Dealing with the SrtTrail.txt error on Windows 10 or 11 can be frustrating. This guide will explore the causes of this issue and provide effective solutions to resolve it.
Windows includes a built-in feature called Automatic Repair, designed to fix boot-related problems. When it fails, Windows creates a log file called SrtTrail.txt, pointing to issues it couldn’t resolve.
In simple terms, Windows tried to fix itself… and failed.
Why Windows Refers to SrtTrail.txt? Because SrtTrail.txt is a diagnostic log stored during startup repair. It records:
▶ Corrupted system files
▶ Boot configuration errors
▶ Disk-related problems
Seeing this error means Windows is stuck before it can even fully load.
Here are the main causes behind SrtTrail.txt BSOD error:
• Corrupted system files: System files can become corrupted due to malware, sudden shutdowns or disk errors. When critical files are damaged, Windows can’t start properly.
• Damaged Boot Configuration Data (BCD): BCD is like Windows’ GPS. If it’s broken, Windows has no idea where it’s going during startup.
• Failing hard drive or SSD: Bad sectors, aging SSDs, or physical disk damage can prevent Windows from loading essential files.
• Recent Windows updates or driver issues: Sometimes updates do more harm than good. A bad driver or failed update can trigger the SrtTrail.txt error.
• Power interruptions and sudden shutdowns: Pulling the plug mid-update is like slamming the brakes at full speed—things break.
The SrtTrail.txt BSOD error in Windows usually occurs when the system fails to boot properly and enters the Automatic Repair loop. This file is part of the Startup Repair tool, which logs problems preventing Windows from starting. Here’s a step-by-step guide to fix it:
The SrtTrail.txt BSOD error usually appears when Windows fails to start due to corrupted system files, damaged boot records, or improper shutdowns. One of the simplest and most effective first solutions is to run Startup Repair the right way. This built-in Windows recovery tool automatically scans and fixes issues that prevent your system from booting properly.
Sometimes Startup Repair works, but only if it’s launched properly.
Step 1. Power on your PC and interrupt the boot process 2–3 times (hold the power button while Windows is loading). You’ll enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
Step 2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Repair.
Step 3. Select your Windows account and enter your password.
Step 4. Wait for Windows to diagnose and repair startup issues.
If Startup Repair fails and shows SrtTrail.txt, a more powerful third-party solution like AOMEI Partition Assistant can help repair boot issues efficiently. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a professional disk and boot management tool designed for Windows PCs. Beyond basic partitioning, it offers advanced features specifically aimed at fixing Windows boot failures, including black screen, boot loop, missing boot files, and systems stuck in automatic repair.
Step 1. Install AOMEI Partition Assistant on a working PC and connect a USB drive (at least 16 GB of free space) to it.
Step 2. Open the software to click Boot Repair below the Recover section.
Step 3. Click the create a bootable disk option to create a WinPE Boot Repair drive for recovery.
Step 4. Connect the created drive to the faulty computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup to set the USB drive as the primary boot device. Then your computer will boot and automatically load the Boot Repair tool to detect all boot issues.
Step 5. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the Repair button.
Step 6. Once the process completes, remove the bootable disk and start the computer from the original system drive.
Another effective way to resolve the SrtTrail.txt error in Windows 10 is by using DISM and SFC. These built-in utilities repair corrupted system components and restore missing files, especially when Safe Mode with networking is enabled.
Step 1. Select Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings.
Step 2. Press F5 to boot into Safe Mode with Networking, allowing the system to access required online resources.
Step 3. Type cmd in the Windows search box. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Step 4. Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each line:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Blue screen errors often occur when critical system files are damaged or corrupted, forcing Windows to shut down unexpectedly. The System File Checker (SFC) helps identify these issues and replaces faulty files with correct versions.
Step 1. In the elevated Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This process connects to Windows Update to retrieve healthy system files.
Step 2. Once DISM finishes, run the command below:
sfc /scannow
Step 3. Allow the scan to complete. This may take several minutes, depending on system condition.
Step 4. After the process ends, restart the computer and check whether the SrtTrail.txt error has been resolved.
This approach often restores system stability and eliminates startup repair loops caused by corrupted Windows files.
When a Windows 10 system restarts repeatedly, the Boot Options menu will eventually appear. From there, the system can be rolled back to an earlier state when it was functioning normally by using System Restore.
Step 1. Select Troubleshoot → Advanced options from the Boot Options screen.
Step 2. Choose System Restore from the available recovery tools.
Step 3. Enter the administrator account credentials if prompted.
Step 4. Click Next to proceed with the most recent restore point, or select Choose a different restore point and then click Next.
Step 5. If a custom restore point is selected, choose a date when the system was working correctly and click Next to begin the restoration process.
Once completed, Windows will restart and revert system settings and files to the selected point, often resolving startup and stability issues.
If the previous solutions fail to resolve the logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt error in Windows 10, repairing the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) can often correct the issue and restore normal startup behavior.
Step 1. In the Windows Recovery Environment, navigate to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt.
Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the following commands one at a time. Press Enter after each command to execute it in the correct sequence:
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot
bootrec.exe /scanos
bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd
These commands repair the master boot record, restore boot sector files, and rebuild the boot configuration data. After the process completes, restart the system and check whether the startup error has been resolved.
A corrupted Windows Registry can also trigger the SrtTrail.txt error on a Windows PC. In many cases, restoring registry files through the Command Prompt in the Boot Options menu can resolve the issue and allow the system to start normally.
Step 1. Enter the Automatic Repair screen, then navigate to Advanced options and open Command Prompt.
Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each line:
C:\Windows\System32\Config\RegBack
C:\Windows\System32\Config
These commands access the registry backup folder and the main configuration directory, allowing Windows to restore valid registry files.
Step 3. Close the Command Prompt window and restart the computer to check whether the SrtTrail.txt error has been resolved.
Resetting a Windows 10 PC can be an effective solution for fixing the SrtTrail.txt BSOD error, especially when deeper system issues are involved. This process removes problematic software, drivers, and applications that may be causing startup failures. Personal files can be preserved if needed, although a full reset is often more effective.
Step 1. Open Settings, then navigate to Update & Security → Recovery. Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
Step 2. Choose Keep my files to retain personal data, or select Remove everything for a complete reset. For persistent errors, the second option is usually recommended.
Step 3. Select Just remove your files, then click Next to continue.
Step 4. Review the warning message displayed on the screen. Click Next, then select Reset and confirm by clicking Continue when prompted.
Step 5. Once the reset process finishes, allow the system to boot normally and verify whether the SrtTrail.txt error has been resolved.
If personal files were removed during the reset, data recovery software can be used afterward to retrieve lost files.
No. It’s a diagnostic log file created by Windows Automatic Repair.
Deleting it won’t help. The file reports the problem—it isn’t the problem.
Not always. But if disk checks fail repeatedly, hardware issues are likely.
Not if you choose Keep my files during reset.
Recurring errors often point to underlying disk, driver, or hardware problems.
In summary, the SrtTrail.txt BSOD error signals serious startup problems caused by corrupted files, boot issues, or hardware failures. While built-in tools like Startup Repair, SFC, DISM, and System Restore often resolve it, deeper issues may require BCD repair, registry recovery, or a full reset. Acting quickly and choosing the right method can help restore Windows and prevent data loss.