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
    2014-04-04T19:32:27+00:00

    This happen every time I shut down the computer, it will not start until I reload Windows 8?

    All of these fixes have been done and it still does not work, is it not time you guys fixed Windows 8?

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-03T21:25:52+00:00

    what does this answer have to do with question? do these people actually read the questions before uncorking a pat answer?

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T00:10:24+00:00

    As I posted a few pages back, Since upgrading from Vista to Windows 7, I had never been able to choose ‘Restart’ from the Start menu without the system hanging on restart. I always had to shut all the way down before my system would restart. I have spent dozens of hours, countless Google searches and dozens of different tweaks over the last couple years trying to solve it – including updating the BIOS and motherboard drivers. I had hoped moving to Windows 8 would solve it. Nope. Neither did 8.1. So I set about hunting for a solution a few weeks ago and quite by accident, when following along with this “How to make Windows 7 Boot Faster” video (for a different purpose – note that the suggestions didn’t make my system boot faster ;) I noticed that I did NOT have ‘Normal startup’ selected in MSConfig.exe (see image at bottom of this postl). Instead the ‘Selective startup’ radio button was selected. So, I checked ‘Normal startup’, Applied the change and rebooted. And holy ****! My system restarted without hanging for the first time in over two years!!!!! My first theory was that perhaps when troubleshooting something else after first installing Windows 7 years ago I had used Selective Startup and NEVER set it back. But, I quickly discovered that this wasn’t it because when I went back to take the screen shot below, the ‘Selective startup’ option was chosen again. I can’t seem to get rid of it. But, restarting once with the ‘Normal startup’ option solved it and, four weeks later, it continues to properly restart with the ‘Selective Startup’ option selected. And, GET THIS, it solved three other long standing problems I’ve had: I can now booting with the Drobo attached (I haven’t been able to do this for years) I can now use Sleep mode (that never worked since Win 7) I can also use Hibernate mote (that never worked since upgrading to Win 7 either) So, with this one tweak, for the first time in I don’t know how long, I have a 100% functional PC with no glitches or gotchas!

    [NOTE 1: I had inserted a picture of the General tab in the Windows 8 System Configuration window. But for some reason the forum stripped it out when I posted. Sorry.]

    [Note 2: The attempted link to the "How to make Windows 7 Boot Faster' youtube video mentioned above also didn't work. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WOMmA50C4

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-26T20:21:49+00:00

    I have the exact same issue, and have been thru all you suggest here, nothing changed the result is that “if I shutdown Windows Again I have tried all the gyrations you mention and then some, nothing changes the fact that it will not start unless I reload windows losing all the apps and files I have been using.  Is the real answer to go back to 7?

    Windows 8 has been out long enough to not have these types of Beta issues, please offer a real fix that will work and will last!

    This is now being sent on my new laptop also with Windows 8 and no issues like this, at least none yet!

    HELP, real help please, not 5000 words of what to try, have done all that many, many times!

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