WIndows 8 Hangs on restart

Anonymous
2012-11-08T06:10:40+00:00

I have Windows 8 Pro and when I restart, the Restarting... screen just hangs. It doesn't go away, so I have to power off my machine(hold power button).

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2012-11-08T19:50:48+00:00

Hello Kim,

Sorry for the inconvenience that you are facing with Windows 8 on restarting it. I will definitely assist you in fixing this issue.

Let us start with couple of questions.

1.       Have you made any changes on your computer prior to the issue?

2.       What happens on the first boot?

3.       Do you have any third party security software installed?

Perform the following troubleshooting methods:

Method 1:

I would suggest you to boot the computer in safe mode and check how it works.

Follow these steps to boot the computer in safe mode.

a.       Press the “Windows + R” key on the keyboard.

b.      In the ‘Run’ windows type “msconfig” without quotes and click “Ok”.

c.       Click the “Boot” tab.

d.      Under “Boot Options”, select the “Safe Boot” option.

e.      Choose “Network” option below the “Safe boot” check box.

f.        Click “Apply” and then “Ok”.

g.       Then select “Restart” option.

h.      Once you check in safe mode, then I would suggest you to place the computer in normal boot option.

i.         Remove the check mark next to “Safe boot” option in “Boot” tab to place the computer in normal boot.

Method 2:

Place the computer in clean boot state and then try to install the program.

You can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

Step 1:

a.       Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.

b.      In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.

c.       Click the ‘Boot’ tab and uncheck ‘Safe Boot’ option.

d.      On the ‘General’ tab, click to select the option ‘Selective startup’, and then click to clear the option Load startup items check box.

e.      On the ‘Services’ tab, click to select the ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ check box, and then click ‘Disable all’.

f.        On the ‘Startup’ tab, click ‘Open Task Manager’. In the Task Manager window under startup tab, right click on each startup item which are enabled and select ‘Disable’.

g.       Click ‘OK’, and then click Restart.

h.      If it works in clean boot state, then follow rest of the steps.

Step 2: Enable half of the services

a.       Follow steps 1a and 1b to start the System Configuration utility.

b.      Click the Services tab, and then click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

c.       Click to select half of the check boxes in the Service list.

d.      Click OK, and then click Restart.

Step 3:

a.       If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Service list.

b.      If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

c.       If only one service is selected in the Service list, and you still experience the problem, the selected service causes the problem. Go to step 6. If no service causes this problem, go to step 4.

Step 4: Enable half of the Startup items

·         If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 5: Determine whether the problem returns

a.       If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Startup Item list.

b.      If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

c.       If only one startup item is selected in the Startup Item list, and you still experience the problem, the startup item that is selected in the list is the service that is causing the problem. Go to step 6.

d.      If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 6:

·         After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item.

Step 7:

Note: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to boot to normal startup.

a.       Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.

b.      In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.

c.       On the ‘General’ tab, click the ‘Normal Startup’ option, and then click ‘OK’.

d.      When you are prompted to restart the computer, click ‘Restart’.

Method 3:

Perform System File Check (SFC), and then check if this fixes the issue.

Follow the steps:

a.       Press “Windows Key + Q” to open Charms Bar.

b.      Type “cmd” without quotes in the search box.

c.       On the left pane, right click on the “cmd” option and select “Run as Administrator”.

d.      Type “sfc /scannow” without quotes and hit enter.

**Note:**It may ask for windows installation DVD to fix and to enable SFC to make more than minor repairs. Some files saved on your computer might get deleted when fixing corrupted files.

I hope this helps you fixing the issue. If the issue continues, reply to this thread, we are glad to help you further.

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94 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-14T19:09:26+00:00

    I was working on an HP G6 that wouldn't upgrade to 8.1.  It would often hang with the HP Logo and spinning wheel until restarted once, twice, or twelve times, then would boot again.  I went through the Win8 Refresh, then the Win8 Restore and still the problem persisted.  As above, I removed ALL of the video driver devices, and the hangs were less frequent, but still occurred almost exactly on every-other boot.

    I happened to look at the Power Settings once when I was in Safe Mode and I found that the 'behavior' for what to do when the Lid is Closed or the Power Button is Depressed were BLANK.  I set the options for these two features and haven't had any more trouble.

    This may or may not be a good solution for you and it just may be that a random 'something' changed in the meantime that was unrelated to the power settings, but I add this to the thread in the hopes it will help someone.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-02T20:45:02+00:00

    To everyone with this problem. I Don't know if this will work with other laptops or not but it sure worked with my hp.

    I THINK I HAVE FINALLY FIXED MY PROBLEM !!!!

    What i did was.

    I went to the recovery manager. Powered by hp.

    And I went to drivers and updates.

    And i reinstalled my display driver.

    And it hasn't froze on startup YET.

    Ok so Anyone can reinstall there display driver no matter what laptop. But it can be difficult if you dont have a recovery manager like hp does because on hps recovery manager they give you drivers, Instead of you going to there site and going through all the hassle.

    I hope i could help :)

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-26T17:03:21+00:00

    I have an hp 15. Last week it kept going slow and the spinny circle would freeze on the start up.

    I turned off fast start or whatever.  And its still doing it.

    So i restored my laptop.  Then i restarted it and it froze.

    So it has to be a setting in the laptop.

    This is what I have done to tried to fix it:

    ~Restored the laptop to factory settings. Did not work

    ~Deleted the default virus protector. (mcaffe)

    ~Uninstalled the annoying program pokki.

    ~Unistalled (apple bonjur that came with it.

    ~Turned off Fast start or whatever.

    Im getting sick of this.

    I just got this laptop for Christmas.

    It wasn't doing this for like the first month after i got it.

    Now it is :/


    I think I need to update my display driver.

    Someone said that worked.


    What is my display driver? Is it intel hd graphics?

    If so how do I update it ?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-26T15:42:01+00:00

    I have the same problem, it only happens sometimes. It just says "Restarting" forever. I'm always nervous about just turning off the computer, because you know one day it's going to get messed up and won't start again. This is my work laptop and is super important to me.

    Btw. this has never been an issue with Windows XP. How can you **** up the restart process of a computer. Just close all the programs and restart, or restart anyway. I'm super disappointed at Microsoft for this! This is a major issue and look how many people are experiencing this, why hasn't it been fixed yet?! Throw me a feakin' bone here!

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