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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  1. Anonymous
    2013-03-05T16:27:19+00:00

    Experiencing a problem similar to KIM7122's problem with a Sony VAIO, 4GB Ram, 500GB disc; the difference being that my PC NEVER FULLY BOOTS.  When first turned on the "Blue (logo) Window" displays with the dotted circle showing Win8 activity.  That screen disappears and the PC then appears to go through it boot process.  However it gets stuck--that is, the full Win 8 screen never shows up and while booting the display changes from black with the cursor visible and movable to a greyish black with no cursor display.  This screen alternating continues as long as I am willing watch it which has been at most 20 minutes. (Seems long enough to boot)  I have tried Satish S V's method 1, 2 and 3, but all apparently all presume a Win8 environment display that I am not getting.

    Is there any other way into a SAFE BOOT mode ala past Windows environments--i.e., immediately hitting a key at the "Blue (logo) Window" screen at first start--i.e., no Win8 display whatsoever? The fact that I can see the "Blue (logo) Window", the startup circle and the cursor (alternating with no cursor) suggests the display is O.K. and the PC hardware works.  So how do I get to the SAFE mode?

    Note: Win8 had been working well on my VAIO for three months since installing it.  I had been in the process of recovering those apps that Win8 does not replace from Win7 during converting Win 7 to Win 8.  All recovered worked fine after doing so.  The only new non-Win8 item installed since converting to Win8 was a tool to record VHS video which installed and worked fine although not stated on the product as being compatible with Win 8.  I first noticed the problem when the PC would not 'wake up' from a long period of sleep.

    Things tried: first power off with power switch, power back on--same symptoms; pulled power plug and allowed PC to sit for over an hour unplugged, when powered back on--same symptoms; Satish's 3 methods--no Run window, no Charms bar.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-03-06T00:06:28+00:00

     how do I get to the SAFE mode?

    Supposedly some can do it with a carefully timed Shift-F8.

    Otherwise you need your bootable media (aka recovery disk).

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-03-08T16:57:38+00:00

    Was having this problem too. Upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Monitor is connected to Nvidia card via HDMI. After much pain & trying many of the things listed here, I noticed that Windows 8 device manager listed my monitor as a generic monitor but the Nvidia control panel system information listed my monitor as it is described under the Windows 7 version of the monitor driver, i.e. the graphics card driver was still using the Windows 7 monitor driver. I downloaded the Windows 8 monitor driver for my monitor from Samsung. Installed it (had to run the install twice, the first run just uninstalled the Windows 7 version). Now Windows 8 and Nvidia both use the monitor driver, identify the monitor the same way, and I have had no more problems.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-03-13T00:31:07+00:00

    I guess I should have paid more attention to this part of your symptom description:

    "nothing shows up on the screen at any time"

    since if that includes the manufacturer's logo it probably indicates a hardware problem.

    Just an update on this - the laptop repair shop came back to say that the motherboard is shot on my laptop. Apparently this is a disease on all Dell XPS (and other Nvidia graphic card equipped) laptops - graphic cards overheat and fry the motherboard. Whether installing Windows 8 was the straw that broke the camel's back - I'll never know, but I've learned two things from this experience:

    • don't buy laptop with any other graphics card other than Intel.
    • don't upgrade to Windows 8 any machines that are happily running on Windows 7, unless you are mad early adopter. Fresh install on new machines is mostly ok.

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