Troubleshooting a Computer That Won’t Boot After Using CCleaner and Updating NVIDIA Drivers

If you’ve encountered a frustrating situation where your computer fails to boot after performing routine maintenance, you’re not alone. Many users face similar issues, especially after utilizing tools like CCleaner for registry cleaning and attempting to update graphics drivers. I recently experienced this firsthand after upgrading to a new NVMe SSD and relocating several games.

The Incident

In my pursuit to optimize system performance, I decided to run CCleaner to eliminate broken registry links that might cause future issues. After a few hours, I attempted to install the latest NVIDIA drivers. Unfortunately, the installation process failed, indicating that it couldn’t proceed at that moment.

After restarting my PC in hopes of resolving the issue, things took a turn for the worse. My computer refused to boot altogether. The screen remained black, my keyboard wasn’t responsive (none of the lights activated), and I couldn’t initiate Windows recovery via the F11 key.

While the CPU and case fans were operational, along with RGB lighting on my RAM and graphics card, there was no sign of the Aorus splash screen or BIOS options appearing. The lack of input to the monitor was disconcerting. Even holding down the power button wouldn’t turn off the computer; I was forced to manually unplug the system or switch it off at the source.

My Setup

For those who might find the specifications relevant, here they are:
– Operating System: Windows 10
– Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1070 Ti
– Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600
– Motherboard: Gigabyte X470 Aorus Gaming 5 WiFi

Moving Forward

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, here are a few troubleshooting steps that could help revive your system:

Check Physical Connections: Ensure that all cables and components are properly connected. This includes checking whether the SSD is securely installed and that all power cables are firmly attached.
Reset BIOS: Sometimes, resetting your BIOS to defaults can resolve boot issues. You can do this by removing the CMOS battery or using the appropriate jumper on your motherboard.
Safe Mode Boot: If there’s any hint of functionality, try booting into Safe Mode. This can sometimes allow you to revert changes or uninstall problematic drivers.
Reseat Components: If you’re comfortable, reseat the RAM, graphics card