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
    2013-01-12T13:56:35+00:00

    just black screen and the sound of cooler fan.

    Do you have an alternate monitor you could hook up?   And are you saying that you can't even get into your BIOS settings screens?   E.g. manufacturer's logo seen during boot or not?   No sounds would depend on what is being booted but it would appear that you should at least be checking your BIOS settings to try to figure out what is going on.   Otherwise, if you think it could be getting as far as the W8 lock screen (or wherever else you are getting past that) you could try pressing Win-P, CursorUp, Enter  as if you could see everything and just wanted to change the Second Screen.  Doing that could cause the screen to refresh.

     

     

    HTH

     

    Robert Aldwinckle


    Not getting anywhere close - F2, F8, Shift+F8 won't work, nothing shows up on the screen at any time. This is a laptop, so cannot hook up alternate screen. Tried connecting second screen, but I think I'd need to pass the logon screens 'blindfolded' before Win+P would work?

    @LCranmer - if this is RAM issue, what steps can I take to troubleshoot to confirm it?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-12T17:22:41+00:00

    I'd need to pass the logon screens 'blindfolded' before Win+P would work?

    What happened when you tried it?   The Second Screen command is allowed even on the lock screen, so if that is where you are pressing Win-P would "show" it (possibly on both video ports).   Then pressing CursorUp and Enter would select and switch to one of the other choices in that dialog.   A consequence of doing that is that you would see the screen refresh or go "off".   Either way, you may notice slight or considerable differences in what you have before you use that command.  There may even be things to hear when you use it. 

    Before I realized this possibility existed I had been suggesting that users could try making their way to the Advanced Options boot menu, e.g. via the Shutdown menu's Shift-Restart command.   Here is an old post (actually the one where the idea originated) about that option:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_update/never-ending-cycle-after-windows-update-turns/d36579c0-8fa5-4930-ae57-bc608d26564f?msgId=2a507498-9e0b-4214-9adb-e5342dc841e3

    <quote>

    I'll repeat the workaround for you just in case you missed it, inside the explanation for it:

    <loop>

    Shift-Tab, Shift-Enter, wait.   If the drive light start flashing, wait even longer for it to settle down. 

    </loop>

     </quote>

    Another thing to note is that that thread occurred before I realized that UEFI could be having an effect, in which case, all I know is that it could be a lot different than what I see or understand.    Then I suspect using bcdedit to modify the boot selection menu would be the best tack to take to at least start seeing something other than a black screen.   There is a link to a post about that option in the above thread too.

    BTW most laptops provide some kind of second screen attachment possibility.   But it looks like Dell XPS Laptop may not be a sufficient specification to know for sure about yours:

    http://laptops-specs.blogspot.ca/2010/12/dell-xps-14-specifications.html

    (BING search for

       dell xps laptop specifications

    )

    <quotes>

    1 x Mini DisplayPort

    1 x HDMI 1.4

    </quotes>

    E.g., it looks like that one could have two possibilities for a second/alternate screen, such as a second monitor or a TV set.

    FYI

    Robert


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  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-12T22:30:38+00:00

    Looks like I'm heading to laptop repair shop.

    Tried connecting second screen set both with VGA and with HDMI cables, tried all combinations I could think of to switch to the second screen, and no luck.

    Just thinking - I have never had problems with the screen or graphic card on this laptop. Windows 8 is known to have issues with graphic card. Is it possible that Windows 8 caused it to fail?

    Also: tried to contact Microsoft support online, and at the screen where it is asking for product identification number, when I enter my Windows 8 product key (is it the same thing?), I am getting an error We could not find your product ID number automatically. Please enter a product ID number below. And it keeps returning to the same screen. I bought Windows 8 legally, does this mean there is a problem with this string?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-01-12T23:42:31+00:00

    just black screen and the sound of cooler fan.

    @LCranmer - if this is RAM issue, what steps can I take to troubleshoot to confirm it?

    I would just try removing the memory sticks (assuming there are two) then put 1 stick in and try rebooting it. If it's a no go then remove that stick and repeat the process with the other stick. Hopefully it is only one of the two (assuming that it's a bad stick AND that that you have two) I've seen more laptops then I can count, encounter the black screen due to a bad memory stick. 

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