for easy identification of whether the issue is caused by the system itself or external software. If the problem persists after a clean boot, it could indicate a system error or a software malfunction.
Here’s how to perform a clean boot:
Step 1: Run the computer, press (Windows+R) keys at the same time to open the run window. Next type (msconfig) and press (OK) to open the system configuration interface.
enter msconfig in run
Step 2: Next, under the (Services) tab, check the (Hide all Microsoft services) option, then click the (Disable all) button.
hide all microsoft services and disable all
Step 3: After that, switch to the (Startup), and click the (Open Task Manager) button. Next, select all applications that do not need to be started in turn, and click the (Disable) button.

If the problem is resolved after the clean boot, you can try to enable the previously disabled programs and restart the computer to troubleshoot it.

open Task Manager

2. Repair damaged system files

“Unknown Hard Error” can occur when system files are corrupted or malfunctioning. Therefore, you can solve the current problem with the help of SFC command, because SFC command can scan protected system files and try to fix the error. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Search (cmd) in the search box in the lower left corner, and select (run as administrator) to open the command prompt tool.
run as administrator
Step 2: In the opened command prompt window, enter the command (SFC /scannow) and press the (Enter) key. Next, System File Checker will perform a system scan and fix problematic system files. After the repair is complete, restart the computer to see if the problem is resolved.
Enter the SFC command

3. Run the DISM tool

The DISM.exe tool, also known as Deployment Image Servicing and Management, is a powerful command-line tool that is included in the Windows system. Its main purpose is to facilitate the installation, uninstallation, configuration, and updating of features and packages in offline Windows(R) and Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) images. Additionally, it has the ability to scan the system for any corrupted system files and resolve known issues.
The following are the detailed steps to run the DISM tool:
Step 1: Run the computer, search (cmd) directly in the search box in the lower left corner, and select (run as administrator) to open the command prompt tool.
run as administrator
Step 2: In the opened command prompt window, enter the command (dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth) and press the (Enter) key to execute the command. Once done, restart the computer and see if the problem is resolved.
Run the dism command

4. Uninstall Windows updates

“Unknown Hard Error” can appear when Windows updates go wrong. Therefore, you can view and uninstall recently installed Windows updates in the update history. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Run the computer, click the (Start) button in the lower left corner and find (Settings).
settings in Windows
Step 2: Navigate to (Update & security)> (Windows Update). Under the (Windows Update), click the (View update history) option on the right.
check for updates Windows 10
Step 3: Next, click (Uninstall update) to go on.
Step 4: Then find the wrong (latest download) Windows update, and click the (Uninstall) button at the same time. When the operation is complete, restart the computer and see if the problem is resolved.

5. Perform System Restore

If you have created multiple restore points, when the system encounters various failures, you can try to restore the system to the best state from other restore points. The specific steps are as follows:
Step 1: Run the computer, enter (create a restore point) in the search box in the lower left corner and click to enter.
search to create a restore point in windows
Step 2: Next, switch to the (System Protection) option in the “System Properties” interface. Then click the (System Restore) button to display all the restore points you created.
System Restore Point thumb
Step 3: Select the recent system restore point, then click (Next). The next interface will pop up to confirm the system restore operation, click the (OK) button.
system restore point
Several general methods are available to fix the “Unknown Hard Error” failure. In situations where you are unable to access the Windows system due to a failure, utilizing professional system rescue tools can assist in transferring or restoring important data. The steps for performing this operation are outlined below.

III. When the system fails, use Renee PassNow to transfer or restore important data

1. What is Renee PassNow?

Renee PassNow is a professional system rescue tool. This software can not only help users solve problems including clearing Windows account passwords, creating new administrator accounts; restoring disk/memory card data, recovering data after hard disk formatting; transferring disk files; wiping Functional requirements including deleting or scanning disk files, etc.; also supports repairing many system problems common to Windows users, such as: MBR boot record failure, DBR error parameter error, 0xc00000e, Windows system startup failure, computer black screen or blue screen, etc. It has many functions and is very convenient to operate.
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2. How to use Renee PassNow to transfer or restore data?

If your computer fails to enter the Windows system, you can easily create a startup disk using Renee PassNow. This will allow you to start your computer with the disk and use the software’s functions to transfer or restore data, preventing any unnecessary loss. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Download and install Renee PassNow on another computer that can log in and run normally, then connect the USB disk to the PC.

Please select the (Create a Live USB) option under “Step 1: Select creation method” in the main interface.

Note: Before performing this operation, please make sure that the important files in the USB disk have been saved in other locations because the operation will delete all the data in the USB disk.

Step 2: Next, choose the appropriate system type (x64 or x86) and select the “Download Now” button to obtain the ISO file. Once the download is complete, click the “Create USB” button to initiate the process, and then eject the USB by clicking the “Eject USB” button.
use renee passnow to create usb to reset passnword
Step 3: Connect the boot device you have created to the computer where you want to transfer data. Turn on the computer and a shortcut key will appear on the screen to enter the BIOS (this interface may only appear for a few seconds). Continuously click the BIOS shortcut key to access the BIOS settings. From there, set the boot USB as the first option in the boot sequence under Boot Priority. Save the changes and restart the computer.
select boot order
Step 4: Choose the option “Data Transfer”. If you wish to transfer all the data from your hard disk, simply select the “Data Backup” option.
data transfer function in Renee Passnow
Step 5: You can simply click on each disk drive letter (C/D/E/F, etc.) to check for any potential loss of important files. If there are no missing files, it is highly recommended that you transfer them to an external disk for safekeeping. The process of transferring data is straightforward and effortless. For instance, if you wish to transfer data from the C drive to the G drive, you can easily select the C drive on the upper left, then choose the G drive on the upper right, and finally select the desired files from the C drive. Once selected, click on the Copy function button in the middle to easily transfer the disk data. In case you want to delete a file, you can simply select it and click on the (Delete) button in the middle. However, please note that this action cannot be undone, so proceed with caution.
data transfer in Renee Passnow
Step 6: If you find that there is data loss, please select the (Undeleter) option on the main interface of the function, and click the (Run) button.
data recovery function in Renee Passnow
Step 7: Select (Whole Disk Scan) to scan the target hard disk.
select whole disk scan in renee undeleter
Step 8: After the scan is complete, choose the file you want to recover and click the “Recover” button to start the data recovery. Save the file to an external disk and eject the USB disk once the recovery is finished.
recover files from whole disk scan with renee undeleter