Last time you turned on your computer, Windows started correctly. Now Windows starts but fails before the login prompt. What is the first step you should try to troubleshoot this problem?

Safe Mode with Command Prompt is for advanced troubleshooting when graphical interface access is impossible, and it's a more drastic step than Last Known Good Configuration for a system that previously worked fine.

Restoring a system image is a last resort as it can lead to significant data loss if not handled carefully and is far too aggressive for a first troubleshooting step.

Selecting "Start Windows Normally" is the default boot option and would likely result in the same failure, offering no troubleshooting benefit.

The Last Known Good Configuration option, accessed by pressing F8 during startup, loads the system settings that were saved from the last time Windows successfully started and shut down. This is the most appropriate first step when a computer starts failing after a recent successful boot, as it can revert problematic driver or registry changes that occurred between the last good startup and the current failure, often resolving boot issues without data loss.